[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1940 Reported in Senate (RS)]






                                                       Calendar No. 413
108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1940

                          [Report No. 108-208]

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 24, 2003

    Mr. Gregg, from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
 Pensions, reported the following original bill; which was read twice 
                       and placed on the calendar

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
       To reauthorize 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 Improvements for School 
Readiness Act''.

SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    Section 636 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831) is amended by 
inserting ``educational instruction in prereading skills, 
premathematics skills, and language and through'' after ``low-income 
children through''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 637 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9832) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``(including a 
        community-based organization)'' after ``nonprofit'';
            (2) in paragraph (17), by striking ``Mariana Islands,'' and 
        all that follows and inserting ``Mariana Islands.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(18) The term `homeless child' means a child described in 
        section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2)).
            ``(19) The term `limited English proficient', used with 
        respect to a child, means a child--
                    ``(A) who is enrolled or preparing to enroll in a 
                Head Start program, Early Head Start program, or other 
                early care and education program;
                    ``(B)(i) who was not born in the United States or 
                whose native language is a language other than English;
                    ``(ii)(I) who is an Indian (including an Alaskan 
                Native) or a native resident of a United States 
                territory; and
                    ``(II) who comes from an environment where a 
                language other than English has had a significant 
                impact on the child's level of English language 
                proficiency; or
                    ``(iii) who is migratory, whose native language is 
                a language other than English, and who comes from an 
                environment where a language other than English is 
                dominant; and
                    ``(C) whose difficulty in speaking or understanding 
                the English language may be sufficient to deny such 
                child--
                            ``(i) the ability to successfully achieve 
                        in a classroom in which the language of 
                        instruction is English; or
                            ``(ii) the opportunity to participate fully 
                        in society.''.

SEC. 4. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HEAD START PROGRAMS.

    Section 638 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9833) is amended by 
inserting ``for a period of 5 years'' after ``provide financial 
assistance to such agency''.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 639 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9834) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 639. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated for 
carrying out the provisions of this subchapter $7,215,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2005, $7,615,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $8,015,000,000 
for fiscal year 2007, and such sums as may be necessary for each of 
fiscal years 2008 and 2009.
    ``(b) Specific Programs.--From the amount appropriated under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall make available to carry out 
research, demonstration, and evaluation activities, including 
longitudinal studies under section 649, not more than $20,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
years 2005 through 2009, of which not more than $7,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2004 through 2009 shall be available to carry out impact 
studies under section 649(g).''.

SEC. 6. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS.

