[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1429 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]
In the Senate of the United States,
June 19, 2007.
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R.
1429) entitled ``An Act to reauthorize the Head Start Act, to improve
program quality, to expand access, and for other purposes.'', do pass
with the following
AMENDMENT:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Head Start for School Readiness
Act''.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
Section 636 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 636. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
``It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote the school
readiness of low-income children by enhancing their cognitive and
social development--
``(1) with a learning environment that supports cognitive
development (including the growth of language, pre-literacy,
and premathematics skills) and the growth of social, emotional,
and physical skills; and
``(2) through the provision to low-income children and
their families of health, educational, nutritional, social, and
other services that are determined, based on family needs
assessments, to be necessary.''.
SEC. 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, as defined in section 9101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801))'' after ``nonprofit'';
(2) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ``, including
financial literacy,'' after ``Parent literacy'';
(3) in paragraph (17), by striking ``Mariana Islands,'' and
all that follows and inserting ``Mariana Islands.''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(18) The term `deficiency' means--
``(A) a systemic or substantial material failure of
an agency in an area of performance that the Secretary
determines involves--
``(i) a threat to the health, safety, or
civil rights of children or staff;
``(ii) a denial to parents of the exercise
of their full roles and responsibilities
related to program operations;
``(iii) a failure to comply with standards
related to early childhood development and
health services, family and community
partnerships, or program design and management;
``(iv) the misuse of funds under this
subchapter;
``(v) loss of legal status or financial
viability, loss of permits, debarment from
receiving Federal grants or contracts, or the
improper use of Federal funds; or
``(vi) failure to meet any other Federal or
State requirement that the agency has shown an
unwillingness or inability to correct, after
notice from the Secretary, within the period
specified;
``(B) systemic failure of the board of directors of
an agency to fully exercise its legal and fiduciary
responsibilities;
``(C) substantial failure of an agency to meet the
administrative requirements of section 644(b);
``(D) failure of an agency to demonstrate that the
agency attempted to meet the coordination and
collaboration requirements with entities described in
section 640(a)(5)(D)(ii)(I); or
``(E) having an unresolved area of noncompliance.
``(19) 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)).
``(20) The term `institution of higher education' has the
meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
``(21) The term `interrater reliability' means the extent
to which 2 or more independent raters or observers consistently
obtain the same result when using the same assessment tool.
``(22) 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 (which may include an 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 a Native American, Alaska Native,
or a native resident of an outlying area (as defined in
section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)); 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 difficulties 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.
``(23) The term `unresolved area of noncompliance' means
failure to correct a noncompliance item within 120 days, or
within such additional time (if any) authorized by the
Secretary, after receiving from the Secretary notice of such
noncompliance item, pursuant to section 641A(d).''.
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 $7,350,000,000 for
fiscal year 2008, $7,650,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $7,995,000,000
for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of
fiscal years 2011 and 2012.
``(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 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal
years 2009 through 2012, of which not more than $7,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2008 through 2012 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 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 paragraph as
`covered programs'), on a nationwide basis, a sum that is the
total of a percentage specified by the Secretary that is not
less than 4 percent of the amount appropriated under section
639 for that fiscal year (for Indian Head Start programs) and a
percentage specified by the Secretary that is not less than 5
percent of that appropriated amount (for migrant and seasonal
Head Start programs) (referred to in this paragraph as the
`specified percentages'), except that--
``(i) if reserving the specified percentages 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 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;'';
(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 any of paragraphs (1) through (18) of section
648(d), in an amount for each fiscal year that is not less than
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 use directly, or by establishing
local or regional agreements with community experts,
institutions of higher education, or private
consultants, for any of the following training and
technical assistance activities, including--
``(I) activities that ensure that Head
Start programs meet or exceed the performance
standards described in section 641A(a)(1);
``(II) activities that ensure that Head
Start programs have adequate numbers of
trained, qualified staff who have skills in
working with children and families, including
children who are limited English proficient and
their families and children with disabilities;
``(III) activities to pay expenses,
including direct training for expert
consultants working with any staff, to improve
the management and implementation of Head Start
services and systems;
``(IV) activities that help ensure that
Head Start programs have qualified staff who
can promote language skills and literacy growth
of children and who can provide children with a
variety of skills that have been identified as
predictive of later reading achievement, school
success, and the skills, knowledge, abilities,
development, and progress described in section
641A(a)(1)(B)(ii);
``(V) activities to improve staff
qualifications and to assist with the
implementation of career development programs
and to encourage the staff to continually
improve their skills and expertise, including
developing partnerships with programs that
recruit, train, place, and support college
students in Head Start centers to deliver an
innovative early childhood development program
to preschool children;
``(VI) activities that help local programs
ensure that the arrangement, condition, and
implementation of the learning environments in
Head Start programs are conducive to providing
effective program services to children and
families;
``(VII) activities to provide training
necessary to improve the qualifications of Head
Start staff and to support staff training,
child counseling, health services, and other
