[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4241 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4241

          To amend the Head Start Act, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 16, 1998

  Mr. Riggs (for himself, Mr. Goodling, Mr. Barrett of Nebraska, Mr. 
 Greenwood, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Souder) introduced the following bill; 
   which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
          To amend the Head Start Act, 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Head Start Amendments of 1998''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Statement of purpose.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. Financial assistance for Head Start programs.
Sec. 6. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 7. Allotment of funds.
Sec. 8. Designation of Head Start agencies.
Sec. 9. Quality standards.
Sec. 10. Powers and functions of Head Start agencies.
Sec. 11. Head Start transition.
Sec. 12. Submission of plans to Governors.
Sec. 13. Administrative requirements and standards.
Sec. 14. Participation in Head Start programs.
Sec. 15. Early head start programs for families with infants and 
                            toddlers.
Sec. 16. Technical assistance and training.
Sec. 17. Family literacy services.
Sec. 18. Professional requirements.
Sec. 19. Research and evaluation.
Sec. 20. Repeal of consultation requirement.
Sec. 21. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 22. Repeal of Head Start Transition Project Act.
Sec. 23. Effective date; application of amendments.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    Section 636 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 636. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    ``It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote school readiness 
by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income 
children through the provision, to low-income children and their 
families, of health, educational, nutritional, social, and other 
services that are determined, based on family needs assessments, to be 
necessary.''.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 637 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9832) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (14) as 
        paragraphs (4) through (15), respectively;
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the Federated States of 
        Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau,'';
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) The term `child with a disability' means--
                    ``(A) a child with a disability, as defined in 
                section 602(3) of the Individuals with Disabilities 
                Education Act; and
                    ``(B) an infant or toddler with a disability, as 
                defined in section 632(5) of such Act.'';
            (4) by striking paragraph (5) (as redesignated in paragraph 
        (1)) and inserting the following:
            ``(5) The term `family literacy services' means services 
        that--
                    ``(A) are provided to participants who receive the 
                services on a voluntary basis;
                    ``(B) are of sufficient intensity, and of 
                sufficient duration, to make sustainable changes in a 
                family (such as eliminating or reducing dependence on 
                income-based public assistance); and
                    ``(C) integrate each of--
                            ``(i) interactive literacy activities 
                        between parents and their children;
                            ``(ii) training for parents on being 
                        partners with their children in learning;
                            ``(iii) parent literacy training, including 
                        training that contributes to economic self-
                        sufficiency; and
                            ``(iv) appropriate instruction for children 
                        of parents receiving the parent literacy 
                        training.'';
            (5) in paragraph (7) (as redesignated in paragraph (1)), by 
        adding at the end the following: ``Nothing in this paragraph 
        shall be construed to require an agency to provide services to 
        a child who has not reached the age of compulsory school 
        attendance for more than the number of hours per day permitted 
        by State law for the provision of services to such a child.''; 
        and
            (6) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(16) The term `reliable and replicable', used with 
        respect to research, means an objective, valid, scientific 
        study that--
                    ``(A) includes a rigorously defined sample of 
                subjects, that is sufficiently large and representative 
                to support the general conclusions of the study;
                    ``(B) relies on measurements that meet established 
                standards of reliability and validity;
                    ``(C) is subjected to peer review before the 
                results of the study are published; and
                    ``(D) discovers effective strategies for enhancing 
                the development and skills of children.''.

SEC. 5. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HEAD START PROGRAMS.

    Section 638(1) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9833(1)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``aid the'' and inserting ``enable the''; 
        and
            (2) by striking the semicolon and inserting ``and attain 
        school readiness;''.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 639 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9834) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by inserting ``$4,500,000,000 for fiscal year 
                1999 and'' after ``subchapter''; and
                    (B) by striking ``1995 through 1998'' and inserting 
                ``2000 through 2003''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) 
        and inserting the following:
            ``(1) for each of the fiscal years 1999 through 2003, not 
        more than $30,000,000 and not less than the amount made 
        available to carry out the Head Start Transition Project Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 9855-9855g) for fiscal year 1998, to carry out 
        activities authorized under section 642A;
            ``(2) not more than $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
        1999 through 2003 to carry out impact studies under section 
        649(g);
            ``(3) not more than $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, and 
        such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2000 
        through 2003, to carry out other research, demonstration, and 
        evaluation activities, including longitudinal studies, under 
        section 649; and
            ``(4) not less than $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, and 
        such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2000 through 
        2003, to carry out activities authorized under section 648B.''.

SEC. 7. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS.

