State vocational rehabilitation services (VR)

The Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services awarded $101.393 million to the Tennessee Department of Human Services on October 1, 2025, under the Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation Grants to States program (CFDA 84.126) for the period ending September 30, 2026. The award supports comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services—assessment, planning, development, and service delivery for individuals with disabilities—administered through Tennessee's state vocational rehabilitation agency headquartered in Nashville.

TDHS distributes funding as sub-awards to 47 local school districts and community organizations across Tennessee to deliver transition-to-work services and supported employment. Named sub-recipients include Hardin County School District, Lake County School District, Morgan County Schools, Sullivan County Department of Education, Obion County School District, Bradley County School District, Shelby County School Board of Education, Tennessee Disability Coalition, and numerous additional county and municipal school districts statewide. The sub-award structure—designated "TSW BASIC 2026"—reflects the Transition School to Work vocational rehabilitation program channeled through local educational agencies and disability service organizations.

This formula grant flows to Tennessee as a state designated to administer the VR program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Rehabilitation Act. The award obligates the full $101.393 million announced allocation. Performance takes place at TDHS administrative offices in Nashville with operational activity across all 47 sub-recipient jurisdictions covering urban, suburban, and rural regions throughout Tennessee.