[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 503 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 503

 To expand Parents as Teachers programs and other quality programs of 
        early childhood home visitation, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 3, 2005

   Mr. Bond (for himself, Mr. Talent, and Mr. DeWine) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To expand Parents as Teachers programs and other quality programs of 
        early childhood home visitation, 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 ``Education Begins at Home Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the home is the first and most important learning 
        environment for children, and parents are their children's 
        first and most influential teacher;
            (2) through parent education and family support, we can 
        promote parents' ability to enhance their children's 
        development from birth until entry into kindergarten thereby 
        helping parents to prepare their children for success in 
        school;
            (3) undiagnosed and unaddressed developmental and health 
        problems can impede overall child development and school 
        readiness;
            (4) all parents deserve and can benefit from--
                    (A) research-based information regarding child 
                development;
                    (B) enrichment opportunities with their children; 
                and
                    (C) early opportunities to become involved with 
                their community and schools; and
            (5) early childhood home visitation leads to positive 
        outcomes for children and families, including readiness for 
        school, improved child health and development, positive 
        parenting practices, and reductions in child maltreatment.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are as follows:
            (1) To enable States to deliver services under Parents as 
        Teachers programs, or other quality programs of early childhood 
        home visitation, to pregnant women and parents of children from 
        birth until entry into kindergarten in order to promote 
        parents' ability to support their children's optimal cognitive, 
        language, social-emotional, and physical development.
            (2) To improve Early Head Start programs carried out under 
        section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840a).
            (3) To expand Parents as Teachers programs, or other 
        quality programs of early childhood home visitation, so as to 
        more effectively reach and serve families with English language 
        learners.
            (4) To expand Parents as Teachers programs, or other 
        quality programs of early childhood home visitation, so as to 
        more effectively reach and serve families serving in the 
        military.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Eligible family.--The term ``eligible family'' means--
                    (A) a woman who is pregnant; or
                    (B) a parent or primary caregiver of a child who is 
                from birth until entry into kindergarten.
            (2) Home visitation.--The term ``home visitation'' means 
        services provided in the permanent or temporary residence, or 
        in other familiar surroundings, of the individual receiving 
        such services.
            (3) Secretary.--Except as provided in section 8, the term 
        ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
            (4) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, 
        the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

SEC. 5. STATE GRANTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITATION.

    (a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the 
Secretary of Education, shall make grants to States to enable such 
States to establish or expand Parents as Teachers programs, or other 
quality programs of early childhood home visitation, as specified under 
subsection (f). Each grant shall consist of the allotment determined 
for a State under subsection (b).
    (b) Determination of Reservations; Amount of Allotments; 
Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) Reservations from appropriations.--From the total 
        amount made available to carry out this section for a fiscal 
        year, the Secretary shall reserve--
                    (A) 3 percent for an independent evaluation of the 
                activities carried out under this Act, as specified in 
                section 9;
                    (B) not more than 5 percent for Federal 
                administrative costs; and
                    (C) 2 percent for training and technical assistance 
                for States.
            (2) State allotments for early childhood home visitation.--
                    (A) In general.--In accordance with subparagraph 
                (B), the Secretary shall allot among each of the States 
                the total amount made available to carry out this 
                section for any fiscal year and not reserved under 
                paragraph (1), to carry out early childhood home 
                visitation in accordance with this section.
                    (B) Determination of state allotments.--
                            (i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        the Secretary shall allot the amount made 
                        available under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal 
                        year among the States in proportion to the 
                        number of children, aged from birth to 5 years, 
                        who reside within the State, compared to the 
                        number of such individuals who reside in all 
                        such States for that fiscal year.
                            (ii) Exception.--No State receiving an 
                        allotment under clause (i) may receive more 
                        than $20,000,000.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section $400,000,000 for 
        the period of fiscal years 2006 through 2008.
    (c) State Grant Applications.--A State that desires to receive 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. The application shall contain the following 
information:
            (1) An assurance that the Governor of the State has 
        designated a lead State agency, such as the State educational 
        agency or the State health and human services agency, to carry 
        out the activities under this section.
            (2) An assurance that the State will, if requested, 
        participate in the independent evaluation under section 9.
            (3) An assurance that the State will reserve 10 percent of 
        the grant funds for training and technical assistance of staff 
        of programs of early childhood home visitation.
            (4) An assurance that the State will authorize child care 
        resource and referral agencies to refer parents seeking home 
        visitation services.
