[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1852 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1852

To amend the Head Start Act to extend authorizations of appropriations 
   for programs under that Act, to strengthen provisions designed to 
 provide quality assurance and improvement, to provide for orderly and 
    appropriate expansion of such programs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            February 10 (legislative day, January 25), 1994

  Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Kassebaum, Mr. Coats, Mr. 
 Wofford, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Durenberger, Mr. Metzenbaum, 
Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Pell, and Mr. Simon) introduced the following bill; 
 which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human 
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Head Start Act to extend authorizations of appropriations 
   for programs under that Act, to strengthen provisions designed to 
 provide quality assurance and improvement, to provide for orderly and 
    appropriate expansion of such programs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES IN ACT; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) This Act may be cited as the ``Head Start Act Amendments of 
1994''.
    (b) Except where otherwise specifically provided, references in 
this Act shall be considered to be made to the Head Start Act, or to a 
section or other provision thereof.
    (c) Table of Contents.--

Sec. 1. Short title; references in Act; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Monitoring and quality assurance.
Sec. 3. Appeals, notice, and hearing.
Sec. 4. Staff qualifications and development.
Sec. 5. Goals and priorities for training and technical assistance.
Sec. 6. Allocation of funds for program expansion.
Sec. 7. Allocation and use of funds for quality improvement.
Sec. 8. Transition coordination with schools.
Sec. 9. Research, demonstrations, evaluation, and reports.
Sec. 10. Initiative on families with infants and toddlers.
Sec. 11. Enhanced parental involvement.
Sec. 12. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 13. Minor and technical amendments.
Sec. 14. Effective date.

SEC. 2. MONITORING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE.

    (a) In General.--The Act is amended by inserting after section 641 
the following new section:

  ``quality standards; monitoring of head start agencies and programs

    ``Sec. 641A. (a) Quality Standards.--
            ``(1) Establishment of standards.--The Secretary shall 
        establish by regulation standards applicable to Head Start 
        agencies, programs, and projects under this subchapter, 
        including--
                    ``(A) performance standards with respect to 
                services required to be provided, including health, 
                education, parental involvement, social and other 
                services;
                    ``(B) administrative and financial management 
                standards;
                    ``(C) standards relating to the condition and 
                location of facilities; and
                    ``(D) such other standards as the Secretary finds 
                appropriate.
            ``(2) Minimum requirements.--The regulations under this 
        subsection shall indicate the minimum levels of overall 
        accomplishment that a Head Start agency or program must achieve 
        in order to meet the standards specified in paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Considerations in developing standards.--In 
        developing the regulations required under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) consult with experts in the fields of child 
                development, early childhood education, family 
                services, administration, and financial management, and 
                with persons with experience in the operation of Head 
                Start programs; and
                    ``(B) take into consideration--
                            ``(i) past experience with use of the 
                        standards currently in effect;
                            ``(ii) changes over the period the program 
                        has been in effect in the circumstances and 
                        problems typically facing Head Start children 
                        and families;
                            ``(iii) developments concerning best 
                        practices with respect to child development, 
                        family services, program administration, and 
                        financial management; and
                            ``(iv) projected needs of an expanding Head 
                        Start program;
                    ``(C) not later than one year after enactment of 
                this section, review and revise as necessary the 
                performance standards in effect under this subchapter 
                on the date of enactment of this section (but any 
                revisions in performance standards shall not result in 
                the elimination of or any reduction in the scope or 
                types of health, education, parental involvement, 
                social, or other services required to be provided under 
                such standards in effect on November 2, 1978).
    ``(b) Performance Measures.--
            ``(1) In general.--Within one year after enactment of this 
        section, the Secretary, in consultation with representatives of 
        Head Start agencies and with experts in the fields of child 
        development, family services, and program management, shall 
        develop methods and procedures for measuring, annually and over 
        longer periods, the quality and effectiveness of programs 
        operated by Head Start agencies.
            ``(2) Design of measures.--The performance measures 
        developed under this subsection shall be designed--
                    ``(A) to assess the various services provided by 
                Head Start programs and, to the extent the Secretary 
                finds appropriate, administrative and financial 
                management practices;
                    ``(B) to be adaptable for use in self-assessment 
                and peer review of individual Head Start agencies and 
                programs; and
                    ``(C) for other program purposes as determined by 
                the Secretary.
            ``(3) Use of measures.--The Secretary shall use the 
        performance measures developed pursuant to this subsection--
                    ``(A) to identify strengths and weaknesses in the 
                operation of Head Start programs nationally and by 
                region; and
                    ``(B) to identify problem areas that may require 
                additional training and technical assistance resources.
    ``(c) Monitoring of Local Agencies and Programs.--
            ``(1) In general.--In order to determine whether Head Start 
        agencies meet standards established under this subchapter with 
        respect to program, administrative, fiscal, and other 
        requirements, the Secretary shall conduct the following reviews 
        of designated Head Start agencies, and of the Head Start 
        programs operated by such agencies--
                    ``(A) a full review of each such agency at least 
                once during each 3-year period;
                    ``(B) a review of each newly designated agency 
                immediately after the completion of the first year such 
                agency carries out a Head Start program;
                    ``(C) follow-up reviews including prompt return 
                visits to agencies and programs that fail to meet 
                minimum standards for participation; and
                    ``(D) other reviews as appropriate.
            ``(2) Conduct of reviews.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
        reviews described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph 
        (1)--
                    ``(A) are performed, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, by employees of the Department of Health 
                and Human Services who are knowledgeable about Head 
                Start programs; and
                    ``(B) are supervised by such an employee at the 
                site of such Head Start agency.
    ``(d) Corrective Action; Termination.--(1) If the Secretary 
determines, on the basis of a review pursuant to subsection (c), that a 
Head Start agency designated pursuant to section 641 fails to meet the 
minimum standards for participation in programs under this subchapter, 
the Secretary shall--
            ``(A) inform the agency of the deficiencies that must be 
        corrected;
            ``(B) with respect to each identified deficiency, at the 
        Secretary's discretion (taking into consideration the 
        seriousness of the deficiency and the time reasonably required 
        to correct it), require the agency--
                    ``(i) to correct the deficiency immediately, or
                    ``(ii) to comply with the requirements of paragraph 
                (2) concerning a quality improvement plan; and
            ``(C) initiate proceedings to terminate the designation of 
        the agency unless the agency corrects the deficiency as 
        required by the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph (B).
    ``(2) Quality Improvement Plan.--
            ``(A) Agency responsibilities.--In order to retain its 
        designation under this subchapter, a Head Start agency that is 
        the subject of a determination described in paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    ``(i) develop in a timely manner, obtain the 
                Secretary's approval of, and implement a quality 
                improvement plan that specifies--
                            ``(I) the deficiencies to be corrected;
                            ``(II) the actions to be taken to correct 
                        such deficiencies; and
                            ``(III) the timetable for accomplishment of 
                        the corrective actions identified; and
                    ``(ii) eliminate each deficiency identified, not 
                later than the date for elimination of such deficiency 
                specified in such plan (which shall not be later than 
                one year after the date the agency received notice of 
                the determination and of the specific deficiencies to 
                be corrected).
            ``(B) Secretarial responsibility.--Not later than 30 days 
        after receiving from a Head Start agency a proposed quality 
        improvement plan pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
        shall either approve such proposed plan or specify the reasons 
        why the proposed plan cannot be approved.
    ``(3) Training and Technical Assistance.--To the extent the 
Secretary finds feasible and appropriate given available funding and 
other statutory responsibilities, the Secretary shall provide training 
and technical assistance to Head Start agencies with respect to the 
development or implementation of quality improvement plans.
    ``(e) Summaries of Monitoring Outcomes.--The Secretary shall 
publish annually, following the end of each fiscal year, a summary 
report on the findings of reviews conducted pursuant to subsection (c) 
and on the outcomes of quality improvement plans under subsection 
(d).''.
    (b) Expenditures for Monitoring and Related Activities.--Section 
640(a)(2)(D) is amended by inserting ``(including payments for all 
costs (other than compensation of Federal employees) of reviews of Head 
Start agencies and programs, and of activities related to the 
development and implementation of quality improvement plans, pursuant 
to section 641A)''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 641(c) is amended by 
striking paragraphs (2) through (4).
    (2) Section 641(d) is amended--
            (A) in the first sentence, by striking all that precedes 
        ``then the Secretary'' and inserting ``If there is in a 
        community no entity entitled to the priority specified in 
        subsection (c),'';
            (B) by striking the second sentence; and
            (C) in the third sentence, by striking ``and subject to the 
        preceding sentence''.
    (3) Section 642(b)(4) is amended by striking ``in accordance with 
the performance standards in effect upon section 651(b)'' and inserting 
``either through such program''.
    (4) Section 651(b) is repealed.
    (5) Section 651(g)(10) is amended by striking ``evaluations 
conducted under section 641(c)(2)'' and inserting ``monitoring 
conducted under section 641A(c)''.

SEC. 3. APPEALS, NOTICE, AND HEARING.

    (a) Elimination of Provision Freezing Regulations.--Section 646 is 
amended by striking subsection (b).
    (b) Termination of Designation Not Stayed Pending Appeal.--Section 
646 is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(b) Adverse Action Not Stayed Pending Appeal.--In any case where 
a termination, reduction, or suspension of financial assistance under 
this subchapter is upheld in an administrative hearing under this 
section, such termination, reduction, or suspension shall not be stayed 
pending any judicial appeal of such administrative decision.''.

SEC. 4. STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Requirements Concerning Staff Qualifications and Development.--
            (1) Classroom teachers.--(A) Section 648(b) is relocated 
        and redesignated as subsection (a) of a new section 648A, 
        captioned as follows:

               ``staff qualifications and development''.

