US Department of Education Principal Office Functional Statements
Office of Special Educational and Rehabilitative Services

Functional Statements > Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Rehabilitation Services Administration

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) provides leadership and fiscal resources to assist state and other agencies to provide vocational rehabilitation (VR) and other services to individuals with disabilities. The RSA is established by Congress as the principal federal agency authorized to carry out Titles I, III, VI, and VII, as well as section 509 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act WIOA). In addition, RSA administers programs and activities under the Randolph-Sheppard Act, as amended. The programs administered by RSA develop and implement comprehensive and coordinated programs of vocational rehabilitation and supported employment for individuals with disabilities through services, training, and advocacy, in order to maximize their employment, independence and integration into the community and the competitive labor market.

RSA is under the leadership of a Commissioner who advises the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services on programs and problems affecting individuals with disabilities. The Commissioner of RSA provides overall direction, coordination, and leadership to RSA’s two divisions.

State Monitoring and Program Improvement Division (SMPID)

SMPID carries out major activities related to the administration of these formula grant programs:

SMPID is responsible for State Plan review and approval, and for monitoring RSA's formula grant programs to ensure consistency with Federal requirements and to ensure that States continue to implement programs designed to improve results for individuals with disabilities.

Training and Service Programs Division (TSPD)

TSPD carries out activities in administering several programs. TSPD reviews and approves State Agency Licensing Agreements; conducts discretionary grant competitions and issues grant awards; coordinates arbitrations for the Randolph-Sheppard program; reviews and analyzes data, prepares reports including the annual summary of the vendors and vending facilities; and works with grantees to develop program performance measures, which are used to evaluate and monitor grantees. TSPD is organized into the following two units.

Training Programs Unit

The Training Programs Unit administers a variety of discretionary grants related to Rehabilitation Training and Demonstration and Training. More information is available at RSA Programs.

Service Programs Unit

The Service Programs Unit administers the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) program and the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facilities Program.

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Last Modified: 09/07/2023