    (a) Allotment.--Section 640(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
9835(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(A) Indian Head Start programs, services for children 
        with disabilities, and migrant and seasonal Head Start 
        programs, except that--
                    ``(i) subject to the availability of 
                appropriations, the Secretary shall reserve for each 
                fiscal year for use by Indian Head Start and migrant 
                and seasonal Head Start programs (referred to in this 
                subparagraph as `covered programs'), on a nationwide 
                basis, a sum that is the total of not less than 4 
                percent of the amount appropriated under section 639 
                for that fiscal year (for Indian Head Start programs), 
                and not less than 5 percent of that appropriated amount 
                (for migrant and seasonal Head Start programs), except 
                that--
                            ``(I) if reserving the specified 
                        percentages for Indian Head Start programs and 
                        migrant and seasonal Head Start programs would 
                        reduce the number of children served by Head 
                        Start programs, relative to the number of 
                        children served on the date of enactment of the 
                        Head Start Improvements for School Readiness 
                        Act, taking into consideration an appropriate 
                        adjustment for inflation, the Secretary shall 
reserve percentages that approach, as closely as practicable, the 
specified percentages and that do not cause such a reduction; and
                            ``(II) notwithstanding any other provision 
                        of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall 
                        reserve for each fiscal year for use by Indian 
                        Head Start programs and by migrant and seasonal 
                        Head Start programs, on a nationwide basis, not 
                        less than the amount that was obligated for use 
                        by Indian Head Start programs and by migrant 
                        and seasonal Head Start programs for the 
                        previous fiscal year;
                    ``(ii) after ensuring that each grant recipient for 
                a covered program has received an amount sufficient to 
                enable the grant recipient to serve the same number of 
                children in Head Start programs as were served by such 
                grant recipient on the date of enactment of the Head 
                Start Improvements for School Readiness Act, taking 
                into consideration an appropriate adjustment for 
                inflation, and after allotting the funds reserved under 
                paragraph (3)(A) as specified in paragraph (3)(D), the 
                Secretary shall distribute the remaining funds 
                available under this subparagraph for covered programs, 
                by--
                                    ``(I) distributing 65 percent of 
                                the remainder by giving priority to 
                                grant recipients in the States serving 
                                the smallest percentages of eligible 
                                children (as determined by the 
                                Secretary); and
                                    ``(II) distributing 35 percent of 
                                the remainder on a competitive 
                                basis;''; and
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(C) training and technical assistance activities that are 
        sufficient to meet the needs associated with program expansion 
        and to foster program and management improvement activities as 
        described in section 648, in an amount for each fiscal year 
        that is equal to 2 percent of the amount appropriated under 
        section 639 for such fiscal year, of which--
                    ``(i) 50 percent shall be made available to Head 
                Start agencies to comply with the standards described 
                in section 641A(a)(1) and with the transportation 
                safety regulations issued pursuant to subsection (i) 
                and section 645A(b)(11), and for the uses described in 
                clauses (iii), (iv), and (vii) of paragraph (3)(B);
                    ``(ii) 50 percent shall be made available to the 
                Secretary to support a regional or State system of 
                early childhood education training and technical 
                assistance and to assist local programs (including 
                Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal 
                Head Start programs) in meeting the standards described 
                in section 641A(a)(1); and
                    ``(iii) not less than $3,000,000 of the amount in 
                clause (ii) appropriated for such fiscal year shall be 
                made available to carry out activities described in 
                section 648(d)(4);'';
            (2) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)(i)(I)--
                            (i) by striking ``60 percent of such excess 
                        amount for fiscal year 1999'' and all that 
                        follows through ``2002, and''; and
                            (ii) by inserting before the semicolon the 
                        following: ``and 50 percent of such excess 
                        amount for each of fiscal years 2005 through 
                        2009'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking 
                        ``performance standards'' and all that follows 
                        and inserting ``standards and measures pursuant 
                        to section 641A.'';
                            (ii) by striking clause (ii) and inserting 
                        the following:
            ``(ii) Ensuring that such programs have adequate numbers of 
        qualified staff, and that such staff is furnished adequate 
        training, including training to promote the development of 
        language skills, premathematics skills, and prereading in young 
        children and in working with limited English proficient 
        children, children referred by child welfare services, and 
        children with disabilities, when appropriate.'';
                            (iii) by striking clause (iii) and 
                        inserting the following:
            ``(iii) Developing and financing the salary scales and 
        benefits standards under section 644(a) and section 653, in 
        order to ensure that salary levels and benefits are adequate to 
        attract and retain qualified staff for such programs.'';
                            (iv) by striking clause (iv) and inserting 
                        the following:
            ``(iv) Using salary increases to--
                    ``(I) assist with the implementation of quality 
                programs and improve staff qualifications;
                    ``(II) ensure that staff can promote the language 
                skills and literacy growth of children and can provide 
                children with a variety of skills that have been 
                identified, through scientifically based early reading 
                research, as predictive of later reading achievement; 
                and
                    ``(III) encourage the staff to continually improve 
                their skills and expertise by informing the staff of 
                the availability of Federal and State incentive and 
                loan forgiveness programs for professional 
                development.'';
                            (v) in clause (v), by inserting ``, 
                        including collaborations to increase program 
                        participation by underserved populations of 
                        eligible children'' before the period; and
                            (vi) by striking clauses (vii) and (viii) 
                        and inserting the following:
            ``(vii) Providing assistance to complete postsecondary 
        coursework including scholarships or other financial 
        incentives, such as differential and merit pay, to enable Head 
        Start teachers to improve competencies and the resulting child 
        outcomes.
            ``(viii) Promoting the regular attendance and stability of 
        all Head Start children with particular attention to highly 
        mobile children, including children from migrant and seasonal 
        farmworking families (where appropriate), homeless children, 
        and children in foster care.
            ``(ix) Making such other improvements in the quality of 
        such programs as the Secretary may designate.'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (C)--
                            (i) in clause (i)(I), by striking the last 
                        sentence and inserting ``Salary increases, in 
                        excess of cost-of-living allowances, provided 
                        with such funds shall be subject to the 
                        specific standards governing salaries and 
                        salary increases established pursuant to 
                        section 644(a).'';
                            (ii) in clause (ii)--
                                    (I) in the matter preceding 
                                subclause (I), by striking ``education 
                                performance'' and inserting 
                                ``additional educational'';
                                    (II) in subclause (I), by inserting 
                                ``, prereading,'' after ``language'';
                                    (III) by striking subclause (II) 
                                and inserting the following:
                    ``(II) to help limited English proficient children 
                attain the knowledge, skills, and development specified 
                in section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii) and to promote the 
                acquisition of the English language by such children 
                and families;''; and
                                    (IV) by striking subclause (IV) and 
                                inserting the following:
                    ``(IV) to provide education and training necessary 
                to improve the qualifications of Head Start staff, 
                particularly assistance to enable more instructors to 
                be fully competent and to meet the degree requirements 
                under section 648A(a)(2)(A), and to support staff 
                training, child counseling, and other services 
                necessary to address the challenges of children 
                participating in Head Start programs, including 
                children from immigrant, refugee, and asylee families, 
                children from families in crisis, children who 
                experience chronic violence in their communities, and 
                children who experience substance abuse in their 
                families.'';
                            (iii) in clause (iii), by inserting ``, 
                        educational staff who have the qualifications 
                        described in section 648A(a),'' after 
                        ``ratio'';
                            (iv) in clause (v), by striking ``programs, 
                        including'' and all that follows and inserting 
                        ``programs.'';
                            (v) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause 
                        (viii); and
                            (vi) by inserting after clause (v) the 
                        following:
            ``(vi) To conduct outreach to homeless families in an 
        effort to increase the program participation of eligible 
        homeless children.
            ``(vii) To conduct outreach to migrant and seasonal 
        farmworking families and families with limited English 
        proficient children.'';
            (3) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``1998'' and 
                inserting ``2003''; and
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(B) any amount available after all allotments are made 
        under subparagraph (A) for such fiscal year shall be 
        distributed as follows:
                    ``(i) Each State shall receive an amount sufficient 
                to enable such State to serve the same number of 
                children in Head Start programs as were served by such 
                State on the date of enactment of the Head Start 
                Improvements for School Readiness Act, taking into 
                consideration an appropriate adjustment for inflation.
                    ``(ii) After ensuring that each State has received 
                the amount described in clause (i) and after allotting 
                the funds reserved under paragraph (3)(A) as specified 
                in paragraph (3)(D), the Secretary shall distribute the 
                remaining balance, by--
                            ``(I) distributing 65 percent of the 
                        balance by giving priority to States serving 
                        the smallest percentages of eligible children 
                        (as determined by the Secretary); and
                            ``(II) distributing 35 percent of the 
                        balance on a competitive basis.'';
            (4) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
                subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
                    (B) by striking subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) and 
                inserting the following:
    ``(B)(i) From the reserved sums, the Secretary shall award a 
collaboration grant to each State to facilitate collaboration between 
Head Start agencies and entities (including the State) that carry out 
other activities designed to benefit low-income families and children 
from birth to school entry.
    ``(ii) Grants described in clause (i) shall be used to--
            ``(I) encourage Head Start agencies to collaborate with 
        entities involved in State and local planning processes to 
        better meet the needs of low-income families and children from 
        birth to school entry;
            ``(II) encourage Head Start agencies to coordinate 
        activities with the State agency responsible for administering 
        the State program carried out under the Child Care and 
        Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) 
        and entities providing resources and referral services in the 
        State to make full-working-day and full calendar year services 
        available to children;
            ``(III) promote alignment of Head Start services with State 
        early learning and school readiness goals and standards;
            ``(IV) promote better linkages between Head Start agencies 
        and other child and family agencies, including agencies that 
        provide health, mental health, or family services, or other 
child or family supportive services; and
            ``(V) carry out the activities of the State Director of 
        Head Start Collaboration authorized in subparagraph (D).
    ``(C) In order to improve coordination and delivery of early 
education services to children in the State, a State that receives a 
grant under subparagraph (B) shall--
            ``(i) appoint an individual to serve as the State Director 
        of Head Start Collaboration;
            ``(ii) ensure that the State Director of Head Start 
        Collaboration holds a position with sufficient authority and 
        access to ensure that the collaboration described in 
        subparagraph (B) is effective and involves a range of State 
        agencies; and
            ``(iii) involve the State Head Start Association in the 
        selection of the Director and involve the Association in 
        determinations relating to the ongoing direction of the 
        collaboration office.
    ``(D) The State Director of Head Start Collaboration, after 
consultation with the State Advisory Council described in subparagraph 
(E), shall--
            ``(i) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
        the Head Start Improvements for School Readiness Act, conduct 
        an assessment that--
                    ``(I) addresses the needs of Head Start agencies in 
                the State with respect to collaborating, coordinating 
                services, and implementing State early learning and 
                school readiness goals and standards to better serve 
                children enrolled in Head Start programs in the State;
                    ``(II) shall be updated on an annual basis; and
                    ``(III) shall be made available to the general 
                public within the State;
            ``(ii) assess the availability of high quality 
        prekindergarten services for low-income children in the State;
            ``(iii) develop a strategic plan that is based on the 
        assessment described in clause (i) that will--
                    ``(I) enhance collaboration and coordination of 
                Head Start services with other entities providing early 
                childhood programs and services (such as child care and 
                services offered by museums), health care, mental 
                health care, welfare, child protective services, 
                education and community service activities, family 
                literacy services, reading readiness programs 
                (including such programs offered by public and school 
                libraries), services relating to children with 
                disabilities (including coordination of services with 
                those State officials who are responsible for 
                administering section 619 and part C of the Individuals 
                with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 
                et seq.), and other early childhood programs and 
                services for limited English proficient and homeless 
                children (including coordination of services with the 
                Office of Coordinator for Education of Homeless 
                Children and Youths under section 722(d)(3) of the 
                McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
                11432(d)(3)));
                    ``(II) assist Head Start agencies to develop a plan 
                for the provision of full-working-day, full calendar 
                year services for children enrolled in Head Start 
                programs who need such care;
                    ``(III) assist Head Start agencies to align 
                services with State early learning and school readiness 
                goals and standards and to facilitate collaborative 
                efforts to develop local school readiness standards; 
                and
                    ``(IV) enable agencies in the State to better 
                coordinate professional development opportunities for 
                Head Start staff, such as by--
                            ``(aa) assisting 2- and 4-year public and 
                        private institutions of higher education to 
                        develop articulation agreements;
                            ``(bb) awarding grants to institutions of 
                        higher education to develop model early 
                        childhood education programs, including 
                        practica or internships for students to spend 
                        time in a Head Start or prekindergarten 
                        program;
                            ``(cc) working with local Head Start 
                        agencies to meet the degree requirements 
                        described in section 648A(a)(2)(A), including 
                        providing distance learning opportunities for 
                        Head Start staff, where needed to make higher 
                        education more accessible to Head Start staff; 
                        and
                            ``(dd) enabling the State Head Start 
                        agencies to better coordinate outreach to 
                        eligible families;
            ``(iv) promote partnerships between Head Start agencies, 
        State governments, and the private sector to help ensure that 
        preschool children from low-income families are receiving 
        comprehensive services to prepare the children to enter school 
        ready to learn;
            ``(v) consult with the chief State school officer, local 
        educational agencies, and providers of early childhood 
        education and care to conduct unified planning regarding early 
        care and education services at both the State and local levels, 
        including undertaking collaborative efforts to develop and make 
        improvements in school readiness standards;
            ``(vi) promote partnerships (such as the partnerships 
        involved with the Free to Grow initiative) between Head Start 
        agencies, schools, law enforcement, and substance abuse and 
        mental health treatment agencies to strengthen family and 
        community environments and to reduce the impact on child 
        development of substance abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, 
        and other high risk behaviors that compromise healthy 
        development;
            ``(vii) promote partnerships between Head Start agencies 
        and other organizations in order to enhance the Head Start 
        curriculum, including partnerships to promote inclusion of more 
        books in Head Start classrooms and partnerships to promote 
        coordination of activities with the Ready-to-Learn Television 
        program carried out under subpart 3 of part D of title II of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6775 et seq.); and
            ``(viii) identify other resources and organizations (both 
        public and private) for the provision of in-kind services to 
        Head Start agencies in the State.
    ``(E)(i) The Governor of the State shall designate or establish a 
council to serve as the State advisory council on collaboration on 
early care and education activities for children from birth to school 
entry (in this subchapter referred to as the `State Advisory Council').
    ``(ii) The Governor may designate an existing entity to serve as 
the State Advisory Council, if the entity includes representatives 
described in subclauses (I) through (XXIV) of clause (iii).
    ``(iii) Members of the State Advisory Council shall include, to the 
maximum extent possible--
            ``(I) the State Director of Head Start Collaboration;
            ``(II) a representative of the appropriate regional office 
        of the Administration for Children and Families;
            ``(III) a representative of the State educational agency 
        and local educational agencies;
            ``(IV) a representative of institutions of higher 
        education;
            ``(V) a representative (or representatives) of the State 
        agency (or agencies) responsible for health or mental health 
        care;
            ``(VI) a representative of the State agency responsible for 
        teacher professional standards, certification, and licensing;
            ``(VII) a representative of the State agency responsible 
        for child care;
            ``(VIII) early childhood education professionals;
            ``(IX) kindergarten teachers and teachers in grades 1 
        through 3;
            ``(X) health care professionals;
            ``(XI) child development specialists, including specialists 
        in prenatal, infant, and toddler development;
            ``(XII) a representative of the State agency responsible 
        for assisting children with developmental disabilities;
            ``(XIII) a representative of the State agency responsible 
        for programs under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities 
        Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.);
            ``(XIV) a representative of the State interagency 
        coordinating councils established under section 641 of the 
        Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1441);
            ``(XV) a representative of the State Head Start Association 
        (where appropriate), and other representatives of Head Start 
        programs in the State;
            ``(XVI) a representative of the State network of child care 
        resource and referral agencies;
            ``(XVII) a representative of community-based organizations;
            ``(XVIII) a representative of State and local providers of 
        early childhood education and child care;
            ``(XIX) a representative of migrant and seasonal Head Start 
        programs and Indian Head Start programs (where appropriate);
            ``(XX) parents;
            ``(XXI) religious and business leaders;
            ``(XXII) the head of the State library administrative 
        agency;
            ``(XXIII) representatives of State and local organizations 
        and other entities providing professional development to early 
        care and education providers; and
            ``(XXIV) a representative of other entities determined to 
        be relevant by the chief executive officer of the State.
    ``(iv)(I) The State Advisory Council shall be responsible for, in 
addition to responsibilities assigned to the council by the chief 
executive officer of the State--
            ``(aa) conducting a periodic statewide needs assessment 
        concerning early care and education programs for children from 
        birth to school entry;
            ``(bb) identifying barriers to, and opportunities for, 
        collaboration and coordination between entities carrying out 
        Federal and State child development, child care, and early 
        childhood education programs;
            ``(cc) developing recommendations regarding means of 
        establishing a unified data collection system for early care 
        and education programs throughout the State;
            ``(dd) developing a statewide professional development and 
        career ladder plan for early care and education in the State; 
        and
            ``(ee) reviewing and approving the strategic plan, 
        regarding collaborating and coordinating services to better 
        serve children enrolled in Head Start programs, developed by 
        the State Director of Head Start Collaboration under 
        subparagraph (D)(iii).
    ``(II) The State Advisory Council shall hold public hearings and 
provide an opportunity for public comment on the needs assessment and 
recommendations described in subclause (I). The State Advisory Council 
shall submit a statewide strategic report containing the needs 
assessment and recommendations described in subclause (I) to the State 
Director of Head Start Collaboration and the chief executive officer of 
the State.
    ``(III) After submission of a statewide strategic report under 
subclause (II), the State Advisory Council shall meet periodically to 
review any implementation of the recommendations in such report and any 
changes in State and local needs.''; and
            (5) in paragraph (6)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``7.5 
                percent'' and all that follows and inserting ``10 
                percent for fiscal year 2004, 11 percent for fiscal 
                year 2005, 13 percent for fiscal year 2006, 15 percent 
                for fiscal year 2007, 17 percent for fiscal year 2008, 
                and 18 percent for fiscal year 2009, of the amount 
                appropriated pursuant to section 639(a).'';
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (B);
                    (C) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``required 
                to be''; and
                    (D) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
                subparagraph (B).
    (b) Service Delivery Models.--Section 640(f) of the Head Start Act 
(42 U.S.C. 9835(f)) is amended by striking ``needs.'' and inserting 
``needs, including--
            ``(1) models that leverage the capacity and capabilities of 
        the delivery system of early childhood education and child 
        care; and
            ``(2) procedures to provide for the conversion of part-day 
        programs to full-day programs or part-day slots to full-day 
        slots.''.
    (c) Additional Funds.--Section 640(g)(2) of the Head Start Act (42 
U.S.C. 9835(g)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(C) the extent to which the applicant has undertaken 
        communitywide strategic planning and needs assessments 
        involving other community organizations and Federal, State, and 
        local public agencies serving children and families (including 
        organizations and agencies providing family support services 
        and protective services to children and families and 
        organizations serving families in whose homes English is not 
        the language customarily spoken), and individuals, 
        organizations, and public entities serving children with 
        disabilities and homeless children including the local 
        educational agency liaison designated under section 
        722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii));'';
            (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``other local'' and 
        inserting ``the State and local'';
            (3) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``would like to 
        participate but'' after ``community who'';
            (4) in subparagraph (G), by inserting ``leverage the 
        existing delivery systems of such services and'' after ``manner 
        that will''; and
            (5) in subparagraph (H), by inserting ``, including the 
        local educational agency liaison designated under section 
        722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)),'' after ``community involved''.
    (d) Regulations.--Section 640(i) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
9835(i)) is amended by inserting ``and requirements to ensure the 
appropriate supervision and background checks of individuals with whom 
the agencies contract to transport those children'' before the period.
    (e) Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs.--Section 640(l) of 
the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(l)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(4)(A) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the Secretary shall 
conduct an annual consultation in each affected Head Start region, with 
tribal governments operating Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
    ``(B) The consultations shall be for the purpose of better meeting 
the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native children and families 
pertinent to subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 641, taking into 
consideration funding allocations, distribution formulas, and other 
issues affecting the delivery of Head Start services within tribal 
communities.
    ``(C) The Secretary shall publish a notification of the 
consultations in the Federal Register prior to conducting the 
consultations.
    ``(D) A detailed report of each consultation shall be prepared and 
made available, on a timely basis, to all tribal governments receiving 
funds under this subchapter.''.
    (f) Homeless Children.--Section 640 of the Head Start Act (42 
U.S.C. 9835) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(m) Enrollment of Homeless Children.--The Secretary shall issue 
regulations to remove barriers to the enrollment and participation of 
eligible homeless children in Head Start programs. Such regulations 
shall require Head Start agencies to--
            ``(1) implement policies and procedures to ensure that 
        eligible homeless children are identified and receive 
        appropriate priority for enrollment;
            ``(2) allow homeless children to apply to, enroll in, and 
        attend Head Start programs while required documents, such as 
        proof of residency, proof of immunization, and other medical 
        records, birth certificates, and other documents, are obtained 
        within a reasonable timeframe (consistent with State law); and
            ``(3) coordinate individual Head Start programs with 
        efforts to implement subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-
        Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.).
    ``(n) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this subchapter shall be 
construed to require a State to establish a program of early education 
for children in the State, to require any child to participate in a 
program of early education in order to attend preschool, or to 
participate in any initial screening prior to participation in such 
program, except as provided under section 612(a)(3) of the Individuals 
with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(3)) and consistent 
with section 614(a)(1)(C) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1414(a)(1)(C)).
    ``(o) Materials.--All curricula funded under this subchapter shall 
be scientifically based and age appropriate. Parents shall have the 
opportunity to examine any such curricula or instructional materials 
funded under this subchapter.''.