            (B) Section 648A(a), as relocated and redesignated, is 
        further amended--
                    (i) by striking ``(a)(1)'' and inserting ``(a) 
                Classroom Teachers.--(1) Degree Requirements.--'';
                    (ii) in paragraph (1), by striking ``1994'' and 
                inserting ``1996'';
                    (iii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(2)'' and 
                inserting ``(2) Waiver.--''; and
                    (iv) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``a child 
                development associate credential (CDA)'' and inserting 
                ``any credential specified in paragraph (1)''.
            (2) Mentor teachers; family service workers; fellowships.--
        Section 648A is further amended by adding after subsection (a) 
        the following new subsections:
    ``(b) Mentor Teachers.--
            ``(1) Definition; function.--For purposes of this 
        subsection, a `mentor teacher' is an individual responsible for 
        observing and assessing classroom activities and providing on-
        the-job guidance and training to Head Start program staff and 
        volunteers, in order to improve the qualifications and training 
        of classroom staff, to maintain high quality education 
        services, and to promote career development.
            ``(2) Requirement.--In order to assist Head Start agencies 
        to establish positions for mentor teachers, the Secretary 
        shall--
                    ``(A) provide technical assistance and training to 
                enable Head Start agencies to establish such positions;
                    ``(B) give priority consideration, in providing 
                assistance pursuant to subparagraph (A), to Head Start 
                programs which have substantial numbers of new 
                classroom staff or which are experiencing difficulty in 
                meeting applicable education standards; and
                    ``(C) encourage programs to give priority 
                consideration for such positions to Head Start teachers 
                at the appropriate level in the career ladders of such 
                programs.
    ``(c) Family Service Workers.--In order to improve the quality and 
effectiveness of staff providing inhome and other services to families 
of Head Start children (including needs assessment, development of 
service plans, family advocacy, and coordination of service delivery), 
the Secretary, in collaboration with concerned public and private 
agencies and organziations currently examining the issues of standards 
and training for family service workers, shall--
            ``(1) review and, as necessary, revise or develop new 
        qualification standards for Head Start staff providing such 
        services;
            ``(2) promote the development of model curricula (on 
        subjects including parenting training and family literacy) 
        designed to ensure the attainment of appropriate competencies 
        by individuals working or planning to work in the field of 
        early childhood and family services; and
            ``(3) promote the establishment of a credential indicating 
        attainment of those competencies that is accepted nationwide.
    ``(d) Head Start Fellowships.--
            ``(1) Authority.--The Secretary is authorized to establish 
        a program of Head Start Fellowships, in accordance with this 
        subsection, for staff in local Head Start programs and other 
        individuals working in the field of child development and 
        family services.
            ``(2) Purpose.--The fellowship program under this 
        subsection shall be designed to enhance the ability of 
        participating fellows to make significant contributions to 
        programs authorized under this subchapter, by providing them 
        opportunities to expand their knowledge and experience through 
        exposure to activities, issues, resources, and new approaches 
        in the field of child development and family services.
            ``(3) Assignments of fellows.--
                    ``(A) Placement sites.--Fellowship positions under 
                the program under this subsection may be located 
                (subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C))--
                            ``(i) in agencies of the Department of 
                        Health and Human Services administering 
                        programs authorized under this subchapter (and 
                        in national and regional offices of such 
                        agencies);
                            ``(ii) in local Head Start agencies and 
                        programs;
                            ``(iii) in institutions of higher 
                        education;
                            ``(iv) in public and private entities and 
                        organizations concerned with services to 
                        children and families; and
                            ``(v) in other appropriate settings.
                    ``(B) Limitation for fellows other than head start 
                employees.--A Head Start Fellow who is not an employee 
                of a local Head Start agency or program may be placed 
                only in a fellowship position specified in clause (i) 
                or (ii) of subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) No placement in lobbying organizations.--Head 
                Start Fellowship positions may not be located in any 
                agency whose primary purpose, or one of whose major 
                purposes, is to influence Federal, State, or local 
                legislation.
            ``(4) Selection of fellows.--Fellowships under this 
        subsection shall be awarded, on a competitive basis, to 
        individuals (other than Federal employees) selected from among 
        applicants who are currently working in local Head Start 
        programs or otherwise working in the field of child development 
        and children and family services.
            ``(5) Duration.--Fellowships under this subsection shall be 
        for terms of one year, and shall be renewable for a term of one 
        additional year.
            ``(6) Authorized expenditures.--From amounts appropriated 
        under this subchapter and allotted under section 640(a)(2)(D), 
        the Secretary is authorized to make expenditures of not to 
        exceed $1,000,000 for any fiscal year, for stipends and other 
        reasonable expenses of the program under this subsection.
            ``(7) Status of fellows.--Except as otherwise provided in 
        this paragraph, Head Start Fellows shall not be deemed 
        employees or otherwise in the service or employment of the 
        United States Government. Head Start Fellows shall be 
        considered Federal employees for purposes of compensation for 
        injuries under chapter 81 of title 5 of the United States Code. 
        Head Start Fellows assigned to positions specified in paragraph 
        (3)(A)(i) shall be considered Executive Branch employees for 
        the purposes of chapter 11 of title 18 of the United States 
        Code, and of any administrative standards of conduct applicable 
        to the employees of the agency to which they are assigned.
            ``(8) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
        regulations implementing the provisions of this subsection.''.
    (b) Model Staffing Patterns.--Section 648 is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Model Staffing Patterns.--Within one year after enactment of 
this subsection, the Secretary, in consultation with appropriate public 
and private agencies and organizations and with individuals with 
expertise in the field of child and family services, shall develop 
model staffing plans to provide guidance to local Head Start agencies 
and programs on the numbers, types, responsibilities, and 
qualifications of staff required to operate a Head Start program.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 648 is amended in the caption, 
to read:

                 ``technical assistance and training''.