services necessary to address the needs of
children enrolled in Head Start programs,
including children from families in crises,
children who experience chronic violence or
homelessness, children who experience substance
abuse in their families, and children under 3
years of age, where applicable;
``(VIII) activities to provide classes or
in-service-type programs to improve or enhance
parenting skills, job skills, adult and family
literacy, including financial literacy, or
training to become a classroom aide or bus
driver in a Head Start program;
``(IX) additional activities determined
appropriate for the improvement of Head Start
agencies' programs, as determined in the
agencies' technical assistance and training
plans; or
``(X) any other activities regarding the
use of funds as determined by the Secretary;
``(ii) 50 percent shall be made available to the
Secretary--
``(I) to provide directly training and
technical assistance on early childhood
education and care or to support, through
grants or other arrangements, a State system of
training and technical assistance (which may
include such a system for a consortium of
States within a region); and
``(II) to assist local programs (including
Indian Head Start programs and migrant and
seasonal Head Start programs) in meeting the
performance 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);'';
(C) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``agencies;''
and inserting ``agencies);''; and
(D) by adding at the end of the flush matter at the
end the following: ``In no case shall the Secretary use
funds appropriated under this subchapter to expand or
create additional slots or services in non-Indian and
non-migrant and seasonal Head Start programs until the
amounts based on the specified percentages for Indian
Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head Start
programs pursuant to subparagraph (A) are reached. The
Secretary shall require each Head Start agency to
report at the end of each budget year on how funds
provided to carry out subparagraph (C)(i) were used.'';
(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 ``2003;''; and
(ii) by inserting the following: ``30
percent of such excess amount for fiscal year
2008, and 40 percent of such excess amount for
each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012;'';
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking
``performance standards'' and all that follows
and inserting ``performance standards pursuant
to section 641A(a)(1).'';
(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, premathematics, and pre-literacy skills in young
children and in working with limited English proficient
children, children in foster care, 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,
as well as the skills, knowledge, abilities,
development, and progress described in section
641A(a)(1)(B)(ii); and
``(III) encourage the staff to continually improve
their skills and expertise--
``(aa) through the implementation of career
development programs; and
``(bb) through the completion of
postsecondary coursework in early childhood
education.'';
(v) in clause (v)--
(I) by striking ``community-wide''
and inserting ``communitywide''; and
(II) 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, to enable Head Start teachers to improve
competencies and the resulting child outcomes, including
informing the teachers of the availability of Federal and State
incentive and loan forgiveness programs.
``(viii) Promoting the regular attendance and stability of
all Head Start children with particular attention to highly
mobile children, including children of migrant or seasonal
farmworkers (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 all that follows
through ``641A(a)(1)(B)''and inserting
``standards and measures described in
section 641A'';
(II) in subclause (I), by inserting
``, pre-literacy,'' after ``language'';
(III) by striking subclause (II)
and inserting the following:
``(II) to help limited English proficient children
attain the knowledge, skills, abilities, and
development specified in section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii) and
to promote the acquisition of the English language by
such children and their 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, homeless children,
children in foster care, children referred to Head
Start programs by child welfare agencies, and children
who are exposed to chronic violence or substance
abuse.'';
(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
(x); 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 homeless
children.
``(vii) To conduct outreach to migrant and seasonal
farmworker families and families with limited English
proficient children.
``(viii) To partner with institutions of higher education
and nonprofit organizations, including community-based
organizations, that recruit, train, place, and support college
students, to serve as mentors and reading partners to preschool
children in Head Start programs.
``(ix) To upgrade the qualifications and skills of
educational personnel to meet the professional standards
described in section 648A(a)(1), including certification and
licensure as bilingual education teachers, as teachers of
English as a second language, and for other educational
personnel who serve limited English proficient children.'';
(3) in paragraph (4), in the first sentence--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``1998'' and
inserting ``2007''; 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 serve the same number of children in Head Start
programs in each State as were served on the date of
enactment of the Head Start 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), the Secretary shall
distribute the remaining balance, by--
``(I) distributing 65 percent of the
balance among the States serving less than 60
percent (as determined by the Secretary) of
children who are 3 or 4 years of age from
families whose income is below the poverty
line, by allotting to each of those States an
amount that bears the same relationship to that
65 percent as the number of children who are
less than 5 years of age from families whose
income is below the poverty line (referred to
in this clause as `young low-income children')
in that State bears to the number of young low-
income children in all those States; and
``(II) distributing 35 percent of the
balance among the States, by allotting to each
State an amount that bears the same
relationship to that 35 percent as the number
of young low-income children in that State
bears to the number of young low-income
children in all the States.'';
(4) in paragraph (5)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting after
``paragraph (4)'' the following: ``(and amounts
reserved, before such allotments, for national
administrative offices)'';
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as
subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively;
(C) 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 and to each national administrative
office serving Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head
Start programs to facilitate collaboration between Head Start agencies
and entities (including the State or national administrative office)
that carry out other activities designed to benefit low-income families
and children from birth to school entry. The national administrative
offices shall use the funds made available through the grants to carry
out the authorities and responsibilities described in subparagraphs (B)
and (C).