SEC. 7. DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

    Section 641 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 641. DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

    ``(a) Designation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to designate 
        as a Head Start agency any local public or private nonprofit or 
        for-profit agency, within a community, including a community-
        based organization that--
                    ``(A) has power and authority to carry out the 
                purpose of this subchapter and perform the functions 
                set forth in section 642 within a community; and
                    ``(B) is determined to be capable of planning, 
                conducting, administering, and evaluating, either 
                directly or by other arrangements, a Head Start 
                program.
            ``(2) Required goals for designation.--In order to be 
        designated as a Head Start agency, an entity described in 
paragraph (1) shall establish program goals for improving the school 
readiness of children participating in a program under this subchapter, 
including goals for meeting the performance standards and additional 
educational standards described in section 641A and shall establish 
results-based school readiness goals that are aligned with requirements 
and expectations for local public schools.
            ``(3) Eligibility for subsequent grants.--In order to 
        receive a grant under this subchapter subsequent to the initial 
        grant provided following the date of enactment of the Head 
        Start Improvements for School Readiness Act, an entity 
        described in paragraph (1) shall demonstrate that the entity 
        has met or is making progress toward meeting the goals 
        described in paragraph (2).
    ``(b) Communities.--For purposes of this subchapter, a community 
may be a city, county, or multicity or multicounty unit within a State, 
an Indian reservation (including Indians in any off-reservation area 
designated by an appropriate tribal government in consultation with the 
Secretary), or a neighborhood or other area (irrespective of boundaries 
or political subdivisions) that provides a suitable organizational base 
and possesses the commonality of interest needed to operate a Head 
Start program.
    ``(c) Priority in Designation.--In administering the provisions of 
this section, the Secretary shall, in consultation with the chief 
executive officer of the State involved, give priority in the 
designation (including redesignation) of Head Start agencies to any 
high-performing Head Start agency or delegate agency that--
            ``(1) is receiving assistance under this subchapter;
            ``(2) meets or exceeds program and financial management 
        requirements, standards described in section 641A(a)(1), or 
        other requirements established by the Secretary;
            ``(3) has no unresolved programmatic deficiencies and has 
        not had findings of deficiencies during the last triennial 
        review under section 641A(c); and
            ``(4) can demonstrate, through agreements such as memoranda 
        of understanding, active collaboration with the State in the 
        provision of services for children (such as the provision of 
        extended day services, education, professional development and 
        training for staff, and other types of cooperative endeavors).
    ``(d) Designation When Entity Has Priority.--If no entity in a 
community is entitled to the priority specified in subsection (c), the 
Secretary shall, after conducting an open competition, designate a Head 
Start agency from among qualified applicants in such community.
    ``(e) Effectiveness.--In selecting from among qualified applicants 
for designation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall consider 
the effectiveness of each such applicant to provide Head Start 
services, based on--
            ``(1) any past performance of such applicant in providing 
        services comparable to Head Start services, including how 
        effectively such applicant provided such comparable services;
            ``(2) the plan of such applicant to provide comprehensive 
        health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services 
        needed to aid participating children in attaining their full 
        potential, and to prepare children to succeed in school;
            ``(3) the capacity of such applicant to serve eligible 
        children with scientifically based programs that promote school 
        readiness of children participating in the program;
            ``(4) the plan of such applicant to meet standards set 
        forth in section 641A(a)(1), with particular attention to the 
        standards set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such 
        section;
            ``(5) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the Head 
        Start program the applicant proposes to carry out with other 
        preschool programs, including--
                    ``(A) the Early Reading First and Even Start 
                programs under subparts 2 and 3 of part B of title I of 
                the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6371 et seq., 6381 et seq.);
                    ``(B) programs under section 619 and part C of the 
                Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
                1419, 1431 et seq.);
                    ``(C) State prekindergarten programs;
                    ``(D) child care programs;
                    ``(E) the educational programs that the children in 
                the Head Start program involved will enter at the age 
                of compulsory school attendance; and
                    ``(F) reading readiness programs such as those 
                conducted by public and school libraries;
            ``(6) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the Head 
        Start program that the applicant proposes to carry out with 
        public and private entities who are willing to commit resources 
        to assist the Head Start program in meeting its program needs;
            ``(7) the plan of such applicant to collaborate with a 
        local library, where available, that is interested in that 
        collaboration, to--
                    ``(A) develop innovative programs to excite 
                children about the world of books, such as programs 
                that involve--
                            ``(i) taking children to the library for a 
                        story hour;
                            ``(ii) promoting the use of library cards;
                            ``(iii) developing a lending library or 
                        using a mobile library van; and
                            ``(iv) providing fresh books in the Head 
                        Start classroom on a regular basis;
                    ``(B) assist in literacy training for Head Start 
                teachers; and
                    ``(C) support parents and other caregivers in 
                literacy efforts;
            ``(8) the plan of such applicant--
                    ``(A) to seek the involvement of parents of 
                participating children in activities (at home and in 
                the center involved where practicable) 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 and overall conduct of 
                the program at the local level;
                    ``(C) to offer (directly or through referral to 
                local entities, such as entities carrying out Even 
                Start programs under subpart 3 of part B of title I of 
                the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6381 et seq.), public and school libraries, and 
                entities carrying out family support programs) to such 
                parents--
                            ``(i) family literacy services; and
                            ``(ii) parenting skills training;
                    ``(D) to offer to parents of participating children 
                substance abuse counseling (either directly or through 
                referral to local entities), including information on 
                the effect of drug exposure on infants and fetal 
                alcohol syndrome;
                    ``(E) at the option of such applicant, to offer 
                (directly or through referral to local entities) to 
                such parents--
                            ``(i) training in basic child development 
                        (including cognitive development);
                            ``(ii) assistance in developing literacy 
                        and communication skills;
                            ``(iii) opportunities to share experiences 
                        with other parents (including parent mentor 
                        relationships);
                            ``(iv) regular in-home visitation; or
                            ``(v) any other activity designed to help 
                        such parents become full partners in the 
                        education of their children;
                    ``(F) 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), (D), and (E) in which 
                such parents may choose to become involved (taking into 
                consideration their specific family needs, work 
                schedules, and other responsibilities); and
                    ``(G) to extend outreach to fathers, in appropriate 
                cases, in order to strengthen the role of fathers in 
                families, in the education of their young children, and 
                in the Head Start program, by working directly with 
                fathers and father figures through activities such as--
                            ``(i) in appropriate cases, including 
                        fathers in home visits and providing 
                        opportunities for direct father-child 
                        interactions; and
                            ``(ii) targeting increased male 
                        participation in the conduct of the program;
            ``(9) the ability of such applicant to carry out the plans 
        described in paragraphs (2), (4), and (5);
            ``(10) other factors related to the requirements of this 
        subchapter;
            ``(11) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of 
        limited English proficient children and their families, 
        including procedures to identify such children, plans to 
        provide trained personnel, and plans to provide services to 
        assist the children in making progress toward the acquisition 
        of the English language;
            ``(12) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of 
        children with disabilities;
            ``(13) the plan of such applicant who chooses to assist 
        younger siblings of children who will participate in the Head 
        Start program, to obtain health services from other sources;
            ``(14) the plan of such applicant to collaborate with other 
        entities carrying out early childhood education and child care 
        programs in the community; and
            ``(15) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of 
        homeless children and children in foster care.''.

SEC. 8. QUALITY STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD START AGENCIES AND 
              PROGRAMS.