SEC. 5. GOALS AND PRIORITIES FOR TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    Section 648, as amended by section 4, is further amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``Head Start 
        programs, including'' and inserting instead ``Head Start 
        programs, in accordance with the process, goals, and priorities 
        set forth in subsections (b) and (c). The Secretary shall 
        provide, either directly or through grants or other 
        arrangements,'';
            (2) by redesignating and relocating as subsection (f) the 
        final sentence of subsection (a), as amended by paragraph (1);
            (3) by striking subsection (c); and
            (4) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(b) Goals.--The process for determining the technical assistance 
and training activities to be carried out under this section shall--
            ``(1) ensure that the needs of local Head Start agencies 
        and programs relating to improving program quality and to 
        program expansion are addressed to the maximum extent feasible;
            ``(2) incorporate mechanisms to ensure responsiveness to 
        local needs, including an ongoing procedure for obtaining input 
        from the Head Start community; and
    ``(c) Specific Purposes.--In allocating resources for technical 
assistance and training under this section, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) give priority consideration to activities to correct 
        program and management deficiencies identified through 
        monitoring pursuant to section 641A (including the provision of 
        assistance to local programs in the development of quality 
        improvement plans);
            ``(2) address the training and career development needs of 
        both classroom and nonclassroom staff, including home visitors 
        and other staff working directly with families, including 
        training relating to increasing parent involvement and services 
        designed to increase family literacy and improve parenting 
        skills;
            ``(3) assist Head Start agencies and programs to conduct 
        and participate in community-wide strategic planning and needs 
        assessment;
            ``(4) assist Head Start agencies and programs in the 
        development of sound management practices, including financial 
        management procedures; and
            ``(5) assist in efforts to secure and maintain adequate 
        facilities for Head Start programs.''.

SEC. 6. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR PROGRAM EXPANSION.

    (a) Allocation of Funds Within States.--Section 640(g) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(g)'' and inserting ``(g)(1) Cost-of-
        Living Adjustments to Grantees.--''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
            ``(2) Allocation of expansion funds within states.--In 
        allocating funds within a State, for the purpose of expanding 
        Head Start programs, from amounts allotted to a State pursuant 
        to paragraph (4), the Secretary shall take into consideration 
        the following factors:
                    ``(A) the quality of the applicant's current 
                programs (including Head Start and other child care or 
                child development programs and, in the case of current 
                Head Start programs, the extent to which such programs 
                meet or exceed performance standards and other 
                requirements under this subchapter);
                    ``(B) the applicant's capacity to expand services 
                (including, in the case of current Head Start programs, 
                whether the applicant accomplished any prior expansions 
                in an effective and timely manner);
                    ``(C) the extent to which the applicant has 
                undertaken community-wide strategic planning and needs 
                assessments involving other community organizations 
                serving children and families;
                    ``(D) the numbers of eligible children in each 
                community who are not participating in Head Start; and
                    ``(E) the concentration of low-income families in 
                each community.
            ``(3) Allocation of expansion funds to indian and migrant 
        programs and to territories.--In determining the amount of 
        funds reserved pursuant to section 640(a)(2) (A) or (B) to be 
        used for expanding Head Start programs under this subchapter, 
        the Secretary shall take into consideration, to the extent 
        appropriate, the factors specified in paragraph (2).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 641(f) is repealed.

SEC. 7. ALLOCATION AND USE OF FUNDS FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.

    (a) Allocation; Use of Funds.--Section 640(a)(3) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D);
            (2) in the matter preceding clause (i) of subparagraph (A), 
        to read as follows:
            ``(3) Quality improvement.--
                    ``(A) Reservation.--
                            ``(i) __________.--The Secretary shall 
                        reserve, for activities specified in 
                        subparagraph (C) directed at the goals 
                        specified in subparagraph (B), a share of the 
                        amount (if any) by which such appropriations 
                        exceed the adjusted prior year appropriation 
                        (as defined in clause (ii)) equal to--
                                    ``(I) 25 percent of such amount, 
                                plus
                                    ``(II) any additional amount the 
                                Secretary may find necessary to address 
                                a demonstrated need for additional 
                                quality improvement activities.
                            ``(ii) Adjusted prior year appropriation 
                        defined.--The term `adjusted prior year 
                        appropriation' means, with respect to a fiscal 
                        year, the amount appropriated pursuant to 
                        section 639(a) for the preceding fiscal year 
                        adjusted to reflect the percentage change in 
                        the Consumer Price Index for All Urban 
                        Consumers (issued by the Bureau of Labor 
                        Statistics) during such preceding fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Goals.--Quality improvement funds reserved 
                under this paragraph shall be used to accomplish any or 
                all of the following goals:
                            ``(i) Ensuring that Head Start programs 
                        meet or exceed performance standards pursuant 
                        to section 641A.
                            ``(ii) Ensuring that programs have adequate 
                        qualified staff, and that such staff are 
                        furnished adequate training.
                            ``(iii) Ensuring that salary levels are 
                        adequate to attract and retain qualified staff.
                            ``(iv) Using salary increases to improve 
                        staff qualifications and to assist with the 
                        implementation of career development programs.
                            ``(v) Improving community-wide strategic 
                        planning and needs assessments.
                            ``(vi) Ensuring that the physical 
                        environments of Head Start programs are 
                        conducive to providing effective program 
                        services to children and families.
                            ``(vii) Making such other improvements in 
                        program quality as the Secretary may designate.
                    ``(C) Activities.--Quality improvement funds 
                reserved under this paragraph shall be used to carry 
                out any or all of the following activities:'';
            (3) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated, by adding at the 
        end the following new clause:
                            ``(vii) Such other activities as the 
                        Secretary may designate.''; and
            (4) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated--
                    (A) in clause (i)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subclause (I), 
                        by striking ``for the first, second, and third 
                        fiscal years for which funds are so reserved''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in subclause (II), by inserting 
                        ``territories, and programs serving Indian and 
                        migrant children,'' after ``States,'';
                    (B) by striking clauses (ii) and (iii);
                    (C) in clause (iv)--
                            (i) by striking all that precedes the first 
                        comma and inserting ``Funds'';
                            (ii) by striking ``clause (ii)'' the first 
                        place it appears and inserting ``clause (i)'';
                            (iii) by inserting before the period at the 
                        end of the first sentence, ``, for expenditure 
                        for activities specified in subparagraph (C)''; 
                        and
                            (iv) by striking the second sentence; and
                    (D) by striking clause (v) and redesignating 
                clauses (iv) and (vi) as clauses (ii) and (iii), 
                respectively.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 637 
are repealed.