    (a) Allotments.--Section 640(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
9835(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``handicapped 
                children'' and inserting ``children with 
                disabilities'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the 
                Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the 
                Marshall Islands, Palau,'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (D) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``related to 
                the development and implementation of quality 
                improvement plans under section 641A(d)(2).'' and 
                inserting ``carried out under paragraph (1), (2), or 
                (3) of section 641A(d) relating to correcting 
                deficiencies and conducting proceedings to terminate 
                the designation of Head Start agencies; and'';
                    (E) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
                following:
            ``(E) payments for research and evaluation activities under 
        section 649.''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following: ``In 
                carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall 
                continue the administrative arrangement responsible for 
                meeting the needs of migrant and Indian children and 
                shall assure that appropriate funding is provided to 
                meet such needs.'';
            (2) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)(i)(II) by inserting 
                ``subject to subsection (m),'' after ``(II)'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) in clause (ii)--
                                    (I) by striking ``adequate 
                                qualified staff'' and inserting 
                                ``adequate numbers of qualified 
                                staff''; and
                                    (II) by inserting ``and children 
                                with disabilities'' before ``, when'';
                            (ii) in clause (iv) by inserting ``and to 
                        encourage the staff to continually improve 
                        their skills and expertise by informing staff 
                        of the availability of State and Federal loan 
                        forgiveness programs for professional 
                        development'' before the period at the end;
                            (iii) in clause (v) by inserting ``and 
                        collaboration efforts for such programs'' 
                        before the period at the end; and
                            (iv) by amending clause (vi) to read as 
                        follows:
            ``(vi) Ensuring that such programs have adequate numbers of 
        qualified staff that can promote language skills and literacy 
growth of children and that provide children with a variety of skills 
that have been identified, through research that is reliable and 
replicable, as predictive of later reading achievement.''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (C)--
                            (i) in clause (i)(I)--
                                    (I) by striking ``of staff'' and 
                                inserting ``of classroom teachers and 
                                other staff''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``such staff'' and 
                                inserting ``qualified staff, including 
                                recruitment and retention pursuant to 
                                achieving the requirements set forth in 
                                section 648A(a)'';
                            (ii) by redesignating subclause (II) as 
                        subclause (III);
                            (iii) by inserting after subclause (I) the 
                        following:
            ``(II) Preferences in awarding salary increases, in excess 
        of cost of living allowances, shall be granted to classroom 
        teachers and staff who obtain additional training or education 
        related to their responsibilities as employees of a Head Start 
        program.'';
                            (iv) by amending clause (ii) to read as 
                        follows:
                    ``(ii) Of the amount remaining after carrying out 
                clause (i), the highest priority shall be placed on 
                training classroom teachers and other staff to meet the 
                education performance standards described in section 
                641A(a)(1)(B), through activities--
                            ``(I) to promote children's language and 
                        literacy growth, through techniques identified 
                        through reliable, replicable research;
                            ``(II) to promote the acquisition of the 
                        English language for non-English background 
                        children and families;
                            ``(III) to foster children's school 
                        readiness skills through activities described 
                        in section 648A(a)(1); and
                            ``(IV) to provide training necessary to 
                        improve the qualifications of the staff of the 
                        Head Start agencies and to support staff 
                        training, child counseling, and other services 
                        necessary to address the problems of children 
                        participating in Head Start programs, including 
                        children from dysfunctional families, children 
                        who experience chronic violence in their 
                        communities, and children who experience 
                        substance abuse in their families.'';
                            (vi) by striking clause (v); and
                            (vii) by redesignating clause (vi) as 
                        clause (v);
            (3) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``1981'' and 
                inserting ``1998'';
                    (B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as 
                follows:
            ``(B) any amount available after all allotments are made 
        under subparagraph (A) for such fiscal year shall be 
        distributed proportionately on the basis of the number of 
        children less than 5 years of age who live with families whose 
        income is below the poverty line.''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
``For fiscal year 1999, and for each 2-fiscal-year period thereafter, 
the Secretary shall use the most recent data available on the number of 
children under the age of 5, from families below the poverty level that 
is consistent with that published for counties, by the Department of 
Commerce, unless the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce determine 
that use of the updated poverty data would be inappropriate or 
unreliable. If the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce determine 
that some or all of the data referred to in this paragraph are 
inappropriate or unreliable, they shall issue a report setting forth 
their reasons in detail.'';
            (4) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by inserting before the 
                period the following ``and encourage Head Start 
                agencies to actively collaborate with entities involved 
                in State and local planning processes in order to 
                better meet the needs of low-income children and 
                families'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (C)--
                            (i) in clause (i)(I), by inserting ``the 
                        appropriate regional office of the 
                        Administration for Children and Families and'' 
                        before ``agencies'';
                            (ii) in clause (iii), by striking ``and'' 
                        at the end;
                            (iii) in clause (iv)--
                                    (I) by striking ``education, and 
                                national service activities,'' and 
                                inserting ``and education and community 
                                activities,'';
                                    (II) by striking ``and activities'' 
                                and inserting ``activities''; and
                                    (III) by striking the period and 
                                inserting ``(including coordination 
                                with those State officials who are 
                                responsible for administering part C 
                                and section 619 of the Individuals with 
                                Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
                                1431-1445, 1419)), and services for 
                                homeless children;''; and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(v) include representatives of the State Head Start 
        Association and local Head Start agencies in unified planning 
        regarding early care and education services at both the State 
        and local levels, including collaborative efforts to plan for 
        the provision of full-working-day, full-calendar-year early 
        care and education services for children;
            ``(vi) encourage local Head Start agencies to appoint a 
        State level representative to speak on behalf of Head Start 
        agencies within the State on collaborative efforts described in 
        subparagraphs (B) and (D), and in clause (v); and
            ``(vii) encourage Head Start agencies to collaborate with 
        entities involved in State and local planning processes 
        (including the State lead agency administering the financial 
        assistance received under the Child Care and Development Block 
        Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) and the entities 
        providing resource and referral services in the State) in order 
        to better meet the needs of low-income children and 
        families.'';
                    (C) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                subparagraph (G); and