    Section 641A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``642(d)'' and 
                inserting ``642(c)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)(B)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``education 
                        performance standards'' and inserting 
                        ``educational performance standards''; and
                            (ii) by striking clause (ii) and inserting 
                        the following:
                    ``(ii) additional educational standards based on 
                the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences 
                panel described in section 649(h) and other experts in 
                the field, to ensure that the curriculum involved 
                addresses, and that the children participating in the 
                program show appropriate progress toward developing and 
                applying, the recommended educational outcomes, after 
                the panel considers the appropriateness of additional 
                educational standards relating to--
                            ``(I) language skills related to listening, 
                        understanding, speaking, and communicating, 
                        including--
                                    ``(aa) understanding and use of a 
                                diverse vocabulary (including knowing 
                                the names of colors) and knowledge of 
                                how to use oral language to communicate 
                                for various purposes;
                                    ``(bb) narrative abilities used, 
                                for example, to comprehend, tell, and 
                                respond to a story, or to comprehend 
                                instructions;
                                    ``(cc) ability to detect and 
                                produce sounds of the language the 
                                child speaks or is learning; and
                                    ``(dd) clarity of pronunciation and 
                                speaking in syntactically and 
                                grammatically correct sentences;
                            ``(II) prereading knowledge and skills, 
                        including--
                                    ``(aa) alphabet knowledge including 
                                knowing the letter names and 
                                associating letters with their shapes 
                                and sounds in the language the child 
                                speaks or is learning;
                                    ``(bb) phonological awareness and 
                                processes that support reading, for 
                                example, rhyming, recognizing speech 
                                sounds and separate syllables in spoken 
                                words, and putting speech sounds 
                                together to make words;
                                    ``(cc) knowledge, interest in, and 
                                appreciation of books, reading, and 
                                writing (either alone or with others), 
                                and knowledge that books have parts 
                                such as the front, back, and title 
                                page;
                                    ``(dd) early writing, including the 
                                ability to write one's own name and 
                                other words and phrases; and
                                    ``(ee) print awareness and 
                                concepts, including recognizing 
                                different forms of print and 
                                understanding the association between 
                                spoken and written words;
                            ``(III) premathematics knowledge and 
                        skills, including--
                                    ``(aa) number recognition;
                                    ``(bb) use of early number concepts 
                                and operations, including counting, 
                                simple adding and subtracting, and 
                                knowledge of quantitative relationships 
                                such as part versus whole and 
                                comparison of numbers of objects;
                                    ``(cc) use of early space and 
                                location concepts including recognizing 
                                shapes, classification, striation, and 
                                understanding directionality; and
                                    ``(dd) early pattern skills and 
                                measurement, including recognizing and 
                                extending simple patterns and measuring 
                                length, weight, and time;
                            ``(IV) scientific abilities, including--
                                    ``(aa) building awareness about 
                                scientific skills and methods, such as 
                                gathering, describing, and recording 
                                information, making observations, 
and making explanations and predictions; and
                                    ``(bb) expanding scientific 
                                knowledge of the environment, time, 
                                temperature, and cause and effect 
                                relationships;
                            ``(V) general cognitive abilities related 
                        to academic achievement and child development, 
                        including--
                                    ``(aa) reasoning, planning, and 
                                problem solving skills;
                                    ``(bb) ability to engage, sustain 
                                attention, and persist on challenging 
                                tasks;
                                    ``(cc) intellectual curiosity, 
                                initiative, and task engagement; and
                                    ``(dd) motivation to achieve and 
                                master concepts and skills;
                            ``(VI) social and emotional development 
                        related to early learning and school success, 
                        including developing--
                                    ``(aa) the ability to develop 
                                social relationships, demonstrate 
                                cooperative behaviors, and relate to 
                                teachers and peers in positive and 
                                respectful ways;
                                    ``(bb) an understanding of the 
                                consequences of actions, following 
                                rules, and appropriately expressing 
                                feelings;
                                    ``(cc) a sense of self, such as 
                                self-awareness, independence, and 
                                confidence;
                                    ``(dd) the ability to control 
                                negative behaviors with teachers and 
                                peers that include impulsiveness, 
                                aggression, and noncompliance; and
                                    ``(ee) knowledge of civic society 
                                and surrounding communities;
                            ``(VII) physical development, including 
                        developing--
                                    ``(aa) fine motor skills, such as 
                                strength, manual dexterity, and hand-
                                eye coordination; and
                                    ``(bb) gross motor skills, such as 
                                balance and coordinated movements; and
                            ``(VIII) in the case of limited English 
                        proficient children, progress toward 
                        acquisition of the English language while 
                        making meaningful progress in attaining the 
                        knowledge, skills, abilities, and development 
                        described in subclauses (I) through (VII);'';
                    (C) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking ``projects; 
                and'' and inserting ``projects, including regulations 
                that require that the facilities used by Head Start 
                agencies (including Early Head Start agencies) and 
                delegate agencies for regularly scheduled center-based 
                and combination program option classroom activities--
                            ``(i) shall be in compliance with State and 
                        local requirements concerning licensing for 
                        such facilities; and
                            ``(ii) shall be accessible by State and 
                        local authorities for purposes of monitoring 
                        and ensuring compliance.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by striking 
                                ``the date of enactment of this 
                                section'' and inserting ``the date of 
                                enactment of the Head Start 
                                Improvements for School Readiness 
                                Act'';
                                    (II) in clause (ii), by striking 
                                ``the date of enactment of this Act'' 
                                and inserting ``the date of enactment 
                                of the Head Start Improvements for 
                                School Readiness Act'';
                                    (III) in clause (vi), by striking 
                                ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
                                    (IV) in clause (vii), by striking 
                                ``public schools'' and inserting ``the 
                                schools that the children will be 
                                attending''; and
                                    (V) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(viii) the unique challenges faced by 
                        individual programs, including those programs 
                        that are seasonal or short term and those 
                        programs that serve rural populations; and'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking 
                        ``the date of enactment of the Coats Human 
                        Services Reauthorization Act of 1998'' and 
                        inserting ``the date of enactment of the Head 
                        Start Improvements for School Readiness Act''; 
                        and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) consult with Indian tribes, American Indian 
                and Alaska Native experts in early childhood 
                development, linguists, and the National Indian Head 
                Start Directors Association on the review and 
                promulgation of program standards and measures 
                (including standards and measures for language 
                acquisition and school readiness).'';
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Evaluations and corrective actions for delegate 
        agencies.--
                    ``(A) Procedures.--The Head Start agency shall 
                establish procedures relating to its delegate agencies, 
                including--
                            ``(i) procedures for evaluating delegate 
                        agencies;
                            ``(ii) procedures for defunding delegate 
                        agencies; and
                            ``(iii) procedures for appealing a 
                        defunding decision relating to a delegate 
                        agency.
                    ``(B) Evaluations.--Each Head Start agency--
                            ``(i) shall evaluate its delegate agencies 
                        using the procedures established pursuant to 
                        this section, including subparagraph (A); and
                            ``(ii) shall inform the delegate agencies 
                        of the deficiencies identified through the 
                        evaluation that shall be corrected.
                    ``(C) Remedies to ensure corrective actions.--In 
                the event that the Head Start agency identifies a 
                deficiency for a delegate agency through the 
                evaluation, the Head Start agency may--
                            ``(i) initiate procedures to terminate the 
                        designation of the agency unless the agency 
                        corrects the deficiency;
                            ``(ii) conduct monthly monitoring visits to 
                        such delegate agency until all deficiencies are 
                        corrected or the Head Start agency decides to 
                        defund such delegate agency; and
                            ``(iii) release funds to such delegate 
                        agency only as reimbursements until all 
                        deficiencies are corrected or the Head Start 
                        agency decides to defund such delegate agency.
                    ``(D) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this 
                paragraph shall be construed to impact or obviate the 
responsibilities of the Secretary with respect to Head Start agencies 
or delegate agencies receiving funding under this subchapter.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking the paragraph heading and 
                        inserting the following:
            ``(2) Characteristics and use of measures.--'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``, 
                        not later than July 1, 1999; and'' and 
                        inserting a semicolon;
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
                        period and inserting a semicolon;
                            (iv) by striking the flush matter following 
                        subparagraph (C); and
                            (v) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) measure characteristics that are strongly 
                predictive (as determined on a scientific basis) of a 
                child's school readiness and later performance in 
                school;
                    ``(E) be appropriate for the population served; and
                    ``(F) be reviewed not less than every 4 years, 
                based on advances in the science of early childhood 
                development.
        The performance measures shall include the performance 
        standards and additional educational standards described in 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(1).'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; 
                        and'' and inserting a semicolon;
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
                        period and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) to enable Head Start agencies to 
                individualize programs of instruction to better meet 
                the needs of the child involved.'';
                    (C) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(4) Results-based outcome measures.--Results-based 
        outcome measures shall be designed for the purpose of promoting 
        the knowledge, skills, abilities, and development, described in 
        subsection (a)(1)(B)(ii) of children participating in Head 
        Start programs that are strongly predictive (as determined on a 
        scientific basis) of a child's school readiness and later 
        performance in school.''; and
                    (D) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(5) Additional local results-based educational measures 
        and goals.--Head Start agencies may establish and implement 
        additional local results-based educational measures and 
        goals.'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by inserting ``and Head Start centers'' 
                        after ``Head Start programs'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``such agency'' and inserting ``Head Start 
                        center'';
                            (iii) by striking subparagraph (C) and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(C) Unannounced site inspections of Head Start 
                centers, as appropriate.'';
                            (iv) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                        subparagraph (E); and
                            (v) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
                        following:
                    ``(D) Followup reviews including--
                            ``(i) prompt return visits to agencies, 
                        programs, and centers that fail to meet 1 or 
                        more of the performance measures developed by 
                        the Secretary under subsection (b); and
                            ``(ii) a review of programs with citations 
                        that include findings of deficiencies not later 
                        than 6 months after the date of such 
                        citation.''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(2) Conduct of reviews.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
        reviews described in paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) that incorporate a monitoring visit, may 
                incorporate the visit without prior notice of the visit 
                to the agency involved or with such limited prior 
                notice as is necessary to ensure the participation of 
                parents and key staff members;
                    ``(B) are conducted by review teams that shall 
                include individuals who are knowledgeable about Head 
                Start and other early childhood education programs and, 
                to the maximum extent practicable, the diverse 
                (including linguistic and cultural) needs of eligible 
                children (including children with disabilities) and 
                limited English proficient children and their families;
                    ``(C) 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 by the 
                Secretary pursuant to subsection (b) and with the 
                standards established pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and 
                (B) of subsection (a)(1);
                    ``(D) seek information from the communities and 
                States where Head Start programs exist about innovative 
                or effective collaborative efforts, barriers to 
                collaboration, and the efforts of the Head Start 
                agencies to collaborate with the entities carrying out 
                early childhood education and child care programs in 
                the community;
                    ``(E) include as part of the reviews of the 
                programs, a review and assessment of whether the 
                programs are in conformity with the income eligibility 
                requirements under section 645 and regulations 
                promulgated under such section;
                    ``(F) include as part of the reviews of the 
                programs, a review and assessment of whether programs 
                have adequately addressed the population and community 
                needs (including needs of populations of limited 
                English proficient children and children of migrant and 
                seasonal farmworking families); and
                    ``(G) include as part of the reviews of the 
                programs, data from the results of periodic child 
                assessments, and a review and assessment of child 
                outcomes and performance as they relate to State, 
                local, and agency-determined school readiness goals.'';
            (4) in subsection (d)(1)(A), by inserting ``and identify 
        the technical assistance to be provided consistent with 
        paragraph (3)'' after ``corrected'';
            (5) in subsection (e), by striking the last sentence and 
        inserting ``The information contained in such report shall be 
        made available to all parents with children receiving 
        assistance under this subchapter in an understandable and 
        uniform format, and to the extent practicable, provided in a 
        language that the parents can understand. Such information 
        shall be made widely available through public means such as 
        distribution through public agencies, and, at a minimum, by 
        posting such information on the Internet immediately upon 
        publication.''; and
            (6) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Reduction of Grants and Redistribution of Funds in Cases of 
Under-Enrollment.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Actual enrollment.--The term `actual 
                enrollment' means, with respect to the program of a 
                Head Start agency, the actual number of children 
                enrolled in such program and reported by the agency (as 
                required in paragraph (2)) in a given month.
                    ``(B) Base grant.--The term `base grant' means, 
                with respect to a Head Start agency for a fiscal year, 
                that portion of the grant derived--
                            ``(i) from amounts reserved for use in 
                        accordance with section 640(a)(2)(A), for a 
                        Head Start agency administering an Indian Head 
                        Start program or migrant and seasonal Head 
                        Start program;
                            ``(ii) from amounts reserved for payments 
                        under section 640(a)(2)(B); or
                            ``(iii) from amounts available under 
                        section 640(a)(2)(D) or allotted among States 
                        under section 640(a)(4).
                    ``(C) Funded enrollment.--The term `funded 
                enrollment' means, with respect to the program of a 
                Head Start agency in a fiscal year, the number of 
                children that the agency is funded to serve through a 
                grant for the program during such fiscal year, as 
                indicated in the grant agreement.
            ``(2) Enrollment reporting requirement for current fiscal 
        year.--Each entity carrying out a Head Start program shall 
        report on a monthly basis to the Secretary and the relevant 
        Head Start agency--
                    ``(A) the actual enrollment in such program; and
                    ``(B) if such actual enrollment is less than the 
                funded enrollment, any apparent reason for such 
                enrollment shortfall.
            ``(3) Secretarial review and plan.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) on a semiannual basis, determine which Head 
                Start agencies are operating with an actual enrollment 
                that is less than the funded enrollment based on not 
                less than 4 consecutive months of data;
                    ``(B) for each such Head Start agency operating a 
                program with an actual enrollment that is less than 95 
                percent of its funded enrollment, as determined under 
                subparagraph (A), develop, in collaboration with such 
                agency, a plan and timetable for reducing or 
                eliminating under-enrollment taking into 
                consideration--
                            ``(i) the quality and extent of the 
                        outreach, recruitment, and community needs 
                        assessment conducted by such agency;
                            ``(ii) changing demographics, mobility of 
                        populations, and the identification of new 
                        underserved low-income populations;
                            ``(iii) facilities-related issues that may 
                        impact enrollment;
                            ``(iv) the ability to provide full-day 
                        programs, where needed, through Head Start 
                        funds or through collaboration with entities 
                        carrying out other preschool or child care 
                        programs, or programs with other funding 
                        sources (where available);
                            ``(v) the availability and use by families 
                        of other preschool and child care options 
                        (including parental care) in the local 
                        catchment area; and
                            ``(vi) agency management procedures that 
                        may impact enrollment; and
                    ``(C) provide timely and ongoing technical 
                assistance to each agency described in subparagraph (B) 
                for the purpose of implementing the plan described in 
                such subparagraph.
            ``(4) Implementation.--Upon receipt of the technical 
        assistance described in paragraph (3)(C), a Head Start agency 
        shall immediately implement the plan described in paragraph 
        (3)(B).
            ``(5) Secretarial action for continued under-enrollment.--
        If, 1 year after the date of implementation of the plan 
        described in paragraph (3)(B), the Head Start agency continues 
        to operate a program at less than full enrollment, the 
        Secretary shall, where determined appropriate, continue to 
        provide technical assistance to such agency.
            ``(6) Secretarial review and adjustment for chronic under-
        enrollment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If, after receiving technical 
                assistance and developing and implementing a plan to 
                the extent described in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) 
                for 18 months, a Head Start agency is still operating a 
program with an actual enrollment that is less than 95 percent of its 
funded enrollment, the Secretary may--
                            ``(i) designate such agency as chronically 
                        under-enrolled; and
                            ``(ii) recapture, withhold, or reduce the 
                        base grant for the program by, a percentage 
                        equal to the percentage difference between 
                        funded enrollment and actual enrollment for the 
                        program for the most recent year in which the 
                        agency is determined to be under-enrolled under 
                        paragraph (2)(B).
                    ``(B) Waiver or limitation of reductions.--If the 
                Secretary, after the implementation of the plan 
                described in paragraph (3)(B), finds that--
                            ``(i) the causes of the enrollment 
                        shortfall, or a portion of the shortfall, are 
                        beyond the agency's control (such as serving 
                        significant numbers of migrant or seasonal 
                        farmworker, homeless, foster, or other highly 
                        mobile children);
                            ``(ii) the shortfall can reasonably be 
                        expected to be temporary; or
                            ``(iii) the number of slots allotted to the 
                        agency is small enough that under-enrollment 
                        does not constitute a significant shortfall,
                the Secretary may, as appropriate, waive or reduce the 
                percentage recapturing, withholding, or reduction 
                otherwise required by subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) Procedural requirements; effective date.--The 
                actions taken by the Secretary under this paragraph 
                with respect to a Head Start agency shall take effect 1 
                day after the date on which--
                            ``(i) the time allowed for appeal under 
                        section 646(a) expires without an appeal by the 
                        agency; or
                            ``(ii) the action is upheld in an 
                        administrative hearing under section 646.
            ``(7) Redistribution of funds.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall use amounts 
                recovered from a Head Start agency through recapturing, 
                withholding, or reduction under paragraph (6) in a 
                fiscal year--
                            ``(i) in the case of a Head Start agency 
                        administering an Indian Head Start program or a 
                        migrant and seasonal Head Start program, whose 
                        base grant is derived from amounts specified in 
                        paragraph (1)(C)(i), to redirect funds to 1 or 
                        more agencies that--
                                    ``(I) are administering Head Start 
                                programs serving the same special 
                                population; and
                                    ``(II) demonstrate that the 
                                agencies will use such redirected funds 
                                to increase enrollment in their Head 
                                Start programs in such fiscal year; or
                            ``(ii) in the case of a Head Start agency 
                        in a State, whose base grant is derived from 
                        amounts specified in clause (ii) or (iii) of 
                        paragraph (1)(C), to redirect funds to 1 or 
                        more agencies that--
                                    ``(I) are administering Head Start 
                                programs in the same State; and
                                    ``(II) make the demonstration 
                                described in clause (i)(II).
                    ``(B) Special rule.--If there is no agency located 
                in a State that meets the requirements of subclauses 
                (I) and (II) of subparagraph (A)(ii), the Secretary 
                shall use amounts described in subparagraph (A) to 
                redirect funds to Head Start agencies located in other 
                States that make the demonstration described in 
                subparagraph (A)(i)(II).
                    ``(C) Adjustment to funded enrollment.--The 
                Secretary shall adjust as necessary the requirements 
                relating to funded enrollment indicated in the grant 
                agreement of a Head Start agency receiving 
                redistributed amounts under this paragraph.''.

