Notice2026-00565
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; 84.421F Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) Evidence Building Support (EBS)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 14, 2026
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing an extension without change of a new information collection request (ICR).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1532-1533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00565]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED-2025-SCC-0349]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; 84.421F Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) Evidence Building
Support (EBS)
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
(OSERS), Department of Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995,
the Department is proposing an extension without change of a new
information collection request (ICR).
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
February 13, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed
information collection requests should be submitted within 30 days of
publication of this notice. Click on this link <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a> to access the site. Find this information collection request
(ICR) by selecting ``Department of Education'' under ``Currently Under
Review,'' then check the ``Only Show ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox.
<a href="http://Reginfo.gov">Reginfo.gov</a> provides two links to view documents related to this
information collection request. Information collection forms and
instructions may be found by clicking on the ``View Information
Collection (IC) List'' link. Supporting statements and other supporting
documentation may be found by clicking on the ``View Supporting
Statement and Other Documents'' link.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to
collection activities, please contact Diandrea Bailey, (202) 987-0126.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is especially interested in
public comment addressing the following issues: (1) is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this
information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the
estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on
the respondents, including through the use of information technology.
Please note that written comments received in response to this notice
will be considered public records.
Title of Collection: 84.421F Disability Innovation Fund (DIF)
Evidence Building Support (EBS).
OMB Control Number: 1820-NEW.
Type of Review: New ICR.
Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 24.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 36.
Abstract: The U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation
Services Administration (RSA) requests clearance for a new data
collection activity to support the 84.421F Disability Innovation Fund
(DIF) Evidence-Building Support (EBS) project. The purpose of the DIF,
as provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-
328), is to support innovative activities aimed at increasing
competitive integrated employment (CIE) as defined in section 7 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act) (29 U.S.C. 705(5)) for
children, youth, and other individuals with disabilities. RSA is
investing a total of $251,934,086 in grant funding to the 27 State
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), other State agencies, Public, Private
and Nonprofit Entities, including Indian Tribes and Institutions of
Higher Education through the 84.421F DIF program.
This request covers the following single primary data collection
for the EBS:
<bullet> Annual interviews with 84.421F DIF project directors
[[Page 1533]]
In September 2024, RSA awarded five-year cooperative agreements to
27 State VR, other State agencies, Public, Private and Nonprofit
Entities, including Indian Tribes and Institutions of Higher Education
to implement model demonstration projects. The projects vary across the
27 grants but they share the same purpose, which is to develop,
implement, refine, assess, and disseminate innovative or substantially
improved strategies or programs geared toward increasing CIE for
individuals with disabilities. RSA is conducting evaluation and
technical assistance (TA) activities and will report on implementation
and evaluation progress across all grantees in Annual Evidence Reports.
This report will also document findings that RSA can use to coordinate
ongoing activities and communicate with outside agencies and
congressional staff. To supplement the existing data sources, RSA will
conduct one annual semi-structured interviews with the individual
grantee project directors in grant Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 (Calendar Year
(CY) 2025-CY 2029). These interviews will provide valuable qualitative
insights into overall project goals, implementation progress, and the
barriers and facilitators encountered--information that is not captured
through administrative data reporting alone. This richer understanding
will help fill critical gaps and will support the development of the
Annual Evidence Report, inform evaluations, coordination, and
evaluation technical assistance efforts.
Ross Santy,
Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy
Development.
[FR Doc. 2026-00565 Filed 1-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 14, 2026.
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