                    (D) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
                following:
    ``(D)(i) A State that receives a grant under subparagraph (B) may 
develop and submit a statewide, regional, or local unified plan for 
early childhood education and child care, that includes Head Start 
services and is developed jointly with the State-level Head Start 
representative pursuant to subparagraph (C)(vi).
    ``(ii) A State that submits such plan may submit with the plan a 
request approved by the chief executive officer of the State and by 
such representative on behalf of 1 or more Head Start agencies in such 
State, for a waiver of either or both of subsections (a)(1)(A) and (b) 
of section 645, including related regulations, that are identified in 
the plan as barriers that impede collaboration between entities 
carrying out Head Start programs and entities carrying out other early 
childhood education and child care programs in the State, impede the 
delivery and limit the quality of early childhood education and child 
care in the State, limit the availability of full-working-day, full-
calendar-year services in communities in which a need for such services 
has been demonstrated, or hinder facilitation of collaborations with 
other agencies or entities to provide such services. The request shall 
specify the specific purposes for which the waiver is sought and 
indicate how the waiver will accomplish such purposes, and shall 
include provisions specifying the manner in which an independent 
evaluation will be conducted of Head Start programs in the State if the 
waiver is granted.
            ``(iii) A waiver requested under clause (ii) may be granted 
        only to the extent necessary to permit Head Start agencies 
        participating in such plan--
                    ``(I) to enroll in Head Start programs otherwise 
                eligible children from families whose income exceeds 
                the poverty line but does not exceed 140 percent of the 
                poverty line but, in the case of any Head Start 
                program, to enroll under the authority of this clause 
                not more than 25 percent of the aggregate number of 
                children enrolled in such program; and
                    ``(II) to charge participation fees for such 
                children, consistent with the sliding fee schedule 
                established by the State under section 658E(c)(5) of 
                the of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act 
                of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858c(c)(5)).
    ``(E) Following the award of collaboration grants described in 
subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall provide, from the reserved sums, 
supplemental funding for collaboration grants to States that engage in 
other innovative collaborative initiatives, including plans for 
collaborative training and professional development initiatives for 
child care, early childhood education and Head Start service managers, 
providers, and staff.
    ``(F)(i) The Secretary shall--
            ``(I) review on an ongoing basis evidence of barriers to 
        effective collaboration between Head Start programs and other 
        Federal child care and early childhood education programs and 
        resources; and
            ``(II) develop initiatives, including providing additional 
        training and technical assistance and making regulatory 
        changes, in necessary cases, to eliminate barriers to the 
        collaboration.
    ``(ii) In the case of a collaborative activity funded under this 
subchapter and another provision of law providing for Federal child 
care or early childhood education, the use of equipment and 
nonconsumable supplies purchased with funds made available under this 
subchapter or such provision shall not be restricted to children 
enrolled or otherwise participating in the program carried out under 
that subchapter or provision, during a period in which the activity is 
predominantly funded under this subchapter or such provision.'';
            (5) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
    ``(6)(A) From the amounts reserved and allotted pursuant to 
paragraphs (2) and (4), and except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and 
(C)(i), the Secretary shall use for grants for programs described in 
section 645A(a) a portion of the combined total of such amount equal 
to--
            ``(i) 7 percent for fiscal year 1999;
            ``(ii) 7 percent for fiscal year 2000;
            ``(iii) 7 percent for fiscal year 2001;
            ``(iv) not more than 10 percent for fiscal year 2002;, and
            ``(v) not more than 10 percent for fiscal year 2003;
        of the amount appropriated pursuant to section 639(a) for the 
        respective fiscal year.
    ``(B) If the Secretary does not submit to--
            ``(i) the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; 
        and
            ``(ii) to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources and 
        the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
by January 1, 2001, a report on the results of the Early Head Start 
impact study currently being conducted by the Secretary, then the 
amount required to be used in accordance with subparagraph (A) for 
fiscal years 2002 and 2003 shall be 7 percent of the amount 
appropriated pursuant to section 639(a) for the respective fiscal year.
    ``(C)(i) For any fiscal year for which the Secretary determines 
that the amount appropriated under section 639(a) is not sufficient to 
permit the Secretary to use the portion described in subparagraph (A) 
without reducing the number of children served by Head Start programs 
or negatively impacting the quality of Head Start services, relative to 
the number of children served and the quality of the services during 
the preceding fiscal year, the Secretary may reduce the percentage of 
funds required to be used as the portion described in subparagraph (A) 
for the fiscal year for which the determination is made, but not below 
the percentage required to be so used for the preceding fiscal year.
    ``(ii) For any fiscal year for which the amount appropriated under 
section 639(a) requires a reduction in the amount made available under 
this subchapter to Head Start agencies and entities described in 
section 645A, relative to the amount made available to the agencies and 
entities for the preceding fiscal year, adjusted as described in 
paragraph (3)(A)(ii), the Secretary shall proportionately reduce--
            ``(I) the amounts made available to the entities for 
        programs carried out under section 645A; and
            ``(II) the amounts made available to Head Start agencies 
        for Head Start programs.''; and
            (6) in paragraph (7), by striking ``the Commonwealth of the 
        Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, 
        the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau.'' and 
        inserting ``and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
        Islands.''.
    (b) Children With Disabilities.--Section 640(d) of the Head Start 
Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(d)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``1982'' and inserting ``1999''; and
            (2) by striking ``(as defined in section 602(a) of the 
        Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)''.
    (c) Increased Appropriations.--Section 640(g) of the Head Start Act 
(42 U.S.C. 9835(g)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``, and after maintaining such level provide additional support 
        for full-working-day, full-calendar-year Head Start services 
        through collaborations with entities carrying out programs that 
        are in existence on the date of the allocation and with other 
        private, nonprofit agencies. Any such additional funds 
        remaining may be used to serve an increased number of children 
        or make nonstructural and minor structural changes, and to 
        acquire and install equipment, for the purpose of improving 
        facilities necessary to expand the availability and 
        accessibility of Head Start programs.'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking the semicolon 
                and inserting ``, and the performance history of the 
                applicant in providing services under other Federal 
                programs (other than the program carried out under this 
                subchapter);'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the semicolon 
                and inserting ``, and organizations serving children 
                with disabilities;'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (D), by striking the semicolon 
                and inserting ``and the extent to which, and manner in 
                which, the applicant demonstrates the ability to 
                collaborate and participate with other local community 
                providers of child care or preschool services to 
                provide full-working-day full-calendar-year 
                services;'';
                    (D) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``program; 
                and'' and inserting ``or any other early childhood 
                program;'';
                    (E) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(G) the extent to which the applicant proposes to foster 
        partnerships with other service providers in a manner that will 
        enhance the resource capacity of the applicant; and
            ``(H) the extent to which the applicant, in providing 
        services, will plan to coordinate with the local educational 
        agency serving the community involved and with schools in which 
        children participating in a Head Start program operated by such 
        agency will enroll following such program, regarding the 
        education services provided by such local educational 
        agency.''; and
            (3) in paragraph (3) by striking ``In'' and inserting 
        ``Subject to subsection (m), in''.
    (d) Relative Availability of Funds for Quality and for Expansion.--
Section 640 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(m)(1)The amount (if any) by which the funds appropriated under 
section 639(a) for a fiscal year exceed the adjusted prior year 
appropriation (as defined in subsection (a)(3)(ii)), shall be available 
as follows:


                                                                                                                
                                                                                            Percent of Amount   
                                          Percent of Amount        Percent of Amount        Exceeding Adjusted  
                                          Exceeding Adjusted       Exceeding Adjusted           Prior Year      
                                              Prior Year               Prior Year          Appropriation To Be  
           For Fiscal Year:              Appropriation To Be      Appropriation To Be    Available to Qualifying
                                            Available for            Available for       Head Start Programs for
                                           Activities Under         Activities Under         Activities Under   
                                        Subsection (a)(3)(C):      Subsection (g)(1):     Subsections (a)(3)(C) 
                                                                                                and (g)(1)      
                                                                                                                
                 1999                             65                       25                       10          
                 2000                             65                       25                       10          
                 2001                             45                       45                       10          
                 2002                             45                       45                       10          
                 2003                             25                       65                      10.          
                                                                                                                

    ``(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term `qualifying Head 
Start program' means a Head Start agency or Head Start program that 
is--
            ``(A) in compliance with the quality standards and result-
        based performance measures applicable under subsections (a) and 
        (b) of section 641A;
            ``(B) not required under subsection (d) of such section to 
        take a corrective action; and
            ``(C) making progress toward complying with requirements 
        applicable under section 648A(a)(2).
    ``(3) Funds required to be made available under this subsection to 
qualifying Head Start programs shall be made available on the same 
basis as allotments are determined under subsection (a)(4).''.
    (f) Conforming Amendment.--Section 644(f)(2) of the Head Start Act 
(42 U.S.C. 9839(f)(2)) is amended by striking ``640(a)(3)(C)(v)'' and 
inserting ``640(g)''.

SEC. 8. DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

    Section 641 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by inserting ``or for-profit'' after 
                ``nonprofit''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``(in consultation with the chief 
                executive officer of the State in which the community 
                is located)'' after ``the Secretary'' the last place it 
                appears;
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``shall give priority'' and 
                        inserting ``may, in consultation with the chief 
                        executive officer of the State, give 
                        priority'';
                            (ii) by inserting ``or for-profit'' after 
                        ``nonprofit''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``makes a finding'' and 
                        all that follows through the period at the end, 
                        and inserting the following:
``determines that the agency involved fails to meet program and 
financial management requirements, performance standards described in 
section 641A(a)(1), and other requirements established by the 
Secretary.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``shall give 
                priority'' and inserting ``may, in consultation with 
                the chief executive officer of the State, give 
                priority''; and
                    (C) by aligning the left margin of paragraphs (2) 
                and (3) with the left margin of paragraph (1); and
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``If no entity in a community is entitled to 
                the priority specified in subsection (c), then the 
Secretary may'' and inserting the following:
``If the Secretary elects not to give priority designation to any 
agency under subsection (c), the Secretary shall'';
                    (B) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``(at 
                        home and in the center involved where 
                        practicable)'' after ``activities'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D)--
                                    (I) in clause (iii) by adding 
                                ``or'' at the end;
                                    (II) by striking clause (iv); and
                                    (III) by redesignating clause (v) 
                                as clause (iv);
                            (iii) in subparagraph (E) by striking ``and 
                        (D)'' and inserting ``and (E)'';
                            (iv) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and 
                        (E) and subparagraphs (E) and (F), 
                        respectively; and
                            (v) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
                        following:
                    ``(D) to offer to parents of participating children 
                substance abuse counseling (either directly or through 
                referral to local entities), including information on 
                fetal alcohol syndrome and crack-baby syndrome;'';
                    (C) by amending paragraph (7) to read as follows:
            ``(7) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of non-
        English background children and their families, including needs 
        related to the acquisition of the English language;'';
                    (D) in paragraph (8)--
                            (i) by striking the period at the end and 
                        inserting ``; and''; and
                            (ii) by redesignating such paragraph as 
                        paragraph (9);
                    (E) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
            ``(8) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of 
        children with disabilities;''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(10) the plan of such applicant to collaborate with other 
        entities carrying out early childhood education and child care 
        programs in the community.''; and
            (4) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
    ``(e) If no agency in the community receives priority designation 
and if there is no qualified applicant in the community, then the 
Secretary shall designate an agency to carry out the Head Start program 
in the community on an interim basis until a qualified applicant from 
the community is so designated.''.

SEC. 9. QUALITY STANDARDS.