SEC. 9. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.

    The Head Start Act is amended by inserting after section 641A (42 
U.S.C. 9836a) the following:

``SEC. 641B. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.

    ``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `center of excellence' 
means a Center of Excellence in Early Childhood designated under 
subsection (b).
    ``(b) Designation and Bonus Grants.--The Secretary shall, subject 
to the availability of funds under this subchapter, including under 
subsection (f), establish a program under which the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) designate not more than 200 exemplary Head Start 
        agencies (including Early Head Start agencies) as Centers of 
        Excellence in Early Childhood; and
            ``(2) make bonus grants to the centers of excellence to 
        carry out the activities described in subsection (d).
    ``(c) Application and Designation.--
            ``(1) Application.--
                    ``(A) Nomination and submission.--
                            ``(i) In general.--To be eligible to 
                        receive a designation as a center of excellence 
                        under subsection (b), a Head Start agency in a 
                        State shall be nominated by the Governor of the 
                        State and shall submit an application to the 
                        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
                        containing such information as the Secretary 
                        may require.
                            ``(ii) Indian and migrant and seasonal head 
                        start programs.--In the case of an agency 
                        operating an Indian Head Start program or a 
                        migrant and seasonal Head Start program, to be 
                        eligible to receive a designation as a center 
                        of excellence under subsection (b), such an 
                        agency shall be nominated by the Governor of 
                        the State and by its program branch and shall 
                        submit an application to the Secretary in 
                        accordance with clause (i).
                    ``(B) Contents.--At a minimum, the application 
                shall include--
                            ``(i) evidence that the Head Start program 
                        carried out by the agency has significantly 
                        improved the school readiness of, and enhanced 
                        academic outcomes for, children who have 
                        participated in the program;
                            ``(ii) evidence that the program meets or 
                        exceeds standards and performance measures 
                        described in subsections (a) and (b) of section 
                        641A, as evidenced by successful completion of 
                        programmatic and monitoring reviews, and has no 
                        findings of deficiencies with respect to the 
                        standards and measures;
                            ``(iii) evidence that the program is making 
                        progress toward meeting the requirements 
                        described in section 648A;
                            ``(iv) evidence demonstrating the existence 
                        of a collaborative partnership between the Head 
                        Start agency and the State (or a State agency);
                            ``(v) a nomination letter from the 
                        Governor, demonstrating the agency's ability to 
                        carry out the coordination, transition, and 
                        training services of the program to be carried 
                        out under the bonus grant involved, including 
                        coordination of activities with State and local 
                        agencies that provide early childhood services 
                        to children and families in the community 
                        served by the agency; and
                            ``(vi) information demonstrating the 
                        existence of, or the agency's plan to 
                        establish, a local council for excellence in 
                        early childhood, which shall include 
                        representatives of all the institutions, 
                        agencies, and groups involved in the work of 
                        the center for, and the local provision of 
                        services to, eligible children and other at-
                        risk children, and their families.
            ``(2) Selection.--In selecting agencies to designate as 
        centers of excellence under subsection (b), the Secretary shall 
        designate not less than 1 from each of the 50 States, the 
        District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
            ``(3) Term of designation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Secretary shall designate a Head Start agency as a 
                center of excellence for a 5-year term. During the 
                period of that designation, subject to the availability 
                of appropriations, the agency shall be eligible to 
                receive a bonus grant under subsection (b).
                    ``(B) Revocation.--The Secretary may revoke an 
                agency's designation under subsection (b) if the 
                Secretary determines that the agency is not 
                demonstrating adequate performance or has had findings 
                of deficiencies described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii).
            ``(4) Amount of bonus grant.--The Secretary shall base the 
        amount of funding provided through a bonus grant made under 
        subsection (b) to a center of excellence on the number of 
        children served at the center of excellence. The Secretary 
        shall, subject to the availability of funding, make such a 
        bonus grant in an amount of not less than $100,000 per year.
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) Activities.--A center of excellence that receives a 
        bonus grant under subsection (b) may use the funds made 
        available through the bonus grant--
                    ``(A) to provide Head Start services to additional 
                eligible children;
                    ``(B) to better meet the needs of working families 
                in the community served by the center by serving more 
                children in existing Early Head Start programs 
                (existing as of the date the center is designated under 
                this section) or in full-working-day, full calendar 
                year Head Start programs;
                    ``(C) to model and disseminate best practices for 
                achieving early academic success, including achieving 
                school readiness and developing prereading and 
                premathematics skills for at-risk children and 
                achieving the acquisition of the English language for 
                limited English proficient children, and to provide 
                seamless service delivery for eligible children and 
                their families;
                    ``(D) to coordinate early childhood and social 
                services available in the community served by the 
                center for at-risk children (prenatal through age 8) 
                and their families, including services provided by 
                child care providers, health care providers, and 
                providers of income-based financial assistance, and 
                other State and local services;
                    ``(E) to provide training and cross training for 
                Head Start teachers and staff, and to develop agency 
                leaders;
                    ``(F) to provide effective transitions between Head 
                Start programs and elementary school, to facilitate 
                ongoing communication between Head Start and elementary 
                school teachers concerning children receiving Head 
                Start services, and to provide training and technical 
                assistance to providers who are public elementary 
                school teachers and other staff of local educational 
                agencies, child care providers, family service 
                providers, and other providers of early childhood 
                services, to help the providers described in this 
                subparagraph increase their ability to work with low-
                income, at-risk children and their families; and
                    ``(G) to carry out other activities determined by 
                the center to improve the overall quality of the Head 
                Start program carried out by the agency and the program 
                carried out under the bonus grant involved.
            ``(2) Involvement of other head start agencies and 
        providers.--Not later than the second year for which the center 
        receives a bonus grant under subsection (b), the center, in 
        carrying out activities under this subsection, shall work with 
        the center's delegate agencies, several additional Head Start 
        agencies, and other providers of early childhood services in 
        the community involved, to encourage the agencies and providers 
        described in this sentence to carry out model programs. The 
        center shall establish the local council described in 
        subsection (c)(1)(B)(vi).
    ``(e) Research and Reports.--
            ``(1) Research.--The Secretary shall, subject to the 
        availability of funds to carry out this subsection, make a 
        grant to an independent organization to conduct research on the 
        ability of the centers of excellence to improve the school 
        readiness of children receiving Head Start services, and to 
        positively impact school results in the earliest grades. The 
        organization shall also conduct research to measure the success 
        of the centers of excellence at encouraging the center's 
        delegate agencies, additional Head Start agencies, and other 
providers of early childhood services in the communities involved to 
meet measurable improvement goals, particularly in the area of school 
readiness.
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 48 months after the date of 
        enactment of the Head Start Improvements for School Readiness 
        Act, the organization shall prepare and submit to the Secretary 
        and Congress a report containing the results of the research 
        described in paragraph (1).
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for fiscal year 2004 and each subsequent fiscal year--
            ``(1) $90,000,000 to make bonus grants to centers of 
        excellence under subsection (b) to carry out activities 
        described in subsection (d);
            ``(2) $2,500,000 to pay for the administrative costs of the 
        Secretary in carrying out this section, including the cost of a 
        conference of centers of excellence; and
            ``(3) $2,000,000 for research activities described in 
        subsection (e).''.

