UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND 
   REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON, DC 20202

                                        POLICY DIRECTIVE
                                        RSA-PD-FY-93-06
                                        DATE:  June 17, 1993

ADDRESSEES:    STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCIES (GENERAL)
               STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCIES (BLIND)
               CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
               RSA DISCRETIONARY GRANTEES
               REGIONAL REHABILITATION CONTINUING EDUCATION 
                    PROGRAMS
               RSA SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

SUBJECT   :    Strategic Plan to be Submitted under Part C of 
               Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 
               Amended 

POLICY         The 1992 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 
STATEMENT :    1973 (the Act) require that each State prepare and 
               submit to the RSA Commissioner a strategic plan 
               for developing and using innovative approaches for 
               achieving long-term success in expanding and 
               improving vocational rehabilitation services, 
               including supported employment services, provided 
               under the State plan submitted under section 101 
               of the Act and the supplement to the State plan 
               submitted under part C of title VI.  Specifically, 
               section 120 of the Act requires that, effective 
               October 1, 1993, a State must have such a 
               strategic plan in place in order to receive 
               funding under part B of title I of the Act (State 
               Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program and 
               Client Assistance Program) and part C of title I 
               of the Act (Innovation and Expansion Grants).  
               Prior to the 1992 Amendments, the Act did not 
               contain a requirement for the development of a 
               strategic plan.  This Policy Directive provides 
               instructions for the submission of the strategic 
               plan to RSA so that it might be reviewed prior to 
               October 1, 1993.    

               The strategic plan should be submitted for a 
               three-year period and updated on an annual basis 
               (sec. 122(a) of the Act).  Therefore, the 
               strategic plan that will become effective on 
               October 1, 1993, is to cover Federal fiscal years 
               1994, 1995, and 1996.  

               The RSA Commissioner has delegated the authority
               for review of the strategic plan to the Regional 
               Offices.  The strategic plan should be submitted 
               to the appropriate RSA Regional Office at the same 
               time the interim Title I State plan and Title VI, 
               Part C supplement are submitted so that the 
               Regional Office will have an opportunity to review 
               the strategic plan prior to October 1.  Following 
               review of the strategic plan, the RSA Regional 
               Office will provide any needed technical 
               assistance to resolve any problems prior to 
               October 1, the effective date of the plan.  Final 
               RSA Regional Office action on the strategic plan 
               cannot occur prior to the conclusion of the 
               State's review process (34 CFR part 79), or the 
               passage of at least 60 days from the submittal of 
               the plan to the State review process, whichever 
               occurs first.

               The Act requires that public forums be held prior 
               to the development of the strategic plan to obtain 
               input from individuals with disabilities and other 
               interested parties.  In addition, the State 
               Rehabilitation Advisory Council and the Statewide 
               Independent Living Council must be involved in the 
               development of the plan (sec. 122(b) of the Act).  
               The plan must contain the content required in 
               section 121 of the Act.  The State must spend at 
               least 1.5 percent of its allotment under part B of 
               title I of the Act on those activities listed in 
               section 123 of the Act.  

               Once the strategic plan is developed, the original 
               plan and two copies should be transmitted to the 
               RSA Regional Office under cover of a letter signed 
               by the same State official who has the authority 
               to submit State plan materials.  The transmittal 
               letter should encompass the following:

               o    description of the materials being 
                    transmitted;

               o    identification of the effective date for the 
                    materials; and 

               o    request that the materials be reviewed.  

               After review of the strategic plan is completed by 
               the RSA Regional Office and any necessary changes 
               are incorporated into the plan, the official copy 
               of the plan will be transmitted to the RSA Central 
               Office.  The RSA Regional Office will retain one 
               copy of the plan and return the other copy to the 
               State agency. 

               The procedures for submission and review of annual 
               updates to the strategic plan are identical to 
               those for submission and review of the initial 
               three-year plan.  

CITATIONS
IN LAW:        Section 101(a)(34) and title I, part C of the 
               Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

CITATIONS IN
REGULATIONS:   34 CFR Part 80 of the Education Department General 
               Administrative Regulations.  

INQUIRIES:     RSA Regional Commissioners



                                ______________________________
                                Acting Commissioner
                                Rehabilitation Services
                                Administratio