    (a) Quality Standards.--Section 641A(a) of the Head Start Act (42 
U.S.C. 9836a(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                inserting ``, including minimum levels of overall 
                accomplishment,'' after ``regulation standards'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                ``education,'';
                    (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) 
                as subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively; and
                    (D) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
                following:
                    ``(B)(i) education performance standards to ensure 
                the school readiness of children participating in a 
                Head Start program, on completion of the Head Start 
                program and prior to entering school; and
                    ``(ii) additional education performance standards 
                to ensure that the children participating in the 
                program, at a minimum--
                            ``(I) develop phonemic, print, and numeracy 
                        awareness;
                            ``(II) understand and use oral language to 
                        communicate for different purposes;
                            ``(III) understand and use increasingly 
                        complex and varied vocabulary;
                            ``(IV) develop and demonstrate an 
                        appreciation of books; and
                            ``(V) in the case of non-English background 
                        children, progress toward acquisition of the 
                        English language.'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (2);
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A) by striking 
                ``linguistically and culturally appropriate'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)(iii) by striking ``child'' 
                and inserting ``early childhood education and''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (C)--
                            (i) in clause (i)--
                                    (I) by striking ``not later than 1 
                                year after the date of enactment of 
                                this section,''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``section 651(b)'' 
                                and all that follows through 
                                ``section'' and inserting ``this 
                                subsection''; and
                            (ii) in subclause (ii), by striking 
                        ``November 2, 1978'' and inserting ``the date 
                        of enactment of the Human Services 
                        Reauthorization Act of 1998''; and
            (4) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs 
        (2) and (3), respectively.
    (b) Performance Measures.--Section 641A(b) of the Head Start Act 
(42 U.S.C. 9836a(b)) is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by inserting ``Results-Based'' before 
        ``Performance'';
            (2) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this section, the'' and inserting 
                ``The'';
                    (B) by striking ``child'' and inserting ``early 
                childhood education and''; and
                    (C) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
                ``, and the impact of the services provided through the 
                programs to children and their families.'';
            (3) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``Design'' and 
                inserting ``Characteristics'';
                    (B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``be designed'' and inserting ``include the 
                education performance standards described in subsection 
                (a)(1)(B) and shall'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``to assess'' 
                and insert ``assess the impact of'';
                    (D) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) by striking ``to'';
                            (ii) by striking ``and peer review'' and 
                        inserting ``, peer review, and program 
                        evaluation''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``; and'' and inserting 
                        the following:
                ``not later than January 1, 1999, and, with respect to 
                such education performance standards, assess whether 
                children participating in Head Start programs--
                            ``(I) know that letters of the alphabet are 
                        a special category of visual graphics that can 
                        be individually named;
                            ``(II) recognize a word as a unit of print;
                            ``(III) identify at least 10 letters of the 
                        alphabet; and
                            ``(IV) associate sounds with written 
                        words;'';
                    (E) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``be 
                developed'' before ``for other'';
            (4) in paragraph (3)(A) by striking ``and by region'' and 
        inserting ``, regionally, and locally''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Other performance measures.--In addition to other 
        applicable results-based performance measures, Head Start 
        agencies may establish their own performance measures.''.
    (c) Monitoring.--Section 641A(c) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
9836a(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``and results-based 
        performance measures'' after ``standards''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (C)--
                            (i) by striking ``(including linguistic and 
                        cultural)'';
                            (ii) by inserting ``(including children 
                        with disabilities)'' after ``eligible 
                        children''; and
                            (iii) by striking the period at the end and 
                        inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) include as part of the reviews of the 
                programs, a review and assessment of program 
                effectiveness, as measured in accordance with the 
                results-based performance measures developed pursuant 
                to subsection (b) and with the performance standards 
                established pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
                subsection (a)(1); and
                    ``(E) seek information from the community and the 
                State about the performance of the program and its 
                efforts to collaborate with other entities carrying out 
                early childhood education and child care programs in 
                the community.''.
    (d) Termination.--Section 641A(d)(1) of the Head Start Act (42 
U.S.C. 9836a(d)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``or results-based performance measures 
        described in subsection (b)'' after ``subsection (a)'';
            (2) by amending subparagraph (B)(ii) to read as follows:
                    ``(ii) if the Secretary finds that the deficiency 
                threatens the health or safety of staff or program 
                participants or poses a threat to the integrity of 
                Federal funds--
                            ``(I) to correct the deficiency not later 
                        than 90 days after the identification of the 
                        deficiency if the Secretary finds, in the 
                        discretion of the Secretary, that such a 90-day 
                        period is reasonable, in light of the nature 
                        and magnitude of the deficiency; or
                            ``(II) in the discretion of the Secretary 
                        (taking into consideration the seriousness of 
                        the deficiency and the time reasonably required 
                        to correct the deficiency) to comply with the 
                        requirements of paragraph (2) concerning a 
                        quality improvement plan;'';
            (3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``unless the agency 
        corrects the deficiency.'' and inserting the following:
                ``unless the agency--
                            ``(i) corrects the deficiency within 90 
                        days after the Secretary informs the agency of 
                        the deficiency; or
                            ``(ii) develops and obtains approval for a 
                        quality improvement plan in accordance with 
                        paragraph (2) in a case in which the Secretary, 
                        at the discretion of the Secretary, requires 
                        such a plan; and.''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) If the Secretary terminates the designation 
                of a Head Start agency pursuant to this subsection, the 
                Secretary shall, after consultation with families that 
                will be eligible to receive services in the community, 
                either--
                            ``(i) issue a certificate to eligible 
                        parents for parents to use at the provider of 
                        their choice, provided that the provider can 
                        provide health, educational, nutritional, and 
                        social services to eligible children and their 
                        families either through direct services or 
                        through referral to local entities; or
                            ``(ii) use procedures outlined in section 
                        641 to designate a new Head Start agency.''.

SEC. 10. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

    Section 642 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or for-profit'' after 
        ``nonprofit'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (6)--
                            (i) by striking subparagraph (D); and
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and 
                        (F) and subparagraphs (D) and (E), 
                        respectively;
                    (B) in paragraph (8) by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (C) in paragraph (9) by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and'';
                    (D) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (9) as 
                paragraphs (7) through (10), respectively;
                    (E) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
            ``(6) offer to parents of participating children substance 
        abuse counseling (either directly or through referral to local 
        entities), including information on fetal alcohol syndrome and 
        crack-baby syndrome;''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(11)(A) inform custodial parents in single-parent 
        families that participate in programs, activities, or services 
        carried out under this subtitle about the availability of child 
        support services;
            ``(B) refer eligible parents to the child support offices 
        of State and local governments;
            ``(C) establish referral arrangements with such offices; 
        and
            ``(D) verify that such custodial parents who receive 
        benefits under title IV of the Social Security Act comply with 
        the provisions of part D of title IV of such Act relating to 
        the establishment of paternity;'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and collaborate'' after 
                ``coordinate''; and
                    (B) by striking ``section 402(g) of the Social 
                Security Act, and other'' and inserting ``the State 
                program carried out under the Child Care and 
                Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et 
                seq.), and other early childhood education and 
                development''; and
            (4) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``carry out'' and all that 
                        follows through ``maintain'' and inserting 
                        ``take steps to ensure, to the maximum extent 
                        possible, that children maintain'';
                            (ii) by inserting ``and educational'' after 
                        ``developmental''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``to build'' and 
                        inserting ``build'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2); and
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as 
                paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively.

SEC. 11. HEAD START TRANSITION.

    The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended by inserting 
after section 642 the following:

``SEC. 642A. HEAD START TRANSITION.

    ``Each Head Start agency shall take steps to coordinate with the 
local educational agency serving the community involved and with 
schools in which children participating in a Head Start program 
operated by such agency will enroll following such program, including--
            ``(1) developing and implementing a systematic procedure 
        for transferring, with parental consent, Head Start program 
        records for each participating child to the school in which 
        such child will enroll;
            ``(2) establishing channels of communication between Head 
        Start staff and their counterparts in the schools (including 
        teachers, social workers, and health staff) to facilitate 
        coordination of programs;
            ``(3) conducting meetings involving parents, kindergarten 
        or elementary school teachers, and Head Start program teachers 
        to discuss the educational, developmental, and other needs of 
        individual children;
            ``(4) organizing and participating in joint transition-
        related training of school staff and Head Start staff;
            ``(5) developing and implementing a family outreach and 
        support program in cooperation with entities carrying out 
        parental involvement efforts under title I of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.);
            ``(6) assisting families, administrators, and teachers in 
        enhancing educational and developmental continuity between Head 
        Start services and elementary school classes;
            ``(7) linking the services provided in such program with 
        the education services provided by such local education 
        agency.''.