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

    Section 642 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 642. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

    ``(a) In General.--In order to be designated as a Head Start agency 
under this subchapter, an agency shall have authority under its charter 
or applicable law to receive and administer funds provided under this 
subchapter, funds and contributions from private or local public 
sources that may be used in support of a Head Start program, and funds 
provided under any Federal or State assistance program pursuant to 
which a public or private nonprofit or for-profit agency (as the case 
may be) organized in accordance with this subchapter, could act as a 
grantee, contractor, or sponsor of projects appropriate for inclusion 
in a Head Start program. Such an agency shall also be empowered to 
transfer funds so received, and to delegate powers to other agencies, 
subject to the powers of its governing board and its overall program 
responsibilities. The power to transfer funds and delegate powers shall 
include the power to make transfers and delegations covering component 
projects in all cases in which that power will contribute to efficiency 
and effectiveness or otherwise further program objectives.
    ``(b) Additional Requirements.--In order to be designated as a Head 
Start agency under this subchapter, a Head Start agency shall also--
            ``(1) establish a program with all standards set forth in 
        section 641A(a)(1), with particular attention to the standards 
        set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section;
            ``(2) demonstrate the capacity to serve eligible children 
        with scientifically based curricula and other interventions and 
        support services that help promote the school readiness of 
        children participating in the program;
            ``(3) establish effective procedures and provide for the 
        regular assessment of Head Start children, including 
        observational and direct formal assessment, where appropriate;
            ``(4) seek the involvement of parents, area residents, and 
        local business in the design and implementation of the program;
            ``(5) provide for the regular participation of parents and 
        area residents in the implementation of the program;
            ``(6) provide technical and other support needed to enable 
        such parents and area residents to secure, on their own behalf, 
        available assistance from public and private sources;
            ``(7) establish effective procedures to facilitate 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 and overall 
        conduct of the program at the local level;
            ``(8) conduct outreach to schools in which Head Start 
        children will enroll, local educational agencies, the local 
        business community, community-based organizations, faith-based 
        organizations, museums, and libraries to generate support and 
        leverage the resources of the entire local community in order 
        to improve school readiness;
            ``(9) offer (directly or through referral to local 
        entities, such as entities carrying out Even Start programs 
        under subpart 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381 et seq.)), to 
        parents of participating children, family literacy services, 
        and parenting skills training;
            ``(10) offer to parents of participating children substance 
        abuse and other counseling (either directly or through referral 
        to local entities), if needed, including information on the 
        effect of drug exposure on infants and fetal alcohol syndrome;
            ``(11) at the option of such agency, offer (directly or 
        through referral to local entities), to such parents--
                    ``(A) training in basic child development 
                (including cognitive development);
                    ``(B) assistance in developing literacy and 
                communication skills;
                    ``(C) opportunities to share experiences with other 
                parents (including parent mentor relationships);
                    ``(D) regular in-home visitation; or
                    ``(E) any other activity designed to help such 
                parents become full partners in the education of their 
                children;
            ``(12) 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 this subsection in which such parents 
        may choose to be involved (taking into consideration their 
        specific family needs, work schedules, and other 
        responsibilities);
            ``(13) consider providing services to assist younger 
        siblings of children participating in its Head Start program, 
        to obtain health services from other sources;
            ``(14) perform community outreach to encourage individuals 
        previously unaffiliated with Head Start programs to participate 
        in its Head Start program as volunteers; and
            ``(15)(A) inform custodial parents in single-parent 
        families that participate in programs, activities, or services 
        carried out or provided under this subchapter about the 
        availability of child support services for purposes of 
        establishing paternity and acquiring child support; and
            ``(B) refer eligible parents to the child support offices 
        of State and local governments.
    ``(c) Progress.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each Head Start agency shall take steps 
        to ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that children 
        maintain the developmental and educational gains achieved in 
        Head Start programs and build upon such gains in further 
        schooling.
            ``(2) Coordination.--
                    ``(A) Local educational agency.--In communities 
                where both public prekindergarten programs and Head 
                Start programs operate, a Head Start agency shall 
                collaborate and coordinate activities with the local 
                educational agency or other public agency responsible 
                for the operation of the prekindergarten program and 
                providers of prekindergarten, including outreach 
                activities to identify eligible children.
                    ``(B) Elementary schools.--Head Start staff shall, 
                with the permission of the parents of children enrolled 
                in Head Start programs, regularly communicate with the 
                elementary schools such children will be attending to--
                            ``(i) share information about such 
                        children;
                            ``(ii) get advice and support from the 
                        teachers in such elementary schools regarding 
                        teaching strategies and options; and
                            ``(iii) ensure a smooth transition to 
                        elementary school for such children.
                    ``(C) Other programs.--The head of each Head Start 
                agency shall coordinate activities and collaborate with 
                the State agency responsible for administering 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 entities carrying out early childhood 
                education and development programs, programs under 
                subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.), Even Start 
                programs under subpart 3 of part B of title I of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6381 et seq.), and programs under section 619 
                and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities 
                Education Act (20 U.S.C 1419, 1431 et seq.), serving 
                the children and families served by the Head Start 
                agency.
            ``(3) Collaboration.--A Head Start agency shall take steps 
        to coordinate activities 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--
                    ``(A) collaborating on the shared use of 
                transportation and facilities;
                    ``(B) collaborating to reduce the duplication of 
                services while increasing the program participation of 
                underserved populations of eligible children; and
                    ``(C) exchanging information on the provision of 
                noneducational services to such children.
            ``(4) Parental involvement.--In order to promote the 
        continued involvement of the parents of children that 
        participate in Head Start programs in the education of their 
        children upon transition to school, the Head Start agency 
        shall--
                    ``(A) provide training to the parents--
                            ``(i) to inform the parents about their 
                        rights and responsibilities concerning the 
                        education of their children; and
                            ``(ii) to enable the parents--
                                    ``(I) to understand and work with 
                                schools in order to communicate with 
                                teachers and other school personnel;
                                    ``(II) to support the schoolwork of 
                                their children; and
                                    ``(III) to participate as 
                                appropriate in decisions relating to 
                                the education of their children; and
                    ``(B) take other actions, as appropriate and 
                feasible, to support the active involvement of the 
                parents with schools, school personnel, and school-
                related organizations.
    ``(d) Assessment.--Each Head Start agency shall adopt, in 
consultation with experts in child development and with classroom 
teachers, an assessment to be used when hiring or evaluating any 
classroom teacher in a center-based Head Start program. Such assessment 
shall measure whether such teacher has mastered the functions described 
in section 648A(a)(1) and attained a level of literacy appropriate to 
implement Head Start curricula.
    ``(e) Funded Enrollment; Waiting List.--Each Head Start agency 
shall enroll 100 percent of its funded enrollment and maintain an 
active waiting list at all times with ongoing outreach to the community 
and activities to identify underserved populations.''.

SEC. 11. HEAD START TRANSITION.

    Section 642A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837a) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 642A. HEAD START TRANSITION AND ALIGNMENT WITH K-12 EDUCATION.

    ``Each Head Start agency shall take steps to coordinate activities 
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 ongoing channels of communication 
        between Head Start staff and their counterparts in the schools 
        (including teachers, social workers, health staff, and local 
        educational agency liaisons designated under section 
        722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii))) to facilitate coordination of 
        programs;
            ``(3) developing continuity of developmentally appropriate 
        curricula and practice between the Head Start agency and local 
        educational agency to ensure an effective transition and 
        appropriate shared expectations for children's learning and 
        development as the children make the transition to school;
            ``(4) conducting meetings involving parents, kindergarten 
        or elementary school teachers, and Head Start teachers to 
        discuss the educational, developmental, and other needs of 
        individual children;
            ``(5) organizing and participating in joint training, 
        including transition-related training of school staff and Head 
        Start staff;
            ``(6) 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.), 
        and family outreach and support efforts under subtitle B of 
        title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 11431 et seq.), taking into consideration the language 
        needs of limited English proficient parents;
            ``(7) assisting families, administrators, and teachers in 
        enhancing educational and developmental continuity and 
        continuity of parental involvement in activities between Head 
        Start services and elementary school classes;
            ``(8) linking the services provided in such Head Start 
        program with the education services, including services 
        relating to language, literacy, and numeracy, provided by such 
        local educational agency;
            ``(9) helping parents understand the importance of parental 
        involvement in a child's academic success while teaching the 
        parents strategies for maintaining parental involvement as 
        their child moves from the Head Start program to elementary 
        school;
            ``(10) developing and implementing a system to increase 
        program participation of underserved populations of eligible 
        children, including children with disabilities and limited 
        English proficient children; and
            ``(11) coordinating activities and collaborating to ensure 
        that curricula used in the Head Start program is aligned with 
        State early learning standards with regard to cognitive, 
        social, emotional, and physical competencies that children 
        entering kindergarten are expected to demonstrate.''.

SEC. 12. SUBMISSION OF PLANS TO GOVERNORS.

    Section 643 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9838) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence, by inserting ``for approval'' 
        after ``submitted to the chief executive officer of the 
        State''; and
            (2) in the last sentence, by inserting ``to Indian and 
        migrant and seasonal Head Start programs in existence on the 
        date of enactment of the Head Start Improvements for School 
        Readiness Act, or'' after ``other assistance''.

SEC. 13. PARTICIPATION IN HEAD START PROGRAMS.

    Section 645(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``130 percent of'' 
        after ``below''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(3)(A) In this paragraph:
            ``(i) The term `dependent' has the meaning given the term 
        in paragraphs (2)(A) and (4)(A)(i) of section 401(a) of title 
        37, United States Code.
            ``(ii) The terms `member' and `uniformed services' have the 
        meanings given the terms in paragraphs (23) and (3), 
        respectively, of section 101 of title 37, United States Code.
    ``(B) The following amounts of pay and allowance of a member of the 
uniformed services shall not be considered to be income for purposes of 
determining the eligibility of a dependent of such member for programs 
funded under this subchapter:
            ``(i) The amount of any special pay payable under section 
        310 if title 37, United States Code, relating to duty subject 
        to hostile fire or imminent danger.
            ``(ii) The amount of basic allowance payable under section 
        403 of such title, including any such amount that is provided 
        on behalf of the member for housing that is acquired or 
        constructed under the alternative authority for the acquisition 
        and improvement of military housing under subchapter IV of 
        chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code, or any other 
        related provision of law.
    ``(4) After demonstrating a need through a community needs 
assessment, a Head Start agency may apply to the Secretary to convert 
part-day sessions, particularly consecutive part-day sessions, into 
full-day sessions.''.

SEC. 14. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS.

    Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840a) is amended--
            (1) by striking the section heading and inserting the 
        following:

``SEC. 645A. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS.'';

            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``provide 
                services to parents to support their role as parents'' 
                and inserting ``provide additional services to parents 
                to support their role as parents (including parenting 
                skills training and training in basic child 
                development)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) by inserting ``(including home-based 
                        services)'' after ``with services''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, and family support 
                        services'' after ``health services'';
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) 
                as paragraphs (9), (10), and (11), respectively;
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) develop and implement a systematic procedure for 
        transitioning children and parents from an Early Head Start 
        program into a Head Start program or another local early 
        childhood education program;
            ``(8) establish channels of communication between staff of 
        Early Head Start programs and staff of Head Start programs or 
        other local early childhood education programs, to facilitate 
        the coordination of programs;''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (10), as so redesignated--
                            (i) by striking ``and providers'' and 
                        inserting ``, providers''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, and the agencies 
                        responsible for administering section 106 of 
                        the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act 
                        (42 U.S.C. 5106a)'' after ``(20 U.S.C. 1400 et 
                        seq.)'';
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, including 
                tribal governments and entities operating migrant and 
                seasonal Head Start programs'' after ``subchapter''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, including 
                community-based organizations'' after ``private 
                entities'';
            (4) in subsection (g)(2)(B), by striking clause (iv) and 
        inserting the following:
                            ``(iv) providing professional development 
                        and personnel enhancement activities, including 
                        the provision of funds to recipients of grants 
                        under subsection (a), relating to--
                                    ``(I) effective methods of 
                                conducting parent education, home 
                                visiting, and promoting quality early 
                                childhood development;
                                    ``(II) recruiting and retaining 
                                qualified staff; and
                                    ``(III) increasing program 
                                participation for underserved 
                                populations of eligible children.'';
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Staff Qualifications and Development.--
            ``(1) Center-based staff.--The Secretary shall ensure that, 
        not later than September 30, 2009, all teachers providing 
        direct services to Early Head Start children and families in 
        Early Head Start centers have a minimum of a child development 
        associate credential or an associate degree, and have been 
        trained (or have equivalent course work) in early childhood 
        development.
            ``(2) Home visitor staff.--
                    ``(A) Standards.--In order to further enhance the 
                quality of home visiting services provided to families 
                of children participating in home-based, center-based, 
                or combination program options under this subchapter, 
                the Secretary shall establish standards for training, 
                qualifications, and the conduct of home visits for home 
                visitor staff in Early Head Start programs.
                    ``(B) Contents.--The standards for training, 
                qualifications, and the conduct of home visits shall 
                include content related to--
                            ``(i) structured child-focused home 
                        visiting that promotes parents' ability to 
                        support the child's cognitive, social, 
                        emotional, and physical development;
                            ``(ii) effective strengths-based parent 
                        education, including methods to encourage 
                        parents as their child's first teachers;
                            ``(iii) early childhood development with 
                        respect to children from birth through age 3;
                            ``(iv) methods to help parents promote 
                        emergent literacy in their children from birth 
                        through age 3;
                            ``(v) health, vision, hearing, and 
                        developmental screenings;
                            ``(vi) strategies for helping families 
                        coping with crisis; and
                            ``(vii) the relationship of health and 
                        well-being of pregnant women to prenatal and 
                        early child development.''.

