[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 157 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 157
To establish a program to help States expand the existing education
system to include at least 1 year of early education preceding the year
a child enters kindergarten.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 23, 2001
Mrs. Boxer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a program to help States expand the existing education
system to include at least 1 year of early education preceding the year
a child enters kindergarten.
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 ``Early Education Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) In 1989 the Nation's governors established a goal that
all children would have access to high quality early education
programs by the year 2000. As of January 1, 2001, this goal has
still not been achieved.
(2) Research suggests that a child's early years are
critical to the development of the brain. Early brain
development is an important component of educational and
intellectual achievement.
(3) The National Research Council reported that early
education opportunities are necessary if children are going to
develop the language and literacy skills necessary to learn to
read.
(4) Evaluations of early education programs demonstrate
that compared to children with similar backgrounds who have not
participated in early education programs, children who
participate in such programs--
(A) perform better on reading and mathematics
achievement tests;
(B) are more likely to stay academically near their
grade level and make normal academic progress
throughout elementary school;
(C) are less likely to be held back a grade or
require special education services in elementary
school;
(D) show greater learning retention, initiative,
creativity, and social competency; and
(E) are more enthusiastic about school and are more
likely to have good attendance records.
(5) Studies have estimated that for every dollar invested
in quality early education, about 7 dollars are saved in later
costs.
SEC. 3. EARLY EDUCATION.
Title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 8001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``PART L--EARLY EDUCATION
``SEC. 10995. EARLY EDUCATION.
``(a) Definition of Early Education.--In this part the term `early
education' means not less than a half-day of schooling each week day
during the academic year preceding the academic year a child enters
kindergarten.
``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish a
program to develop the foundation of early literacy and numerical
training among young children by helping State educational agencies
expand the existing education system to include early education for all
children.
``(c) Program Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants to not less than 10 State educational agencies to enable
the State educational agencies to expand the existing education
system with programs that provide early education.
``(2) Matching requirement.--The amount provided to a State
educational agency under paragraph (1) shall not exceed 50
percent of the cost of the program described in the application
submitted pursuant to subsection (d).
``(3) Requirements.--Each program assisted under this
section--
``(A) shall be carried out by one or more local
educational agencies, as selected by the State
educational agency;
``(B) shall be carried out--
``(i) in a public school building; or
``(ii) in another facility by, or through a
contract or agreement with, a local educational
agency;
``(C) shall be available to all children served by
a local educational agency carrying out the program;
and
``(D) shall only involve instructors who are
licensed or certified in accordance with applicable
State law.
``(d) Application.--Each State educational agency desiring a grant
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner and accompanied by such information as the
Secretary may require. Each application shall--
``(1) include a description of--
``(A) the program to be assisted under this
section; and
``(B) how the program will meet the purpose of this
section; and
``(2) contain a statement of the total cost of the program
and the source of the matching funds for the program.
``(e) Secretarial Authority.--In order to carry out the purpose of
this section, the Secretary--
``(1) shall establish a system for the monitoring and
evaluation of, and shall annually report to Congress regarding,
the programs funded under this section; and
``(2) may establish any other policies, procedures, or
requirements, with respect to the programs.
``(f) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this
section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal,
State, or local funds, including funds provided under Federal programs
such as Head Start and the Even Start Family Literacy Program under
part B of title I.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $300,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2002 through 2006''.
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