PURPOSE: This rule establishes the standards for training services provided by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for individuals with disabilities pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and the Code of Federal Regulations.

1. (1) The following training services as defined in the federal act and/or applicable regulations, and 5 CSR 60-900.050 may be provided to eligible individuals based upon financial need:

   1. (A) College, vocational, or proprietary training at an accredited institution may be provided to assist eligible individuals in reaching objectives that are within the scope of their functional limitations, interests, aptitudes and abilities.

      1. 1. Eligible individuals must be enrolled

in and satisfactorily complete courses that constitute a normal course load for full-time students unless circumstances as approved by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), indicate a need for a reduced course load. 5 CSR 90-5

1. 2. Colleges, universities, vocational or

proprietary schools must comply with the provisions found in 5 CSR 60-900.050.

1. 3. For eligible individuals enrolled in a

Missouri tax supported two (2) or four (4) year college, the cost of education for freshman and sophomore years of college will be calculated at the nearest Missouri community college rate or the Missouri four (4) year college, whichever is less, within a forty-five (45) mile commuting distance. For those areas which do not have a Missouri community college within forty-five (45) miles, but have a Missouri state supported four (4) year college in their local area, the calculation will be based on that state supported four (4) year college rate.

1. 4. For eligible individuals enrolled in

private or proprietary degree colleges or certificate programs in Missouri, the cost of the education is based upon the nearest Missouri tax supported two (2) or four (4) year college appropriate for the eligible individual to reach their vocational objective. Eligible individuals enrolling in the freshman and sophomore year of college will receive services calculated at the nearest Missouri community college rate, within a forty-five (45) mile commuting distance. For those areas which do not have a Missouri community college within forty-five (45) miles, but have a Missouri state supported four (4) year college in their local area, the calculation will be based on that state supported four (4) year college rate. This includes all primary rehabilitation services (e.g. tuition and fees) and secondary rehabilitation services (e.g. maintenance, transportation, books and supplies) which are determined to be necessary for the eligible individual to attend college or certificate programs. The following are exceptions:

1. A. The specific job objective which

the individual is seeking is not available at the nearest Missouri tax supported two (2) or four (4) year college; and/or

1. B. The nearest Missouri tax support-

ed two (2) or four (4) year college does not provide appropriate services for the individual’s disability-related needs.

1. 5. For eligible individuals enrolled in

out-of-state colleges or certificate programs, the cost of the education is based upon the lesser of the hourly rate at the nearest Missouri tax supported two (2) or four (4) year college or the hourly rate of the particular out-of-state college appropriate for the eligible individuals to reach their vocational objective. This amount may be applied to any of the eligible individual’s educational cost(s). For out-of-state colleges any grants, aid, loans, and/or work-study awarded will SECONDARY EDUCATION

be used to reduce the individual’s participation in the educational costs.

1. A. Division of Vocational Rehabilita-

tion’s maximum rate of authorization for outof-state college tuition is calculated at the nearest Missouri community college rate, within a forty-five (45) mile commuting distance from the individual’s permanent domicile for the freshman and sophomore years. For those areas which do not have a Missouri community college within forty-five (45) miles from the individual’s permanent domicile, the calculation will be based upon the nearest Missouri state supported four (4) year college.

1. 6. Any change in vocational goals

involving college, vocational, or proprietary training must be agreed to and signed by the individual and approved by DVR.

1. 7. The eligible individual is responsible

for the cost of the tuition and/or required textbooks when courses are dropped, withdrawn and/or retaken due to poor grades, unless the eligible individual’s reason for withdrawing, dropping and/or failing a course is disability-related or a credit or refund has been obtained.

1. 8. The individual and/or parents must

complete DVR’s Financial Application. The individual and/or parents must apply for all applicable federal grants and campus financial aid. If an individual is awarded any grant(s) and attends an in-state college, the grant(s) will be used to reduce DVR’s participation in the educational costs.

1. A. If an individual attends a Missouri

public, private or proprietary degree program, all federal grants and aid must be used to reduce agency participation in the educational costs.

1. B. If the individual participates in a

work-study program or obtains student loans, money received from either may be used for educational costs not covered by DVR.

1. C. If an individual attends an out-of-

state college or university, all federal grants and aid may be used to pay for educational costs which exceed DVR’s level of funding.

1. 9. The eligible individual is responsible

for the cost of tuition, books and supplies for elective courses that do not specifically apply to the eligible individual’s degree or program.

1. 10. The eligible individual must acquire

and maintain at least a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (based on a 4.0 point scale) or a 3.0 (based on a 5.0 point scale).

1. 11. The eligible individual shall provide

a grade report after each semester, quarter, trimester, etc., that documents hours taken, hours completed, grades for each course and grade point average;

1. (B) The eligible individual may be authorized for correspondence training in the following situations:

   1. 1. Training cannot be arranged by anoth-

er method;

1. 2. The eligible individual needs prelim-

inary training which may be obtained most practicably and efficiently by correspondence prior to entering training by another method;

1. 3. Satisfactory living arrangements can-

not be made to secure training by any other method; and/or

1. 4. An eligible individual needs one (1)

or two (2) courses for a special purpose;

1. (C) Tutorial training by qualified tutors may be authorized for eligible individuals needing training not offered by any other method.

   1. 1. The tutor must have the necessary

qualifications to teach the required skills, and sufficient time to devote to the selected course.

1. 2. The tutor must be willing to make

arrangements for time and place of instruction which will be convenient for the eligible individual and satisfactory to the conditions under which the client must live and train.

1. 3. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

will authorize reasonable tuition for tutorial training and ensure that the objective of the training is commensurate with the cost; and/or

1. (D) Books, training materials, tools, equipment and/or initial stock may be purchased for an eligible individual when said materials are required for an eligible individual to successfully participate in training or job placement.

1. (2) The following training services as defined in the federal act and/or applicable regulations, and 5 CSR 60-900.050 may be provided to eligible individuals regardless of financial need:

   1. (A) On-the-job training fees, supported employment, work stations in industry, and placement assistance into suitable employment; and/or
   2. (B) Eligible individuals who are identified in an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) may be certified for Sheltered Workshop employment in the last semester of his/her final year in school. Exceptions must be agreed upon by both the assistant commissioners of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for DVR and Special Education.

AUTHORITY: sections 161.092, RSMo Supp. 2002 and 178.600, 178.610 and 178.620, RSMo 2000.* Original rule filed Dec. 17, 1999, effective Aug. 30, 2000. Amended: Filed Dec. 7, 2000, effective July 30, 2001. Amended: Filed March 27, 2003, effective Oct. 30, 2003. *Original authority: 161.092, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 2002; 178.600, RSMo 1963; 178.610, RSMo 1963; and 178.620, RSMo 1963.