Understand the Federal Administration of the VR Program

Organizational Structure: RSA is a component of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), within the United States Department of Education (ED). RSA is led by a Commissioner, appointed by the President, and confirmed by the Senate. There are two major divisions within RSA that house specific program units.

1. Training and Services Programs Division: This group monitors discretionary grants and provides technical assistance, conducts discretionary grant competitions and processes grant awards, oversees the administration of and coordinates arbitrations for the Randolph-Sheppard program, collects, reviews, and analyzes program and grantee data, and works with grantees to develop program performance measures used to evaluate and monitor grantees.
   There are two units that carry out this work:
   1. Training Programs Unit
      • Rehabilitation training
      • Demonstration and Training programs
   2. Service Programs Unit
      • American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AVIRS)
      • Randolph Sheppard Vending Facility Program (RSVFP)

2. State Monitoring and Program Improvement Division: This group administers the five formula grant programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act, ensures consistency with Federal requirements, and helps States implement programs designed to improve results for individuals with disabilities.
    

   There are four units that carry out this work:

   1. Fiscal Unit
   2. Data Collection and Analysis Unit
   3. Technical Assistance Unit
   4. VR Program Unit

   Each state is assigned a team that consists of staff from each of the four units listed above. You will primarily work with a State Liaison and an SRSA State Team, which includes a State Team Facilitator, Financial Management Specialists, Technical Assistance Unit staff, and Data Collection and Analysis Unit staff. Together, these individuals provide oversight, support, and technical assistance to VR agencies.

Monitoring: RSA monitors your program on a periodic basis to ensure compliance with Federal regulations. Get familiar with the Monitoring and Technical Assistance Guide (MTAG) to understand current focus areas and the scope of monitoring. Periodic on-site monitoring is required in Section 107 of the Rehabilitation Act. RSA looks at program and fiscal performance typically over the three most recently completed program and fiscal years, so it is important to always work on the active management of your program and conformance with the law.

Access previous RSA monitoring reports.

To-Do List

• Identify the RSA State Liaison and Financial Management Specialist for your agency and save their contact information.
• Read your agency’s last monitoring report, making note of any improvements expected.
• Familiarize yourself with any corrective action plans resulting from recent monitoring reviews and check if there are any unresolved findings.

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