SEC. 15. RECORDS AND AUDITS.

    (a) Recipients.--Section 647(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
9842(a)) is amended by striking ``Each recipient of'' and inserting 
``Each Head Start agency, Head Start center, or Early Head Start center 
receiving''.
    (b) Accounting.--Section 647 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9842) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Each Head Start agency, Head Start center, or Early Head 
Start center receiving financial assistance under this subchapter shall 
maintain, and annually submit to the Secretary, a complete accounting 
of its administrative expenses, including expenses for salaries and 
compensation funded under this subchapter and provide such additional 
documentation as the Secretary may require.''.

SEC. 16. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.

    Section 648 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``(b) and (c)'' and 
        inserting ``(b), (c), and (d)'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as 
        subsections (c) through (f), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) The Secretary shall make available funds set aside in section 
640(a)(2)(C)(ii) to support a regional or State system of early 
childhood education training and technical assistance that improves the 
capacity of Head Start programs to deliver services in accordance with 
the standards described in section 641A(a)(1), with particular 
attention to the standards described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
such section. The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) ensure that agencies with demonstrated expertise in 
        providing high quality training and technical assistance to 
        improve the delivery of Head Start services, including the 
        State Head Start Associations, State agencies, migrant and 
        seasonal Head Start programs, and other entities providing 
        training and technical assistance in early education, for the 
        region or State are included in the planning and coordination 
        of the system; and
            ``(2) encourage States to supplement the funds authorized 
        in section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) with Federal, State, or local funds 
        other than Head Start funds, to expand training and technical 
        assistance activities beyond Head Start agencies to include 
        other providers of other early childhood services within a 
        region or State.'';
            (4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), by striking 
                ``educational performance measures'' and inserting 
                ``measures'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and for 
                activities described in section 1221(b)(3) of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6371(b)(3))'' after ``children with 
                disabilities'';
                    (C) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``, including 
                assessing the needs of homeless children and their 
                families'' after ``needs assessment'';
                    (D) in paragraph (10), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (E) in paragraph (11), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) assist Head Start agencies and programs in 
        increasing the program participation of eligible homeless 
        children.'';
            (5) in subsection (e), as so redesignated, by inserting 
        ``including community-based organizations,'' after ``nonprofit 
        entities'';
            (6) in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by inserting 
        ``or providing services to children determined to be abused or 
        neglected, training for personnel providing services to 
        children referred by entities providing child welfare services 
        or receiving child welfare services,'' after ``English 
        language),''; and
            (7) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) The Secretary shall provide, either directly or through 
grants or other arrangements, funds for training of Head Start 
personnel in addressing the unique needs of migrant and seasonal 
farmworking families, families with limited English proficiency, and 
homeless families.
    ``(h) Funds used under this section shall be used to provide high 
quality, sustained, and intensive, training and technical assistance in 
order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction. 
Funds shall be used to carry out activities related to 1 or more of the 
following:
            ``(1) Education and early childhood development.
            ``(2) Child health, nutrition, and safety.
            ``(3) Family and community partnerships.
            ``(4) Other areas that impact the quality or overall 
        effectiveness of Head Start programs.
    ``(i) Funds used under this section for training shall be used for 
needs identified annually by a grant applicant or delegate agency in 
its program improvement plan, except that funds shall not be used for 
long-distance travel expenses for training activities--
            ``(1) available locally or regionally; or
            ``(2) substantially similar to locally or regionally 
        available training activities.
    ``(j)(1) To support local efforts to enhance early language and 
preliteracy development of children in Head Start programs, and to 
provide the children with high-quality oral language skills, and 
environments that are rich in literature, in which to acquire language 
and preliteracy skills, each Head Start agency, in coordination with 
the appropriate State office and the relevant State Head Start 
collaboration office, shall ensure that all of the agency's Head Start 
teachers receive ongoing training in language and emergent literacy 
(referred to in this subsection as `literacy training'), including 
appropriate curricula and assessments to improve instruction and 
learning. Such training shall include training in methods to promote 
phonological and phonemic awareness and vocabulary development in an 
age-appropriate and culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
    ``(2) The literacy training shall be provided at the local level in 
order--
            ``(A) to be provided, to the extent feasible, in the 
        context of the Head Start programs of the State involved and 
        the children the program serves; and
            ``(B) to be tailored to the early childhood literacy 
        background and experience of the teachers involved.
    ``(3) The literacy training shall be culturally and linguistically 
appropriate and support children's development in their home language.
    ``(4) The literacy training shall include training in how to work 
with parents to enhance positive language and early literacy 
development at home.
    ``(5) The literacy training shall include specific methods to best 
address the needs of children who are English language learners, have 
speech and language delays, including problems with articulation, or 
have other disabilities.''.

SEC. 17. STAFF QUALIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT.

    Section 648A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(2) Degree requirements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure 
                that--
                            ``(i) not later than September 30, 2009, 
                        all Head Start teachers in center-based 
                        programs have at least--
                                    ``(I)(aa) an associate degree (or 
                                equivalent coursework) relating to 
                                early childhood; or
                                    ``(bb) an associate degree in a 
                                related educational area and, to the 
                                extent practicable, coursework relating 
                                to early childhood; and
                                    ``(II) demonstrated teaching 
                                competencies, as determined by the 
                                program director involved (including, 
                                at a minimum, an appropriate level of 
                                literacy, a demonstrated capacity to be 
                                highly engaged with children, and a 
                                demonstrated ability to effectively 
                                implement an early childhood 
                                curriculum); and
                            ``(ii) not later than September 30, 2007, 
                        all Head Start curriculum specialists and 
                        education coordinators in center-based programs 
                        have--
                                    ``(I) the capacity to offer 
                                assistance to other teachers in the 
                                implementation and adaptation of 
                                curricula to the group and individual 
                                needs of a class; and
                                    ``(II)(aa) a baccalaureate or 
                                advanced degree relating to early 
                                childhood; or
                                    ``(bb) a baccalaureate or advanced 
                                degree and coursework equivalent to a 
                                major relating to early childhood;
                            ``(iii) not later than September 30, 2007, 
                        all Head Start teaching assistants in center-
                        based programs have--
                                    ``(I) at least a child development 
                                associate credential;
                                    ``(II) enrolled in a program 
                                leading to an associate or 
                                baccalaureate degree; or
                                    ``(III) enrolled in a child 
                                development associate credential 
                                program to be completed within 2 years; 
                                and
                            ``(iv) not later than September 30, 2010, 
                        50 percent of all Head Start teachers in each 
                        center-based program have a baccalaureate 
                        degree relating to early childhood or a related 
                        educational area (or equivalent coursework), 
                        and demonstrated teaching competencies, as 
                        determined by the program director involved 
                        (including, at a minimum, an appropriate level 
                        of literacy, a demonstrated capacity to be 
                        highly engaged with children, and a 
                        demonstrated ability to effectively implement 
                        an early childhood curriculum).
                    ``(B) Progress.--
                            ``(i) Report.--The Secretary shall--
                                    ``(I) require Head Start agencies 
                                to--
                                            ``(aa) demonstrate 
                                        continuing progress each year 
                                        to reach the result described 
                                        in subparagraph (A);
                                            ``(bb) submit to the 
                                        Secretary a report indicating 
                                        the number and percentage of 
                                        classroom instructors in 
                                        center-based programs with 
                                        child development associate 
                                        credentials or associate, 
                                        baccalaureate, or graduate 
                                        degrees; and
                                    ``(II) compile and submit a summary 
                                of all program reports described in 
                                subclause (I)(bb) to the Committee on 
                                Education and the Workforce of the 
                                House of Representatives and the 
                                Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
                                and Pensions of the Senate.
                    ``(C) Service requirements.--The Secretary shall 
                establish requirements to ensure that, in order to 
                enable Head Start agencies to comply with the 
                requirements of subparagraph (A), individuals who 
                receive financial assistance under this subchapter to 
                pursue a degree described in subparagraph (A) shall--
                            ``(i) teach or work in a Head Start program 
                        for a minimum of 3 years after receiving the 
                        degree; or
                            ``(ii) repay the total or a prorated amount 
                        of the financial assistance received based on 
                        the length of service completed after receiving 
                        the degree.''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(3) Waiver.--
                    ``(A) In general.--On request, the Secretary may 
                grant a waiver of the postsecondary degree requirements 
                of paragraph (2) for 1 or more Head Start agencies, 
                either individually, statewide, or throughout a region, 
                that can demonstrate--
                            ``(i) that continuing aggressive statewide 
                        and national efforts have been unsuccessful at 
                        recruiting an individual to serve as a Head 
                        Start teacher or curriculum specialist or 
                        education coordinator who meets the 
                        requirements of paragraph (2)(A);
                            ``(ii) limited access to degree programs 
                        (including quality distance learning programs), 
                        due to the remote location of the program 
                        involved; or
                            ``(iii) that Head Start staff members are, 
                        as of the day the waiver is granted, is 
                        enrolled in a program that--
                                    ``(I) grants the required degree; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) will be completed within 1 
                                year.
                    ``(B) Limitation.--An agency that receives a waiver 
                under subparagraph (A) shall ensure that Head Start 
                teachers for the agency, as of the day the waiver is 
                granted, who have not met the postsecondary degree 
                requirements of paragraph (2) but are otherwise highly 
                qualified and competent shall be directly and 
                appropriately supervised by a teacher who has met or 
                exceeded the requirements of this subchapter.
                    ``(C) Duration.--The Secretary may not grant a 
                waiver under subparagraph (A) for a period that exceeds 
                1 year.'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) promote the use of appropriate strategies to meet the 
        needs of special populations (including limited English 
        proficient populations).'';
            (3) in subsection (d)(3)(C) by inserting ``, including a 
        center,'' after ``any agency''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Professional Development Plans.--Every Head Start agency and 
center shall create, in consultation with employees of the agency or 
center (including family service workers), a professional development 
plan for employees who provide direct services to children, including a 
plan for classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, and education 
coordinators to meet the requirements set forth in subsection (a).''.

SEC. 18. TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HEAD START PARTNERSHIP.

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

``SEC. 648B. TRIBAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY-HEAD START PARTNERSHIP 
              PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to promote social 
competencies and school readiness in Indian children.
    ``(b) Tribal College or University-Head Start Partnership 
Program.--
            ``(1) Grants.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants, 
        for periods of not less than 5 years, to Tribal Colleges and 
        Universities to--
                    ``(A) implement education programs that include 
                education concerning tribal culture and language and 
                increase the number of associate, baccalaureate, and 
                graduate degrees in early childhood education and 
                related fields that are earned by Indian Head Start 
                agency staff members, parents of children served by 
                such an agency, and members of the tribal community 
                involved;
                    ``(B) develop and implement the programs under 
                subparagraph (A) in technology-mediated formats; and
                    ``(C) provide technology literacy programs for 
                Indian Head Start agency staff members and children and 
                families of children served by such an agency.
            ``(2) Staffing.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        American Indian Programs Branch of the Head Start Bureau of the 
        Department of Health and Human Services shall have staffing 
        sufficient to administer the programs under this section and to 
        provide appropriate technical assistance to Tribal Colleges and 
        Universities receiving grants under this section.
    ``(c) Application.--Each Tribal College or University desiring a 
grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary, 
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require, including a certification that the Tribal 
College or University has established a partnership with 1 or more 
Indian Head Start agencies for the purpose of conducting the activities 
described in subsection (b).
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
2004 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2005 
through 2008.
    ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            ``(2) Tribal college or university.--The term `Tribal 
        College or University'--
                    ``(A) has the meaning given such term in section 
                316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1059c); and
                    ``(B) means an institution determined to be 
                accredited or a candidate for accreditation by a 
                nationally recognized accrediting agency or 
                association.''.

