Summary of Federal Grant Award

The New York State Education Department received a formula grant award of $153.3 million from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services under the Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation Grants to States program (CFDA 84.126), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This award supports the delivery of comprehensive vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to individuals with disabilities throughout New York State, including individualized vocational assessments, career counseling, job training, workplace accommodations, assistive technology provision, and employment placement services designed to facilitate competitive integrated employment and economic independence.

As the designated state VR agency, NYSED administers these federally funded services in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), maintaining an approved VR services portion within the state's Unified or Combined State Plan. The department frequently sub-awards portions of grant funding to local workforce boards, nonprofit organizations, community rehabilitation providers, and educational entities to ensure statewide service delivery. Grant recipients are required to submit four-year state plans with two-year modifications, maintain financial and programmatic records for three years following final report submission, and are subject to periodic audits by the Department of Education Office of Inspector General.