SEC. 12. SUBMISSION OF PLANS TO GOVERNORS.

    The first sentence of section 643 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
9838) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``30 days'' and inserting ``60 days'';
            (2) by striking ``so disapproved'' and inserting 
        ``disapproved (for reasons other than failure to meet State 
        health, safety, and child care standards, if any)''; and
            (3) by inserting before the period ``, as evidenced by a 
        written statement of the Secretary's findings transmitted to 
        such officer''.

SEC. 13. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS.

    Section 644(g) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9839(g)) is amended 
by striking paragraph (3).

SEC. 14. PARTICIPATION IN HEAD START PROGRAMS.

    Section 645(a)(1)(B) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
9840(a)(1)(B)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``that programs'' and inserting ``that (i) 
        programs''; and
            (2) by striking the period and inserting the following:
``, and (ii) a child who has been determined to meet the low-income 
criteria and who is participating in a Head Start program in a program 
year shall be considered to continue to meet the low-income criteria 
through the end of the succeeding program year. In determining, for 
purposes of this paragraph, whether a child who has applied for 
enrollment in a Head Start program meets the low-income criteria, an 
entity may consider evidence of family income during the 12 months 
preceding the month in which the application is submitted, or during 
the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the application 
is submitted, whichever more accurately reflects the needs of the 
family at the time of application.''.

SEC. 15. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES WITH INFANTS AND 
              TODDLERS.

    (a) Program.--Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840a) 
is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``early head 
        start'' before ``programs for'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a period;
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2); and
                    (C) by striking ``for--'' and all that follows 
                through ``(1)'', and inserting ``for'';
            (3) in subsection (b)(5), by inserting ``(including 
        programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities)'' after 
        ``community'';
            (4) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking ``(a)(1)'' and inserting ``(a)''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(or under'' and 
                all that follows through ``(e)(3))'';
            (5) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2); and
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by inserting ``or for-profit'' after 
                        ``nonprofit''; and
                            (ii) by redesignating such paragraph as 
                        paragraph (2);
            (6) by striking subsection (e);
            (7) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections 
        (e) and (f), respectively;
            (8) in subsection (e) (as redesignated in paragraph (7))--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Other''; and
                    (B) by striking ``From the balance remaining of the 
                portion specified in section 640(a)(6), after making 
                grants to the eligible entities specified in subsection 
                (e),'' and inserting ``From the portion specified in 
                section 640(a)(6),'';
            (9) by striking subsection (h); and
            (10) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Monitoring, Training, Technical Assistance, and Evaluation.--
            ``(1) Requirement.--In order to ensure the successful 
        operation of programs assisted under this section, the 
        Secretary shall use funds from the portion specified in section 
        640(a)(6) to monitor the operation of such programs, evaluate 
        their effectiveness, and provide training and technical 
        assistance tailored to the particular needs of such programs.
            ``(2) Training and technical assistance account.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Of the amount made available to 
                carry out this section for any fiscal year, not less 
                than 5 percent and not more than 10 percent shall be 
                reserved to fund a training and technical assistance 
                account.
                    ``(B) Activities.--Funds in the account may be used 
                for purposes including--
                            ``(i) making grants to, and entering into 
                        contracts with, organizations with specialized 
                        expertise relating to infants, toddlers, and 
                        families and the capacity needed to provide 
                        direction and support to a national training 
                        and technical assistance system, in order to 
                        provide such direction and support;
                            ``(ii) providing ongoing training and 
                        technical assistance for regional and program 
                        staff charged with monitoring and overseeing 
                        the administration of the program carried out 
                        under this section;
                            ``(iii) providing ongoing training and 
                        technical assistance for existing recipients of 
                        grants under subsection (a) and support and 
                        program planning and implementation assistance 
                        for new recipients of such grants; and
                            ``(iv) providing professional development 
                        and personnel enhancement activities, including 
                        the provision of funds to recipients of grants 
                        under subsection (a) for the recruitment and 
                        retention of qualified staff with an 
                        appropriate level of education and 
                        experience.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 640(a)(5)(D) of the Head Start 
Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(a)(5)(D)) is amended by striking ``section 
645(a)(1)(A)'' and inserting ``section 645(a)''.

SEC. 16. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.

    Section 648 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) ensure the provision of technical assistance to 
        assist Head Start agencies, entities carrying out other child 
        care and early childhood programs, communities, and States in 
        collaborative efforts to provide quality full-working-day, 
        full-calendar-year services, including technical assistance 
        related to identifying and assisting in resolving barriers to 
        collaboration.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
            ``(1) give priority consideration to--
                    ``(A) activities to correct program and management 
                deficiencies identified through reviews pursuant to 
                section 641A(c) (including the provision of assistance 
                to local programs in the development of quality 
                improvement plans under section 641A(d)(2)); and
                    ``(B) assisting Head Start agencies in--
                            ``(i) ensuring the school readiness of 
                        children; and
                            ``(ii) meeting the education performance 
                        standards described in this subchapter;'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2) by inserting ``supplement 
                amounts provided under section 640(a)(3)(C)(ii),'' 
                after ``(2)'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by inserting ``and implementing'' after 
                        ``developing''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``a longer day'' and 
                        inserting the following: ``the day, and assist 
                        the agencies and programs in expediting the 
                        sharing of information about innovative models 
                        for providing full-working-day, full-calendar-
                        year services for children'';
                    (D) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (E) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and'';
                    (F) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (8) as 
                paragraphs (5) through (10), respectively; and
                    (G) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
                    ``(3) assist Head Start agencies in the development 
                of collaborative initiatives with States and other 
                entities within the States, to foster effective early 
                childhood professional development systems;
                    ``(4) assist classroom and non-classroom staff, 
                including individuals in management and leadership 
                capacities, to understand the components of effective 
                family literacy services, gain knowledge about proper 
                implementation of such services within a Head Start 
                program, and receive assistance to achieve successful 
                collaboration agreements with other service providers 
                that allow the effective integration of family literacy 
                services with the Head Start program;''.

SEC. 17. FAMILY LITERACY SERVICES.

    The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended by inserting 
after section 648A the following:

``SEC. 648B. FAMILY LITERACY SERVICES.