            (5) The results of a statewide needs assessment that 
        describes--
                    (A) the quality and capacity of existing programs 
                of early childhood home visitation in the State;
                    (B) the number and types of eligible families who 
                are receiving services under such programs; and
                    (C) the gaps in early childhood home visitation in 
                the State.
            (6) A State plan containing the following:
                    (A) A description of the State's strategy to 
                establish or expand Parents as Teachers programs, or 
                other quality programs of early childhood home 
                visitation, to serve all eligible families in the 
                State.
                    (B) A description of the Parents as Teachers 
                programs, or other quality programs of early childhood 
                home visitation, that will be supported by a grant 
                under this section.
                    (C) A description of how the proposed program of 
                early childhood home visitation will promote positive 
                parenting skills and children's early learning and 
                development.
                    (D) A description of how the proposed program of 
                early childhood home visitation will incorporate the 
                authorized activities described in subsection (f).
                    (E) How the lead State agency will build on and 
                promote coordination among existing programs of early 
                childhood home visitation in an effort to promote an 
                array of home visitation that ensures more eligible 
                families are being served and are getting the most 
                appropriate services to meet their needs.
                    (F) How the lead State agency will promote channels 
                of communication between staff of programs of early 
                childhood home visitation and staff of other early 
                childhood education programs, such as Head Start 
                programs carried out under the Head Start Act (42 
                U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) and Early Head Start programs 
                carried out under section 645A of such Act, preschool 
                programs, and child care programs, to facilitate the 
                coordination of services for eligible families.
                    (G) How the lead State agency will provide training 
                and technical assistance to staff of programs of early 
                childhood home visitation involved in activities under 
                this section to more effectively meet the needs of the 
                eligible families served.
                    (H) How the lead State agency will evaluate the 
                activities supported under this section in order to 
                demonstrate outcomes related to the enhancement of--
                            (i) parent knowledge of early learning and 
                        development;
                            (ii) positive parenting practices related 
                        to early learning and development; and
                            (iii) children's cognitive, language, 
                        social-emotional, and physical development.
                    (I) Such other information as the Secretary may 
                require.
    (d) Approval of Applications.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall approve an application 
        under this section based on the quality of the application and 
        the recommendations of a peer review panel, as described in 
        paragraph (2).
            (2) Peer review panel.--The peer review panel shall include 
        not less than--
                    (A) 3 individuals who are experts in the field of 
                home visitation;
                    (B) 2 individuals who are experts in early 
                childhood development;
                    (C) 1 individual with experience implementing a 
                statewide program of early childhood home visitation; 
                and
                    (D) 1 individual who is a board certified 
                pediatrician.
    (e) Duration of Grants.--Grants made under this section shall be 
for a period of no more than 3 years.
    (f) State Uses of Funds.--Each State that receives a grant under 
this section shall--
            (1) provide to as many eligible families in the State as 
        practicable, voluntary early childhood home visitation, on not 
        less frequently than a monthly basis with greater frequency of 
        services for those eligible families identified with additional 
        needs, through the implementation of Parents as Teachers 
        programs, or other quality programs of early childhood home 
        visitation that are research-based, that provide parents with--
                    (A) knowledge of age appropriate child development 
                in cognitive, language, social-emotional, and motor 
                domains;
                    (B) knowledge of realistic expectations of age-
                appropriate child behaviors;
                    (C) knowledge of health and wellness issues for 
                children and parents;
                    (D) modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting 
                practices;
                    (E) skills to interact with their child to enhance 
                age-appropriate development;
                    (F) skills to recognize and seek help for health 
                issues and developmental delays; and
                    (G) activities designed to help parents become full 
                partners in the education of their children;
            (2) offer annual health, vision, hearing, and developmental 
        screening for children from birth until entry into 
        kindergarten;
            (3) provide referrals for eligible families, as needed, to 
        additional resources available in the community, such as 
        center-based early education programs, child care services, 
        health or mental health services, family literacy programs, 
        employment agencies, social services, and child care resource 
        and referral agencies;
            (4) offer group meetings, on not less frequently than a 
        monthly basis, for eligible families that--
