Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment (SWTCIE) Program Evaluation
New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
10/11/2024
table that charts list comparision
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
4,866
0
2,224
0
0
0
The U.S. Department of Educationâs Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) requests clearance for new data collection activities to support the evaluation of the evaluation of the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment (SWTCIE) program. The aim of this project is to increase transitions to competitive integrated employment (CIE) among people working in subminimum wage employment (SWE)âor considering doing soâthrough innovative activities to build systemwide alternatives to subminimum wage employment. Advocacy, policy and practice have evolved in recent decades toward a shift to CIE, as reflected in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and most recently in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which provides funding for DIF. This request covers primary data collection activities, including survey data, administrative data, site visits, and focus groups.
In September 2022, the RSA awarded five-year grants for the 84.421D DIF. The grants provide 14 state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies with funding to implement SWTCIE Innovative Model Demonstration projects to decrease SWE and increase CIE among people with disabilities currently employed in or contemplating SWE. To achieve this purpose, the projects will create innovative models for dissemination and replication to (1) identify strategies for addressing barriers associated with accessing CIE, (2) provide integrated services that support CIE, (3) support integration into the community through CIE, (4) identify and coordinate wraparound services for project participants who obtain CIE, (5) develop and disseminate evidence-based practices, and (6) provide entities holding section 14(c) certificates with readily accessible transformative business models for adoption. The intervention models vary across the SWTCIE projects, but all of them will work with employers that hold 14(c) certificates, other employers, service providers, and additional community partners to empower transition-age youth and working-age adults with disabilities to pursue CIE. In addition, each project will use part of its funds for an independent evaluator to conduct a project-specific evaluation of its activities and outcomes.
This data collection for the RSA DIF is critical as the evaluation is intended to make information more actionable for practitioners and policymakers and ensure the DIF program outcomes are duplicatable for VR agencies and partners. The evaluation will (1) describe the implementation and costs of the federally-funded program and strategies; (2) improve the identification of DIF program models and strategies related to the state VR programs, intended to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities in CIE, including but not limited to accommodations and services for individuals with disabilities, utilization of technology, and supports; (3) interconnect the projects to evaluate the effectiveness of particular strategies in the context of how commonly that strategy is used across the projects; (4) analyze trends in CIE outcomes and potential impacts of federal grants; and (5) examine the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the program and strategies that support CIE and reduce SWE.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.