    ``From funds reserved under section 639(b)(4), the Secretary--
            ``(1) shall provide grants through a competitive process, 
        based upon the quality of the family literacy service proposal 
        and taking into consideration geographic and urban/rural 
        representation, for not more than 100 Head Start agencies to 
        initiate provision of family literacy services through 
        collaborative partnerships with entities that provide adult 
        education services, entities carrying out Even Start programs 
        under part B of chapter 1 of title 1 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 274 et seq.), or 
        entities that provide other services deemed necessary for the 
        provision of family literacy services; and
            ``(2) may--
                    ``(A) provide training and technical assistance to 
                Head Start agencies that already provide family 
                literacy services;
                    ``(B) designate as mentor programs, and provide 
                financial assistance to, Head Start agencies that 
                demonstrate effective implementation of family literacy 
                services, based on improved outcomes of children and 
                their parents, to enable such agencies to provide 
                training and technical assistance to other agencies 
                that seek to implement, or improve implementation of, 
                family literacy services; and
                    ``(C) award grants or make other assistance 
                available to facilitate training and technical 
                assistance to programs for development of collaboration 
                agreements with other service providers.
In awarding such grants or assistance, the Secretary shall give special 
consideration to an organization that has experience in the development 
and operation of successful family literacy services.''.

SEC. 18. PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 648A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843a) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) Classroom Teachers.--
            ``(1) Professional requirements.--The Secretary shall 
        ensure that each Head Start classroom in a center-based program 
        is assigned 1 teacher who has demonstrated competency to 
        perform functions that include--
                    ``(A) planning and implementing learning 
                experiences that advance the intellectual and physical 
                development of children, including improving readiness 
                of children for school by developing their literacy and 
                phonemic, print, and numeracy awareness, their 
                understanding and use of oral language, their 
                understanding and use of increasingly complex and 
                varied vocabulary, their appreciation of books and 
                their problem solving abilities;
                    ``(B) establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy 
                learning environment;
                    ``(C) supporting the social and emotional 
                development of children; and
                    ``(D) encouraging the involvement of the families 
                of the children in a Head Start program and supporting 
                the development of relationships between children and 
                their families.
            ``(2) Degree requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
        not later than September 30, 2003, the majority of all Head 
        Start classrooms in a center-based program are assigned 1 
        teacher who has an associate, baccalaureate, or an advanced 
        degree in early childhood education or development and shall 
        require Head Start agencies to demonstrate continuing progress 
        each year to reach that result. In the remaining balance of 
        such classrooms, there shall be assigned one teacher who has--
                    ``(A) a child development associate (CDA) 
                credential that is appropriate to the age of the 
                children being served in center-based programs;
                    ``(B) a State-awarded certificate for preschool 
                teachers that meets or exceeds the requirements for a 
                child development associate credential; or
                    ``(C) a degree in a field related to early 
                childhood education with experience in teaching 
                preschool children and a State-awarded certificate to 
                teach in a preschool program.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(2)(B)--
                    (A) by striking ``staff,'' and inserting ``staff 
                or''; and
                    (B) by striking ``, or that'' and all that follows 
                through ``families''.

SEC. 19. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION.