                    (A) further enhance the information, activities, 
                and skill-building addressed during home visitation; 
                and
                    (B) offer opportunities for parents to meet with 
                and support each other;
            (5) reserve 10 percent of the grant funds to provide 
        training and technical assistance, directly or through 
        contract, to early childhood home visitation and early 
        childhood care and education staff relating to--
                    (A) effective methods of conducting parent 
                education, home visiting, and promoting quality early 
                childhood development;
                    (B) the relationship of health and well-being of 
                pregnant women to prenatal and early childhood 
                development;
                    (C) early childhood development with respect to 
                children from birth until entry into kindergarten;
                    (D) methods to help parents promote emergent 
                literacy in their children from birth until entry into 
                kindergarten;
                    (E) health, vision, hearing, and developmental 
                screenings;
                    (F) strategies for helping eligible families with 
                special needs or those eligible families coping with 
                crisis;
                    (G) recruiting, supervising, and retaining 
                qualified staff;
                    (H) increasing services for underserved 
                populations;
                    (I) methods to help parents effectively respond to 
                their children's needs and behaviors; and
                    (J) implementation of ongoing program quality 
                improvement and evaluation of activities and outcomes;
            (6) ensure coordination of programs of early childhood home 
        visitation, early childhood education and care, and early 
        intervention, through an existing or created State-level early 
        childhood coordinating body that includes--
                    (A) representatives from relevant State agencies;
                    (B) representatives from State Head Start 
                Associations;
                    (C) the State official with responsibility for 
                carrying out activities under part C of the Individuals 
                with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et 
                seq.);
                    (D) the State official with responsibility for 
                carrying out activities under section 619 of the 
                Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
                1419);
                    (E) representatives from child care resource and 
                referral State offices;
                    (F) representatives from Parents as Teachers State 
                affiliate offices;
                    (G) representatives from other quality programs of 
                early childhood home visitation; and
                    (H) a board certified pediatrician; and
            (7) not expend more than 10 percent of the amount of grant 
        funds received under this section for the administration of the 
        grant, including planning, administration, evaluation, and 
        annual reporting.
    (g) Maintenance of Effort.--A State is entitled to receive its full 
allotment of funds under this section for any fiscal year if the 
Secretary finds that the aggregate expenditures within the State for 
Parents as Teachers programs, or other quality programs of early 
childhood home visitation, for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal 
year for which the determination is made was not less than 100 percent 
of such aggregate expenditures for the second fiscal year preceding the 
fiscal year for which the determination is made.
    (h) Reporting Requirements.--Each State that receives a grant under 
this section shall submit an annual report to the Secretary regarding 
the State's progress in addressing the purposes of this Act. Such 
report shall include, at a minimum, a description of--
            (1) the types of activities funded under the grant;
            (2) the children and eligible families served by the 
        programs funded under the grant;
            (3) the research-based instruction, materials, and 
        activities being used in the activities funded under the grant;
            (4) the effectiveness of the training and ongoing 
        professional development provided--
                    (A) to staff supported under the grant; and
                    (B) to the broader early childhood community; and
            (5) beginning at the end of the second year of the grant, 
        the results of evaluations described in subsection (c)(4)(G).

SEC. 6. STRENGTHENING EARLY HEAD START HOME VISITATION.

    Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840a) is amended--
            (1) 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; and
                    (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;'';
            (2) 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 effective 
                        methods of conducting parent education, home 
                        visiting, and promoting quality early childhood 
                        development.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Staff Qualifications and Development.--
            ``(1) 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. 7. TARGETED GRANTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITATION FOR 
              FAMILIES WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary 
of Education, shall make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible 
applicants to enable such applicants to support and expand local 
efforts to deliver services under the Parents as Teachers programs, or 
other quality programs of early childhood home visitation, to eligible 
families with English language learners.
    (b) Eligible Applicant.--In this section, the term ``eligible 
applicant'' means--
            (1) 1 or more local educational agencies (as defined in 
        section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)); and
            (2) 1 or more public or private community-based 
        organizations or agencies that serve eligible families and are 
        capable of establishing and implementing programs of early 
        childhood home visitation.