SEC. 8. TRANSITION COORDINATION WITH SCHOOLS.

    (a) Coordination Requirements.--Section 642 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c), by striking ``schools that will 
        subsequently serve children in Head Start programs,''; and
            (2) by adding after subsection (c) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(d) Facilitating Transition to School.--
            ``(1) General requirement.--Each Head Start agency shall 
        undertake the actions specified in this subsection, to the 
        extent feasible and appropriate in the circumstances (including 
        the extent to which such agency is able to secure the 
        cooperation of parents and schools) to enable children to 
        maintain the developmental gains achieved in Head Start and to 
        build upon such gains in further schooling.
            ``(2) Coordination with schools.--The Head Start agency 
        shall take steps to coordinate with the local educational 
        agency and with schools in which children participating in a 
        Head Start program operated by such agency will enroll 
        following such program, including the following;
                    ``(A) developing and implementing a systematic 
                procedure for transferring Head Start records on each 
                participating child to the school in which such child 
                will enroll;
                    ``(B) establishing channels of communication 
                between Head Start staff and their counterparts in the 
                receiving schools (including teachers, social workers, 
                and health staff) to facilitate coordination of 
                programs;
                    ``(C) conducting meetings involving parents, 
                kindergarten or primary school teachers, and Head Start 
                teachers to discuss the developmental and other needs 
                of individual children; and
                    ``(D) organizing and participating in joint 
                transition-related training of school staff and Head 
                Start staff.
            ``(3) Promotion of parental involvement.--In order to 
        promote the continued involvement of Head Start parents in 
        their children's education upon transition to school, the Head 
        Start agency shall--
                    ``(A) provide training to Head Start parents--
                            ``(i) to inform them about their rights and 
                        responsibilities concerning their children's 
                        education; and
                            ``(ii) to enable them to understand and 
                        work with schools in order to communicate with 
                        teachers and other school personnel, to support 
                        their children's school work, and to 
                        participate as appropriate in decisions 
                        relating to their children's education; and
                    ``(B) take other actions, as appropriate and 
                feasible, to support the active involvement of parents 
                with schools, school personnel, and school-related 
                organizations.
            ``(4) Application of demonstration results.--The 
        Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Education shall 
        assess the results of the demonstration projects funded under 
        the Head Start Transition Project Act and shall work together 
        to provide technical assistance to enable communities to 
        implement proposing practices emerging from these 
        demonstrations for improving the Head Start program and 
        programs of the schools.''.
    (b) Extension of Set-Aside for Head Start Transition Project Act.--
            (1) In general.--Section 639(c) is amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1);
                    (B) by striking ``(2)''; and
                    (C) by striking ``1992, 1993, and 1994'' and 
                inserting ``1992 through 1996''.
            (2) Reference.--Section 640(a)(5) is amended by striking 
        ``The'' and inserting ``Allotments Among States.--Subject to 
        section 639(c), the''.

SEC. 9. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, EVALUATION, AND REPORTS.

    (a) Research, Demonstrations, and Evaluation.--Section 649, 
including the caption thereof, is amended to read as follows:

               ``research, demonstrations, and evaluation

    ``Sec. 649. (a) In General.--
            ``(1) Requirement; general purposes.--The Secretary shall 
        carry out a continuing program of research, demonstrations, and 
        evaluation, in order to--
                    ``(A) foster continuous improvement in the quality 
                of the Head Start program under this subchapter and in 
                its effectiveness in enabling participating children 
                and their families to succeed in school and in everyday 
                life; and
                    ``(B) use the Head Start program as a national 
                laboratory for developing, testing, and disseminating 
                new ideas and approaches for addressing the needs of 
                low-income pre-school children and their families and 
                communities, and otherwise to further the purposes of 
                this subchapter.
            ``(2) Plan.--The Secretary shall develop, and periodically 
        update, a plan governing the research, demonstration, and 
        evaluation activities under this section.
    ``(b) Conduct of Research, Demonstrations, and Evaluation.--The 
Secretary, in order to conduct research, demonstrations, and 
evaluations under this section--
            ``(1) may carry out such activities directly, or through 
        grants to, or contracts or cooperative agreements with, public 
        and private entities;
            ``(2) shall, to the extent appropriate, undertake such 
        activities in collaboration with other Federal and non-Federal 
        agencies conducting similar activities;
            ``(3) shall ensure that evaluation of activities in a 
        specific program or project are conducted by persons not 
        directly involved in the operation of such program or project;
            ``(4) may require Head Start agencies to provide for 
        independent evaluations; and
            ``(5) may approve, in appropriate cases, community-based 
        cooperative research and evaluation efforts to enable local 
        Head Start programs to collaborate with qualified researchers 
        not directly involved in program administration or operation.
    ``(c) Consultation and Collaboration.--In carrying out the 
activities under this section, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) consult with individuals--
                    ``(A) from relevant academic disciplines;
                    ``(B) involved in the operation of Head Start and 
                other child and family service programs; and
                    ``(C) from other Federal agencies and organizations 
                involved with children and families, ensuring that such 
                individuals reflect the multicultural nature of the 
                Head Start population and the multi-disciplinary nature 
                of the Head Start program;
            ``(2) whenever feasible and appropriate, obtain the views 
        of persons participating in and served by programs and projects 
        assisted under this subchapter with respect to activities under 
        this section; and
            ``(3) establish, to the extent appropriate, working 
        relationships with the faculties of colleges or universities 
        located in the area in which any evaluation under this section 
        is being conducted, unless there is no such college or 
        university willing and able to participate in such evaluation.
    ``(d) Specific Objectives.--The research, demonstration, and 
evaluation programs under this part shall include components designed 
to--
            ``(1) permit ongoing assessment of the quality and 
        effectiveness of the program under this subchapter;
            ``(2) contribute to developing knowledge concerning factors 
        associated with the quality and effectiveness of Head Start 
        programs and in identifying ways in which services provided 
        under this subchapter may be improved;
            ``(3) assist in developing knowledge concerning the factors 
        which promote or inhibit healthy development and effective 
        functioning of children and their families both during and 
        following the Head Start experience;
            ``(4) permit comparisons of children and families 
        participating in Head Start programs with children and families 
        receiving other child care, early childhood education, and 
        child development services and with other appropriate control 
        groups;
            ``(5) contribute to understanding the characteristics and 
        needs of population groups eligible for services provided under 
        this subchapter and the impact of such services on the 
        individuals served and the communities in which such services 
        are provided;
            ``(6) provide for disseminating and promoting the use of 
        the findings from such research, demonstration, and evaluation 
        activities; and
            ``(7) promote exploration of areas in which knowledge is 
        insufficient, and which will otherwise contribute to fulfilling 
        the purposes of this subchapter.
    ``(e) Longitudinal Studies.--In developing priorities for research, 
demonstration, and evaluation activities under this section, the 
Secretary shall give special consideration to longitudinal studies 
which--
            ``(1) examine the developmental progress of children and 
        their families both during and following the Head Start program 
        experience, including the examination of factors which 
        contribute to or detract from such progress;
            ``(2) examine factors related to improving the quality of 
        the Head Start program experience and the preparation it 
        provides for children and their families to function 
        effectively in schools and other settings in the years 
        following Head Start; and
            ``(3) as appropriate, permit comparison of children and 
        families participating in Head Start programs with children and 
        families receiving other child care, early childhood education, 
        and child development services, and with other appropriate 
        control groups.
    ``(f) Ownership of Results.--The Secretary shall take necessary 
steps to ensure that all studies, reports, proposals, and data produced 
or developed with Federal funds under this subchapter shall become the 
property of the United States.''.
    (b) Reports.--Section 651 is amended--
            (1) in the caption, to read ``REPORTS'';
            (2) by striking subsections (a) through (f);
            (3) by striking ``(g)'';
            (4)(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (11);
            (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (12) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (C) by adding after paragraph (12) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(13) a summary of the research, demonstration, and 
        evaluation activities conducted under section 649, including--
                    ``(A) a status report on ongoing activities; and
                    ``(B) results, conclusions, and recommendations 
                based on completed activities not previously reported 
                on.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Sections 640A, 650, and 651A are repealed.
            (2) Section 651, as amended by subsection (b), is 
        redesignated as section 650.

SEC. 10. INITIATIVE ON FAMILIES WITH INFANTS AND TODDLERS.

    (a) Establishment of Program.--The Act is amended by adding after 
section 645 the following new section:

           ``programs for families with infants and toddlers

    ``Sec. 645A. (a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants, in 
accordance with the provisions of this paragraph, for--
            ``(1) programs providing family-centered services for low-
        income families with very young children designed to promote 
        the development of their children, to fulfill their roles as 
        parents, and to move toward self-sufficiency; and
            ``(2) evaluation of, and provision of training and 
        technical assistance to, projects under the Comprehensive Child 
        Development Centers Act of 1988.
    ``(b) Families Eligible To Participate.--Persons who may be served 
by projects described in subsection (a)(1) include pregnant women, and 
families with children under age three (or under age five, in the case 
of children served by a grantee specified in subsection (e)(2)), who 
meet the criteria specified in section 645(a)(1).
    ``(c) Scope and Design of Programs.--Programs receiving assistance 
under this section shall--
            ``(1) provide, either directly or through referral, early, 
        continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and 
        family support services which will enhance the physical, 
        social, emotional, and intellectual development of 
        participating children;
            ``(2) ensure that the level of services provided to 
        families responds to their needs and circumstances;
            ``(3) promote positive parent-child interactions;
            ``(4) provide services to parents to support their role as 
        parents and to help them move toward self-sufficiency;
            ``(5) coordinate services with existing programs in the 
        State and community to ensure a comprehensive array of 
        services;
            ``(6) coordinate with local Head Start programs in order to 
        ensure continuity of services for children and families;
            ``(7) (in the case of a program operated by a Head Start 
        agency that also provides Head Start services through the age 
        of mandatory school attendance) ensure that participating 
        children and families receive such services through such age; 
        and
            ``(8) meet such other requirements concerning program 
        design and operation as the Secretary may establish.
    ``(d) Eligible Service Providers.--Entities that may apply to 
operate services projects under this section include--
            ``(1) entities operating Head Start programs under this 
        subchapter;
            ``(2) entities that, on the date of enactment of this 
        provision, were operating--
                    ``(A) Parent-Child Centers receiving financial 
                assistance under section 640(a)(4), or
                    ``(B) Comprehensive Child Development Projects 
                receiving financial assistance under the Comprehensive 
                Child Development Centers Act of 1988; and
            ``(3) other public and non-profit private entities capable 
        of providing child and family services that meet the standards 
        for participation in programs under this subchapter and such 
        other appropriate requirements relating to the program under 
        this section as the Secretary may establish.
    ``(e) Time-Limited Priority for Certain Entities.--
            ``(1) In general.--From amounts allotted pursuant to 
        paragraphs (2) and (4) of section 640(a), the Secretary shall 
        provide financial assistance in accordance with paragraphs (2) 
        through (4) of this subsection.
            ``(2) Parent-child centers.--The Secretary shall make 
        financial assistance available under this section for each of 
        fiscal years 1995, 1996, and 1997 to any entity that--
                    ``(A) complies with the standards and requirements 
                established by the Secretary under subsection (d); and
                    ``(B) received funding as a Parent-Child Center 
                pursuant to section 640(a)(4) for fiscal year 1994.
            ``(3) Comprehensive child development centers (ccds).--In 
        the case of an entity that--
                    ``(A) complies with the standards and requirements 
                established by the Secretary under subsection (d); and
                    ``(B) received a grant for fiscal year 1994 to 
                operate a project under the Comprehensive Child 
                Development Centers Act of 1988, the Secretary--
                            ``(i) shall make financial assistance 
                        available under this section for the duration 
                        of the demonstration project period specified 
                        in the grant award to such entity under such 
                        Act, and
                            ``(ii) shall permit such entity, in the 
                        program assisted under this section, to serve 
                        children from birth through age 5.
            ``(4) Evaluations, training, technical assistance relating 
        to ccds.--The Secretary shall make funds available under this 
        section as necessary to provide for the evaluation of, and 
        furnishing of training and technical assistance to, child 
        development projects (specified in paragraph (3)) under the 
        Comprehensive Child Development Centers Act of 1988.
    ``(f) Selection of Other Grantees.--From allotments pursuant to 
paragraphs (2) and (4) of section 640(a) (in amounts equal to the 
balance remaining of the amount specified in section 640(a)(6) after 
making grants to the eligible entities specified in subsection (e)), 
the Secretary shall award grants under this paragraph on a competitive 
basis to applicants meeting the criteria specified in subsection (d) 
(giving priority to entities with a record of providing early, 
continuous, and comprehensive childhood development and family 
services).
    ``(g) Secretarial Responsibilities--
            ``(1) Guidelines.--The Secretary shall develop and publish 
        guidelines concerning the content and operation of programs 
        under this section--
                    ``(A) in consultation with experts in early 
                childhood development and family services; and
                    ``(B) taking into consideration the knowledge and 
                experience gained from other early childhood programs, 
                including programs under the Comprehensive Child 
                Development Centers Act of 1988.
            ``(2) Monitoring, evaluation, training, and technical 
        assistance.--In order to ensure the successful operation of 
        service programs under this section, the Secretary shall 
        monitor the operation of such programs, evaluate their 
        effectiveness, and provide training and technical assistance 
        tailored to the particular needs of such programs.''.
    (b) Funds Set-Aside.--Section 640(a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, and subject to 
        paragraph (6)'' before the period;
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``paragraph (5)'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``paragraph (4)'';
            (3) by striking paragraph (4), and redesignating paragraphs 
        (5) and (6) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
            (4) by adding after paragraph (5), as redesignated, the 
        following new paragraph:
            ``(6) Funding for programs for families with infants and 
        toddlers.--From amounts allotted pursuant to paragraphs (2) and 
        (4), the Secretary shall use, for grants for programs for 
        families with infants and toddlers under section 645A, a 
        portion of the combined total of such amounts equal to 3 
        percent for fiscal year 1995, 4 percent for each of fiscal 
        years 1996 and 1997, and 5 percent for fiscal year 1998, of the 
        amount appropriated pursuant to section 639(a).''.
    (c) Consolidation.--In recognition that the Comprehensive Child 
Development Centers Act has demonstrated positive results, and that its 
purposes and functions have been consolidated into section 645A of the 
Head Start Act, the Comprehensive Child Development Centers Act of 1988 
is repealed.