    Section 649 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)(1)(C) by striking ``the 
        multicultural'' and all that follows through ``programs and'';
            (2) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (7) by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and'';
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (7) as 
                paragraphs (3) through (8), respectively;
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) over a 5-year period, lead to the development and 
        rigorous evaluation of models for the integration of family 
        literacy services with Head Start programs, that demonstrate 
        the ability to make positive gains for children participating 
        in Head Start programs and their parents, and dissemination of 
        information about such models;''; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) study the experiences of small, medium, and large 
        States with Head Start programs in order to permit comparisons 
        of children participating in the programs with eligible 
        children who did not participate in the programs, which study--
                    ``(A) may include the use of a data set that 
                existed prior to the initiation of the study; and
                    ``(B) shall compare the educational achievement, 
                social adaptation, and health status of the 
                participating children and the eligible 
                nonparticipating children.
The Secretary shall ensure that an appropriate entity carries out a 
study described in paragraph (9), and prepares and submits to the 
appropriate committees of the Congress a report containing the results 
of the study, not later than September 30, 2002.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) National Head Start Impact Research.--
            ``(1) Analyses of data bases.--The Secretary shall obtain 
        analyses of the following existing databases to guide the 
        evaluation recommendations of the expert panel appointed under 
        paragraph (2) and to provide Congress with initial reports of 
        potential Head Start outcomes--
                    ``(A) by use of The Survey of Income and Program 
                Participation (SIPP) conduct an analysis of the 
                different income levels of Head Start participants 
                compared to comparable persons who did not attend Head 
                Start;
                    ``(B) by use of The National Longitudinal Survey of 
                Youth (NLSY) which began gathering data on children who 
                attended Head Start from 1988 on, examine the wide 
                range of outcomes measured within the Survey, including 
                cognitive, socio-emotional, behavioral, and academic 
                development;
                    ``(C) by use of The Survey of Program Dynamics, the 
                new longitudinal survey required by the Personal 
                Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act 
                of 1996, to begin annual reporting, through the 
                duration of the Survey, on Head Start attendees' 
                academic readiness performance and improvements; and
                    ``(D) to ensure that The Survey of Program Dynamics 
                be linked with the NLSY at least once by the use of a 
                common performance test, to be determined by the expert 
                panel, for the greater national usefulness of the NLSY 
                database.
            ``(2) Expert panel.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall appoint an 
                independent panel consisting of experts in program 
                evaluation and research, education, and early childhood 
                programs--
                            ``(i) to review, and make recommendations 
                        on, the design and plan for the research 
                        (whether conducted as a single assessment or as 
                        a series of assessments), described in 
                        paragraph (3), within 1 year after the date of 
                        enactment of the Human Services Reauthorization 
                        Act of 1998;
                            ``(ii) to maintain and advise the Secretary 
                        regarding the progress of the research; and
                            ``(iii) to comment, if the panel so 
                        desires, on the interim and final research 
                        reports submitted under paragraph (8).
                    ``(B) Travel expenses.--The members of the panel 
                shall not receive compensation for the performance of 
                services for the panel, but shall be allowed travel 
                expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
                rates authorized for employees of agencies under 
                subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
                Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
                business in the performance of services for the panel. 
                Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States 
                Code, the Secretary may accept the voluntary and 
                uncompensated services of members of the panel.
            ``(3) General authority.--After reviewing the 
        recommendations of the expert panel the Secretary shall enter 
        into a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement with an 
        organization to conduct independent research that provides a 
        national analysis of the impact of Head Start programs. The 
        Secretary shall ensure that the organization shall have 
        expertise in program evaluation, and research, education, and 
        early childhood programs.
            ``(4) Designs and techniques.--The Secretary shall ensure 
        that the research uses rigorous methodological designs and 
        techniques (based on the recommendations of the expert panel), 
        including longitudinal designs, control groups, nationally 
        recognized standardized measures, and random selection and 
        assignment, as appropriate. The Secretary may provide that the 
        research shall be conducted as a single comprehensive 
        assessment or as a group of coordinated assessments designed to 
        provide, when taken together, a national analysis of the impact 
        of Head Start programs.
            ``(5) Programs.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        research focuses primarily on Head Start programs that operate 
        in the several States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the 
        District of Columbia and that do not specifically target 
        special populations.
            ``(6) Analysis.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        organization conducting the research--
                    ``(A)(i) determines if, overall, the Head Start 
                programs have impacts consistent with their primary 
                goal of increasing the social competence of children, 
                by increasing the everyday effectiveness of the 
                children in dealing with their present environments and 
                future responsibilities, and increasing their school 
                readiness;
                    ``(ii) considers whether the Head Start programs--
                            ``(I) enhance the growth and development of 
                        children in cognitive, emotional, and physical 
                        health areas;
                            ``(II) strengthen families as the primary 
                        nurturers of their children; and
                            ``(III) ensure that children attain school 
                        readiness; and
                    ``(iii) examines--
                            ``(I) the impact of the Head Start programs 
                        on increasing access of children to such 
                        services as educational, health, and 
                        nutritional services, and linking children and 
                        families to needed community services; and
                            ``(II) how receipt of services described in 
                        subclause (I) enriches the lives of children 
                        and families participating in Head Start 
                        programs;
                    ``(B) examines the impact of Head Start programs on 
                participants on the date the participants leave Head 
                Start programs, at the end of kindergarten, and at the 
                end of first grade, by examining a variety of factors, 
                including educational achievement, referrals for 
                special education or remedial course work, and 
                absenteeism;
                    ``(C) makes use of random selection from the 
                population of all Head Start programs described in 
                paragraph (5) in selecting programs for inclusion in 
                the research; and
                    ``(D) includes comparisons of individuals who 
                participate in Head Start programs with control groups 
                (including comparison groups) composed of--
                            ``(i) individuals who participate in other 
                        early childhood programs (such as preschool 
                        programs and day care); and
                            ``(ii) individuals who do not participate 
                        in any other early childhood program.
            ``(7) Consideration of sources of variation.--In designing 
        the research, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, 
        consider addressing possible sources of variation in impact of 
        Head Start programs, including variations in impact related to 
        such factors as--
                    ``(A) Head Start program operations;
                    ``(B) Head Start program quality;
                    ``(C) the length of time a child attends a Head 
                Start program;
                    ``(D) the age of the child on entering the Head 
                Start program;
                    ``(E) the type of organization (such as a local 
                educational agency or a community action agency) 
                providing services for the Head Start program;
                    ``(F) the number of hours and days of program 
                operation of the Head Start program (such as whether 
                the program is a full-working-day full-calendar-year 
                program, a part-day program or a part-year program); 
                and
                    ``(G) other characteristics and features of the 
                Head Start program (such as geographic location, 
                location in an urban or a rural service area, or 
                participant characteristics), as appropriate.
            ``(8) Reports.--
                    ``(A) Submission of interim reports.--The 
                organization shall prepare and submit to the Secretary 
                2 interim reports on the research. The first interim 
                report shall describe the design of the research, and 
                the rationale for the design, including a description 
                of how potential sources of variation in impact of Head 
                Start programs have been considered in designing the 
                research. The second interim report shall describe the 
                status of the research and preliminary findings of the 
                research, as appropriate.
                    ``(B) Submission of final report.--The organization 
                shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a final 
                report containing the findings of the research.
                    ``(C) Transmittal of reports to congress.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                        transmit, to the committees described in clause 
                        (ii), the first interim report by September 30, 
                        1999, the second interim report by September 
                        30, 2001, and the final report by September 30, 
                        2003.
                            ``(ii) Committees.--The committees referred 
                        to in clause (i) are the Committee on Education 
                        and the Workforce of the House of 
                        Representatives and the Committee on Labor and 
                        Human Resources of the Senate.
            ``(9) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `impact', 
        used with respect to a Head Start program, means a difference 
        in an outcome for a participant in the program that would not 
        have occurred without the participation in the program.
    ``(h) Quality Improvement Study.--
            ``(1) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study regarding 
        the use and effects of use of the quality improvement funds 
        made available under section 640(a)(3) since fiscal year 1991.
            ``(2) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit to 
        Congress not later than September 2000 a report containing the 
        results of the study, including--
                    ``(A) the types of activities funded with the 
                quality improvement funds;
                    ``(B) the extent to which the use of the quality 
                improvement funds has accomplished the goals of section 
                640(a)(3)(B);
                    ``(C) the effect of use of the quality improvement 
                funds on teacher training, salaries, benefits, 
                recruitment, and retention; and
                    ``(D) the effect of use of the quality improvement 
                funds on the cognitive and social development of 
                children receiving services under this subchapter.''.

SEC. 20. REPEAL OF CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.

    Section 657A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9852a) is repealed.

SEC. 21. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    After consultation with the appropriate committees of Congress and 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall prepare recommended legislation 
containing technical and conforming amendments to reflect the changes 
made by this Act.

SEC. 22. REPEAL OF HEAD START TRANSITION PROJECT ACT.

    The Head Start Transition Project Act (42 U.S.C. 9855-9855g) is 
repealed.

SEC. 23. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Effective Date.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act 
and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Application of Amendments.--The amendments made by this Act 
shall not apply with respect to any fiscal year ending before October 
1, 1998.
                                 <all>