    (c) Applications.--An eligible applicant that desires to receive 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. The application shall include a description of--
            (1) the results of a communitywide needs assessment that 
        describes--
                    (A) community demographics demonstrating the need 
                for outreach and services to eligible families with 
                English language learners;
                    (B) the quality, capacity, and existing programs of 
                early childhood home visitation for eligible families 
                with English language learners;
                    (C) the gaps in programs of early childhood home 
                visitation for eligible families with English language 
                learners; and
                    (D) the type of program of early childhood home 
                visitation necessary to address the gaps identified;
            (2) the program of early childhood home visitation that 
        will be supported by the grant under this section;
            (3) how the proposed program of early childhood home 
        visitation will promote positive parenting skills and 
        children's early learning and development;
            (4) how the proposed program of early childhood home 
        visitation will incorporate the authorized activities described 
        in subsection (f);
            (5) how services provided through a grant under this 
        section will use materials that are geared toward eligible 
        families with English language learners;
            (6) how the activities under this section will be 
        coordinated with existing programs of early childhood home 
        visitation, if such programs exist in the community, in an 
        effort to promote an array of home visitation that ensures more 
        eligible families with English language learners are being 
        served and are getting the most appropriate services to meet 
        their needs;
            (7) how the program will ensure that--
                    (A) eligible families with English language 
                learners are linked to schools; and
                    (B) the activities under this section will support 
                the preparation of children for school;
            (8) how channels of communication will be established 
        between staff of programs of early childhood home visitation 
        and staff of other early childhood education programs, such as 
        Head Start programs carried out under the Head Start Act (42 
        U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) and Early Head Start programs carried out 
        under section 645A of such Act, preschool programs, and child 
        care programs, to facilitate the coordination of services for 
        eligible families with English language learners;
            (9) how eligible families with English language learners 
        will be recruited and retained to receive services under this 
        section;
            (10) how training and technical assistance will help the 
        staff of programs of early childhood home visitation involved 
        in activities under this section to more effectively serve 
        eligible families with English language learners;
            (11) how the eligible applicant will evaluate the 
        activities supported under this section in order to demonstrate 
        outcomes related to the--
                    (A) increase in number of eligible families with 
                English language learners served by programs of early 
                childhood home visitation;
                    (B) enhancement of participating parents' knowledge 
                of early learning and development;
                    (C) enhancement of positive parenting practices 
                related to early learning and development; and
                    (D) enhancement of children's cognitive, language, 
                social-emotional, and physical development; and
            (12) such other information as the Secretary may require.
    (d) Approval of Applications.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall select applicants for 
        funding under this section based on the quality of the 
        applications and the recommendations of a peer review panel, as 
        described in paragraph (2).
            (2) Peer review panel.--The peer review panel shall include 
        not less than--
                    (A) 2 individuals who are experts in the field of 
                home visitation;
                    (B) 2 individuals who are experts in early 
                childhood development;
                    (C) 2 individuals who are experts in serving 
                eligible families with English language learners; and
                    (D) 1 individual who is a board certified 
                pediatrician.
    (e) Duration of Grants.--Grants made under this section shall be 
for a period of no more than 3 years.
    (f) Authorized Activities.--Each eligible applicant that receives a 
grant under this section shall carry out the following activities:
            (1) Providing to as many eligible families with English 
        language learners as practicable, voluntary early childhood 
        home visitation, on not less frequently than a monthly basis, 
        through the implementation of Parents as Teachers programs, or 
        other quality programs of early childhood home visitation that 
        are research-based, that provide parents with--
                    (A) knowledge of age appropriate child development 
                in cognitive, language, social-emotional, and motor 
                domains;
                    (B) knowledge of realistic expectations of age-
                appropriate child behaviors;
                    (C) knowledge of health and wellness issues for 
                children and parents;
                    (D) modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting 
                practices;
                    (E) skills to interact with their child to enhance 
                age-appropriate development;
                    (F) skills to recognize and seek help for health 
                issues and developmental delays; and
                    (G) activities designed to help parents become full 
                partners in the education of their children.
            (2) Conducting annual health, vision, hearing, and 
        developmental screening for participating children who are 
        English language learners.
            (3) Providing referrals for participating eligible families 
        with English language learners, as needed, to additional 
        resources available in the community, such as center-based 
        early education programs, child care services, health or mental 
        health services, family literacy programs, employment agencies, 
        social services, and child care resource and referral agencies.
            (4) Offering group meetings, on not less frequently than a 
        monthly basis, for eligible families with English language 
        learners that--
                    (A) further enhance the information, activities, 
                and skill-building addressed during home visitation;
                    (B) offer opportunities for parents to meet with 
                and support each other; and
                    (C) address challenges facing eligible families 
                with English language learners.