SEC. 11. ENHANCED PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.

    (A) Considerations in Designating New Head Start Agencies.--Section 
641(d) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), to read as follows:
            ``(4) the plan of such applicant--
                    ``(A) to seek the involvement of parents of 
                participating children in activities designed to help 
                such parents become full partners in the education of 
                their children;
                    ``(B) to afford such parents the opportunity to 
                participate in the development, conduct, and overall 
                performance of the program at the local level;
                    ``(C) to offer (directly or through referral to 
                local entities, such as Even Start programs) to such 
                parents--
                            ``(i) family literacy services; and
                            ``(ii) parenting skills training;
                    ``(D) at the option of such applicant, to offer 
                (directly or through or through referral to local 
                entities) to such parents--
                            ``(i) parental social self-sufficiency 
                        training;
                            ``(ii) substance abuse counseling; or
                            ``(iii) any other activity designed to help 
                        such parents become full partners in the 
                        education of their children; and
                    ``(E) to provide, with respect to each 
                participating family, a family needs assessment that 
                includes consultation with such parents about the 
                benefits of parent involvement and about the activities 
                described in subparagraphs (C) and (D) in which such 
                parents may choose to become involved (taking into 
                consideration their specific family needs, work 
                schedules, and other responsibilities;'';
            (2) in paragraph (7), by inserting ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (3) by striking paragraph (8); and
            (4) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (8).
    (b) Functions of Head Start Agencies.--Section 642(b) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), to read as follows:
            ``(4) seek the involvement of parents of participating 
        children in activities designed to help such parents become 
        full partners in the education of their children, and to afford 
        such parents the opportunity to participate in the development, 
        conduct, and overall performance of the program at the local 
        level;'';
            (2) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (3) by striking paragraph (6);
            (4) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (7) as paragraphs 
        (8) and (9), respectively; and
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
        paragraphs:
            ``(5) offer (directly or through referral to local 
        entities, such as Even Start programs) to parents of 
        participating children family literacy services and parenting 
        skills training;
            ``(6) at the option of such agency, offer (directly or 
        through referral to local entities) to such parents parental 
        social self-sufficiency training, substance abuse counseling, 
        or any other activity designed to help such parents become full 
        partners in the education of their children;
            ``(7) provide, with respect to each participating family, a 
        family needs assessment that includes consultation with such 
        parents about the benefits of parent involvement and about the 
        activities described in paragraphs (4) through (6) in which 
        such parents may choose to be involved (taking into 
        consideration their specific family needs, work schedules, and 
        other responsibilities);''.
    (c) ``Family Literacy Services''.--Section 637 is amended by adding 
after paragraph (11) the following new paragraph:
            ``(12) The term `family literacy services' includes 
        activities such as the following: interactive literacy 
        activities between parents and their children, training for 
        parents on how to be their children's primary teacher and to be 
        full partners in the education of their children, parent 
        literacy training, and early childhood education.''.

SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 639, as amended by section 8(b), is further amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking all that follows 
        ``651A)'' and inserting ``such sums as necessary for fiscal 
        year 1995 and each of the three succeeding fiscal years.''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (b) and redesignating subsection 
        (c) as subsection (b).

SEC. 13. MINOR AND TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Definition of ``Poverty Line''.--(1) Section 637(9) is amended 
to read as follows:
            ``(9) The term `poverty line' means the official poverty 
        line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget).''.
    (2) Section 652 is repealed.
    (b) Updating of Hold-Harmless for Indian and Migrant Programs.--
Section 640(a)(2)(A) is amended by striking ``1990'' and inserting 
``1994''.
    (c) Use of Head Start Funds for Full-Day and Full-Year Services.--
Section 640(h) is amended by striking ``Each Head Start program may'' 
and inserting ``Financial assistance provided under this subchapter may 
be used by each Head Start program to''.
    (d) Designation of Head Start Agencies.--Section 641(c), as amended 
by section 2 of this Act, is further amended--
            (1) in the first sentence--
                    (A) by inserting ``(subject to paragraph (2))'' 
                before ``, the Secretary shall give priority''; and
                    (B) by striking ``unless'' and all that follows 
                through the end of subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
                following: ``unless the Secretary makes a finding that 
                the agency involved fails to meet program, fiscal, and 
                other requirements established by the Secretary.'';
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as paragraph (2) and 
        relocating the left margin two ems to the left;
            (3) in paragraph (2), as redesignated--
                    (A) by striking ``except that, if'' and inserting 
                ``If''; and
                    (B) by striking ``subparagraph (A)'' and inserting 
                ``paragraph (1)''; and
            (4) by striking ``Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this paragraph'' and inserting the following:
            ``(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
        subsection''.
    (e) Federal Register Publication Requirement.--Section 644(d) is 
amended by striking ``guidelines, instructions,''.
    (f) Duration of Services to Eligible Children.--Section 645(c) is 
amended--
            (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``may provide'' and 
        all that follows and inserting ``shall be permitted to provide 
        more than one year of Head Start services to eligible children 
        in the State.''; and
            (2) by striking the second sentence.

SEC. 14. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The provisions of this Act shall be effective with respect to 
fiscal year 1995 and succeeding fiscal years.

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