SEC. 19. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUATION.

    Section 649 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by inserting ``and children 
        determined to be abused or neglected'' after ``children with 
        disabilities'';
            (2) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (8), by adding ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (B) by striking paragraph (9);
                    (C) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph 
                (9); and
                    (D) by striking the last sentence;
            (3) in subsection (g)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
                            (i) by striking clause (i); and
                            (ii) by redesignating clauses (ii) and 
                        (iii) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; 
                        and
                    (B) in paragraph (7)(C)--
                            (i) in clause (i)--
                                    (I) by striking ``1999'' and 
                                inserting ``2003'';
                                    (II) by striking ``2001'' and 
                                inserting ``2005''; and
                                    (III) by striking ``2003'' and 
                                inserting ``2006''; and
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``Labor 
                        and Human Resources'' and inserting ``Health, 
                        Education, Labor, and Pensions''; and
            (4) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
    ``(h) National Academy of Sciences Study.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into a 
        contract with the Board on Children, Youth, and Families of the 
        National Research Council, the Board on Testing and 
Assessments, and the Institute of Medicine, of the National Academy of 
Sciences to establish an independent panel of experts to review and 
synthesize research and theories in the social, behavioral, and 
biological sciences regarding early childhood, and make recommendations 
with regard to each of the following:
                    ``(A) Age- and developmentally appropriate Head 
                Start academic requirements and outcomes, including the 
                standards described in section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii).
                    ``(B) Differences in the type, length, mix, and 
                intensity of services that are necessary to ensure that 
                children from challenging family or social backgrounds 
                (including low-income children, children with 
                disabilities, and limited English proficient children) 
                enter kindergarten ready to succeed.
                    ``(C) Appropriate assessments of young children for 
                the purposes of improving instruction, services, and 
                program quality, including--
                            ``(i) formal and systematic observational 
                        assessments in a child's natural environment;
                            ``(ii) assessments of children's 
                        development through parent and provider 
                        interviews;
                            ``(iii) assessments of appropriate 
                        accommodations for children with disabilities;
                            ``(iv) appropriate assessments for children 
                        with disabilities, limited English proficient 
                        children, and children from different cultural 
                        backgrounds; and
                            ``(v) other assessments used in Head Start 
                        programs.
                    ``(D) Identification of existing, or 
                recommendations for the development of, scientifically-
                based, valid and reliable assessments that are capable 
                of measuring child outcomes in the domains important to 
                school readiness, including language skills, prereading 
                ability, premathematics ability, cognitive ability, 
                scientific ability, social and emotional development, 
                and physical development;
                    ``(E) Appropriate use and application of valid and 
                reliable assessments for Head Start programs identified 
                in accordance with subparagraph (D).
            ``(2) Composition.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The panel described in paragraph 
                (1) shall consist of multiple experts in each of the 
                following areas:
                            ``(i) Child development (including 
                        cognitive, social, emotional, and physical 
                        development) and child education (including 
                        approaches to learning).
                            ``(ii) Professional development, including 
                        preparation of individuals who teach young 
                        children.
                            ``(iii) Assessment of young children 
                        (including children with disabilities and 
                        limited English proficient children), including 
                        screening, diagnostic, and classroom-based 
                        instructional assessment.
                    ``(B) Representatives.--The panel described in 
                paragraph (1) shall be selected and appointed by the 
                National Academy of Sciences, after consultation with 
                the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and shall 
                include, to the extent practicable, representatives 
                of--
                            ``(i) the Department of Health and Human 
                        Services, including representatives of--
                                    ``(I) the Centers for Disease 
                                Control and Prevention;
                                    ``(II) the National Institute of 
                                Mental Health; and
                                    ``(III) the National Institute of 
                                Child Health and Human Development;
                            ``(ii) the National Association for the 
                        Education of Young Children;
                            ``(iii) the National Center for Learning 
                        Disabilities;
                            ``(iv) the American Academy of Pediatrics;
                            ``(v) the Institute of Education Sciences 
                        of the Department of Education;
                            ``(vi) the General Accounting Office; and
                            ``(vii) other entities with noted experts 
                        in the fields of early care and early childhood 
                        education, including additional representatives 
                        of Federal agencies.
            ``(3) Timing.--
                    ``(A) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after 
                the date of enactment of the Head Start Improvements 
                for School Readiness Act, the Board on Children, Youth, 
                and Families of the National Research Council, the 
                Board on Testing and Assessments, and the Institute of 
                Medicine, of the National Academy of Sciences shall 
                establish the panel described in paragraph (1), 
                including selecting and appointing the members of the 
                panel. Representatives described in paragraph (2) shall 
                be selected and appointed after consultation with the 
                Secretary.
                    ``(B) Recommendations.--Not later than 1 year after 
                the panel described in paragraph (1) is established, 
                the panel shall complete, and submit to the Secretary a 
                report containing, the recommendations described in 
                paragraph (1). The Secretary shall not implement the 
                amendments made to section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii) by the 
                Head Start Improvements for School Readiness Act until 
                the panel submits the report.
            ``(4) Application of panel report.--The Secretary shall use 
        the results of the review and recommendations described in 
        paragraph (1) to (where appropriate) develop, inform, and 
        revise--
                    ``(A) the educational standards, and the 
                performance measures, described in section 641A; and
                    ``(B) the assessments utilized in the Head Start 
                programs.
            ``(5) Contract.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        contract referred to in paragraph (1) provides that--
                    ``(A) the National Academy of Sciences shall 
                receive through the contract--
                            ``(i)(I) a total amount if the panel 
                        described in paragraph (1) submits the report 
                        described in paragraph (3)(B) not later than 
                        the date that is 1 year after the panel is 
                        established; or
                            ``(II) \1/2\ of the total amount if the 
                        panel submits the report later than that date; 
                        and
                            ``(ii)(I) not more than \1/2\ of the total 
                        amount, prior to the date on which the panel is 
                        established; and
                            ``(II) the remainder of the sum described 
                        in subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i), as 
                        appropriate, after the panel submits the 
                        report; and
                    ``(B) the Secretary may require additional 
                penalties, including repayment of funds, as 
                appropriate, for failure to submit the report or to 
                carry out other duties under this subsection.
    ``(i) Services to Limited English Proficient Children and 
Families.--
            ``(1) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study on the 
        status of limited English proficient children and their 
        families in Head Start or Early Head Start programs.
            ``(2) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit to 
        Congress, not later than September 2008, a report containing 
        the results of the study, including information on--
                    ``(A) the demographics of limited English 
                proficient children from birth through age 5, including 
                the number of such children receiving Head Start or 
                Early Head Start services and the geographic 
                distribution of children described in this 
                subparagraph;
                    ``(B) the nature of Head Start or Early Head Start 
                services provided to limited English proficient 
                children and their families, including the types, 
                content, duration, intensity, and costs of family 
                services, language assistance, and educational 
                services;
                    ``(C) procedures in Head Start programs for the 
                assessment of language needs and the transition of 
                limited English proficient children to kindergarten, 
                including the extent to which Head Start programs meet 
                the requirements of section 642A for limited English 
                proficient children;
                    ``(D) the qualifications and training provided to 
                Head Start and Early Head Start teachers serving 
                limited English proficient children and their families;
                    ``(E) the rate of progress made by limited English 
                proficient children and their families in Head Start 
                programs and Early Head Start programs, including--
                            ``(i) the rate of progress of the limited 
                        English proficient children toward meeting the 
                        additional educational standards described in 
                        section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii) while enrolled in 
                        Head Start programs, measured between 1990 and 
                        2003;
                            ``(ii) the correlation between such 
                        progress and the type of instruction and 
                        educational program provided to the limited 
                        English proficient children; and
                            ``(iii) the correlation between such 
                        progress and the health and family services 
                        provided by Head Start programs to limited 
                        English proficient children and their families; 
                        and
                    ``(F) the extent to which Head Start programs make 
                use of funds under section 640(a)(3) to improve the 
                quality of Head Start services provided to limited 
                English proficient children and their families.''.

SEC. 20. REPORTS.

    Section 650(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9846(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``Labor and Human Resources'' and inserting ``Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions''; and
            (2) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``homelessness,'' after 
        ``ethnic background,''.

SEC. 21. COMPARABILITY OF WAGES.

    Section 653 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9848) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Secretary shall take'' and inserting 
        ``(a) The Secretary shall take'';
            (2) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by striking 
        ``or (2)'' and inserting ``(2) in excess of the salary of the 
        Secretary, in the case of an individual compensated with funds 
        awarded under this subchapter or the Community Services Block 
        Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.); or (3)''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) If in any fiscal year the restriction described in subsection 
(a)(2) is violated, the Secretary shall withhold from the base grant of 
the Head Start agency involved (as defined in section 641A(f)(1)) for 
the next fiscal year, an amount equal to the aggregate amount by which 
the salary that resulted in the violation exceeded the salary of the 
Secretary.''.

SEC. 22. LIMITATION WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES.

    Section 655 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9850) is amended by 
inserting ``or in'' after ``assigned by''.

SEC. 23. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.

    Section 656 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9851) is amended--
            (1) by striking all that precedes ``chapter 15'' and 
        inserting the following:

``SEC. 656. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) State or Local Agency.--For purposes of''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Restrictions.--
            ``(1) In general.--A program assisted under this 
        subchapter, and any individual employed by, or assigned to, a 
        program assessed under this subchapter (during the hours in 
        which such individual is working on behalf of such program), 
        shall not engage in--
                    ``(A) any partisan or nonpartisan political 
                activity or any other political activity associated 
                with a candidate, or contending faction or group, in an 
                election for public or party office;
                    ``(B) any activity to provide voters or prospective 
                voters with transportation to the polls or similar 
                assistance in connection with any such election; or
                    ``(C) any voter registration activity.
            ``(2) Rules and regulations.--The Secretary, after 
        consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel 
        Management, may issue rules and regulations to provide for the 
        enforcement of this section, which may include provisions for 
        summary suspension of assistance or other action necessary to 
        permit enforcement on an emergency basis.''.

SEC. 24. PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR HEALTH SERVICES.

    The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section:

``SEC. 657A. PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR NONEMERGENCY INTRUSIVE 
              PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS.

    ``(a) Definition.--The term `nonemergency intrusive physical 
examination' means, with respect to a child, a physical examination 
that--
            ``(1) is not immediately necessary to protect the health or 
        safety of the child or the health or safety of another 
        individual; and
            ``(2) requires incision or is otherwise invasive, or 
        involves exposure of private body parts.
    ``(b) Requirement.--A Head Start agency shall obtain written 
parental consent before administration of, or referral for, any health 
care service provided or arranged to be provided, including any 
nonemergency intrusive physical examination of a child in connection 
with participation in a program under this subchapter.
    ``(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to prohibit agencies from using established methods, for 
handling cases of suspected or known child abuse and neglect, that are 
in compliance with applicable Federal, State, or tribal law.''.




                                                       Calendar No. 413

108th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 1940

                          [Report No. 108-208]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                           November 24, 2003

                 Read twice and placed on the calendar