            (5) Providing training and technical assistance to early 
        childhood home visitation and early childhood care and 
        education staff relating to--
                    (A) effective service to eligible families with 
                English language learners;
                    (B) effective methods of conducting parent 
                education, home visiting, and promoting quality early 
                childhood development;
                    (C) the relationship of health and well-being of 
                pregnant women to prenatal and early child development;
                    (D) early childhood development with respect to 
                children from birth until entry into kindergarten;
                    (E) methods to help parents promote emergent 
                literacy in their children from birth until entry into 
                kindergarten;
                    (F) implementing strategies for helping eligible 
                families with English language learners coping with a 
                crisis;
                    (G) recruiting, supervising, and retaining 
                qualified staff;
                    (H) increasing services for underserved eligible 
                families with English language learners;
                    (I) methods to help parents effectively respond to 
                their children's needs and behaviors; and
                    (J) implementation of ongoing program quality 
                improvement and evaluation of activities and outcomes.
            (6) Coordinating existing programs of early childhood home 
        visitation in order to effectively and efficiently meet the 
        needs of more eligible families with English language learners.
    (g) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this 
section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, Federal and non-
Federal funds available for carrying out the activities described in 
this section.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for the period of 
fiscal years 2006 through 2008.

SEC. 8. TARGETED GRANTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITATION FOR 
              MILITARY FAMILIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with 
the Secretary of Education, shall make grants, on a competitive basis, 
to eligible applicants to enable such applicants to support and expand 
efforts to deliver services under the Parents as Teachers programs, or 
other quality programs of early childhood home visitation, to eligible 
families with a family member in the Armed Forces.
    (b) Eligible Applicant.--In this section, the term ``eligible 
applicant'' means any of the following:
            (1) A local educational agency that receives payments under 
        title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.).
            (2) A school of the defense dependents' education system 
        under the Defense Dependents' Education Act of 1978 (20 U.S.C. 
        921 et seq.).
            (3) A school established under section 2164 of title 10, 
        United States Code.
            (4) A community-based organization serving families with a 
        family member in the Armed Forces.
    (c) Applications.--An eligible applicant that desires to receive a 
grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary 
of Defense at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary of Defense may require. The application 
shall include a description of--
            (1) the results of a communitywide needs assessment that 
        describes--
                    (A) community demographics demonstrating the need 
                for outreach and services to eligible families with a 
                family member in the Armed Forces;
                    (B) the quality, capacity, and existing programs of 
                early childhood home visitation for eligible families 
                with a family member in the Armed Forces;
                    (C) the gaps in programs of early childhood home 
                visitation for eligible families with a family member 
                in the Armed Forces; and
                    (D) the type of program of early childhood home 
                visitation necessary to address the gaps identified;
            (2) the program of early childhood home visitation that 
        will be supported by the grant under this section;
            (3) how the proposed program of early childhood home 
        visitation will promote positive parenting skills and 
        children's early learning and development;
            (4) how the proposed program of early childhood home 
        visitation will incorporate the authorized activities described 
        in subsection (f);
            (5) how services provided through a grant under this 
        section will use materials that are geared toward eligible 
        families with a family member in the Armed Forces;
            (6) how the activities under this section will be 
        coordinated with existing programs of early childhood home 
        visitation, if such programs exist in the community, in an 
        effort to promote an array of home visitation that ensures more 
        eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces are 
        being served and are getting the most appropriate services to 
        meet their needs;
            (7) how the program will ensure that--
                    (A) eligible families with a family member in the 
                Armed Forces are linked to schools; and
                    (B) the activities under this section will support 
                the preparation of children for school;
            (8) how channels of communication will be established 
        between staff of programs of early childhood home visitation 
        and staff of other early childhood education programs, 
        preschool programs, family support programs, and child care 
        programs, to facilitate the coordination of services for 
        eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces;
            (9) how eligible families with a family member in the Armed 
        Forces will be recruited and retained to receive services under 
        this section;
            (10) how training and technical assistance will help staff 
        of programs of early childhood home visitation involved in 
        activities under this section to more effectively serve 
        eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces;
            (11) how the eligible applicant will evaluate the 
        activities supported under this section in order to demonstrate 
        outcomes related to the--
                    (A) increase in number of eligible families with a 
                family member in the Armed Forces served by programs of 
                early childhood home visitation;
                    (B) enhancement of participating parents' knowledge 
                of early learning and development;
                    (C) enhancement of positive parenting practices 
                related to early learning and development; and
                    (D) enhancement of children's cognitive, language, 
                social-emotional, and physical development; and
            (12) such other information as the Secretary of Defense may 
        require.
    (d) Approval of Local Applications.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall select 
        applicants for funding under this section based on the quality 
        of the applications and the recommendations of a peer review 
        panel, as described in paragraph (2).
            (2) Peer review panel.--The peer review panel shall include 
        not less than--
                    (A) 2 individuals who are experts in the field of 
                home visitation;
                    (B) 2 individuals who are experts in early 
                childhood development;
                    (C) 2 individuals who are experts in family support 
                for military families; and
                    (D) 1 individual who is a board certified 
                pediatrician.
    (e) Duration of Grants.--Grants made under this section shall be 
for a period of no more than 3 years.
    (f) Authorized Activities.--Each eligible applicant that receives a 
grant under this section shall carry out the following activities:
            (1) Providing to as many eligible families with a family 
        member in the Armed Forces as practicable, voluntary early 
        childhood home visitation, on not less frequently than a 
        monthly basis, through the implementation of Parents as 
        Teachers programs, or other quality programs of early childhood 
        home visitation that are research-based, that provide parents 
        with--
                    (A) knowledge of age appropriate child development 
                in cognitive, language, social-emotional, and motor 
                domains;
                    (B) knowledge of realistic expectations of age-
                appropriate child behaviors;
                    (C) knowledge of health and wellness issues for 
                children and parents;
                    (D) modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting 
                practices;
                    (E) skills to interact with their child to enhance 
                age-appropriate development;
                    (F) skills to recognize and seek help for health 
                issues and developmental delays; and
                    (G) activities designed to help parents become full 
                partners in the education of their children.
            (2) Conducting annual health, vision, hearing, and 
        developmental screening for participating children.
            (3) Providing referrals for participating eligible families 
        with a family member in the Armed Forces, as needed, to 
        additional resources available in the community, such as 
        center-based early education programs, child care services, 
        health or mental health services, family literacy programs, 
        employment agencies, social services, and child care resource 
        and referral agencies.
            (4) Offering group meetings, on not less frequently than a 
        monthly basis, for eligible families with a family member in 
        the Armed Forces that--
                    (A) further enhance the information, activities, 
                and skill-building addressed during home visitation;
                    (B) offer opportunities for parents to meet with 
                and support each other; and
                    (C) address challenges facing eligible families 
                with a family member in the Armed Forces.
            (5) Providing training and technical assistance to early 
        childhood home visitation and early childhood care and 
        education staff relating to--
                    (A) effective service to eligible families with a 
                family member in the Armed Forces;
                    (B) effective methods of conducting parent 
                education, home visiting, and promoting quality early 
                childhood development;
                    (C) the relationship of health and well-being of 
                pregnant women to prenatal and early child development;
                    (D) early childhood development with respect to 
                children from birth until entry into kindergarten;
                    (E) methods to help parents promote emergent 
                literacy in their children from birth until entry into 
                kindergarten;
                    (F) implementing strategies for helping eligible 
                families with a family member in the Armed Forces 
                coping with crisis;
                    (G) recruiting, supervising, and retaining 
                qualified staff;
                    (H) increasing services for underserved eligible 
                families with a family member in the Armed Forces;
                    (I) methods to help parents effectively respond to 
                their children's needs and behaviors; and
                    (J) implementation of ongoing program quality 
                improvement and evaluation of activities and outcomes.
            (6) Coordinating existing programs of early childhood home 
        visitation in order to effectively and efficiently meet the 
        needs of more eligible families with a family member in the 
        Armed Forces.
    (g) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this 
section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, Federal and non-
Federal funds available for carrying out the activities described in 
this section.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for the period of 
fiscal years 2006 through 2008.

SEC. 9. EVALUATION.

    (a) In General.--From funds reserved under section 5(b)(1)(A), the 
Secretary shall conduct an independent evaluation of the effectiveness 
of this Act.
    (b) Reports.--
            (1) Interim report.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit an interim 
        report on the evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection (a) 
        to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
        the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of 
        the House of Representatives.
            (2) Final report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a final 
        report on the evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection (a) 
        to the committees described in paragraph (1).
    (c) Contents.--The reports submitted under subsection (b) shall 
include information on the following:
            (1) How the grant funds have expanded access to early 
        childhood home visitation.
            (2) How the States are--
                    (A) enhancing parents' knowledge of early learning 
                and development;
                    (B) enhancing positive parenting practices related 
                to early learning and development; and
                    (C) enhancing children's cognitive, language, 
                social-emotional, and physical development.
            (3) The effectiveness of early childhood home visitation on 
        different populations, including families with English language 
        learners and families with a family member in the Armed Forces.
            (4) The effectiveness of the training and technical 
        assistance activities funded under this Act.
            (5) Recommendations on strengthening or modifying this Act.
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