``(ii) Grants described in clause (i) shall be used to--
``(I) assist 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) assist 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 resource 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 the
Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate, State
early learning 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, such as services provided
under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.); 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
childhood education and care to children in the State, a State that
receives a collaboration grant under subparagraph (B) shall--
``(i) appoint or designate an individual to serve as, or
carry out the responsibilities of, 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 involved.
``(D) The State Director of Head Start Collaboration, shall--
``(i) not later than 1 year after the State receives a
collaboration grant under subparagraph (B), conduct an
assessment that--
``(I) addresses the needs of Head Start agencies in
the State with respect to collaboration, coordination
of services, and alignment of services with the Head
Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate,
State early learning standards;
``(II) shall be updated on an annual basis; and
``(III) shall be made available to the general
public within the State;
``(ii) 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 education and care (such as child care or
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, other early childhood education and care
for limited English proficient children and homeless
children, and services provided for children in foster
care and children referred to Head Start programs by
child welfare agencies, including agencies and State
officials responsible for such services;
``(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 the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework
and, as appropriate, State early learning standards;
and
``(IV) enable Head Start agencies in the State to
better access professional development opportunities
for Head Start staff, such as by--
``(aa) 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
``(bb) enabling the State Head Start
agencies to better conduct outreach to eligible
families;
``(iii) promote partnerships between Head Start agencies,
State and local governments, and the private sector to help
ensure that children from low-income families, who are in Head
Start programs or are preschool age, are receiving
comprehensive services to prepare the children to enter school
ready to learn;
``(iv) consult with the chief State school officer, local
educational agencies, and providers of early childhood
education and care, regarding early childhood education and
care at both the State and local levels;
``(v) promote partnerships (such as the partnerships
involved with the Free to Grow initiative) between Head Start
agencies, schools, law enforcement, relevant community-based
organizations, 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;
``(vi) 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
``(vii) 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--
``(I) designate or establish a council to serve as the
State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care,
for children from birth to school entry (in this subchapter
referred to as the `State Advisory Council'); and
``(II) designate an individual to coordinate activities of
the State Advisory Council, as described in clause (iv)(I).
``(ii) The Governor may designate an existing entity to serve as
the State Advisory Council, if the entity includes representatives
consistent with 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 State educational agency and
local educational agencies;
``(III) a representative of institutions of higher
education;
``(IV) a representative (or representatives) of the State
agency (or agencies) responsible for health or mental health
care;
``(V) a representative of the State agency responsible for
professional standards, certification, and licensing for early
childhood educators;
``(VI) a representative of the State agency responsible for
child care;
``(VII) early childhood educators, including professionals
with expertise in second language acquisition and instructional
strategies in teaching limited English proficient children;
``(VIII) kindergarten teachers and teachers in grades 1
through 3;
``(IX) health care professionals;
``(X) child development specialists, including specialists
in prenatal, infant, and toddler development;
``(XI) a representative of the State agency responsible for
assisting children with developmental disabilities;
``(XII) a representative of the State agency responsible
for programs under section 619 or part C of the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
``(XIII) a representative of the State interagency
coordinating councils established under section 641 of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1441);
``(XIV) a representative of the State Head Start
Association (where appropriate), and other representatives of
Head Start programs in the State;
``(XV) a representative of the State network of child care
resource and referral agencies;
``(XVI) a representative of community-based organizations;
``(XVII) a representative of State and local providers of
early childhood education and care;
``(XVIII) a representative of Indian Head Start programs
(where appropriate) and a representative of migrant and
seasonal Head Start programs (where appropriate);
``(XIX) parents;
``(XX) religious and business leaders;
``(XXI) the head of the State library administrative
agency;
``(XXII) representatives of State and local organizations
and other entities providing professional development to early
childhood educators and child care providers;
``(XXIII) a representative from the Office of Coordinator
for Education of Homeless Children and Youths in the State;
``(XXIV) a State legislator; and
``(XXV) a representative of other entities determined to be
relevant by the Governor of the State.
``(iv)(I) The State Advisory Council shall be responsible for, in
addition to responsibilities assigned to the council by the Governor of
the State--
``(aa) conducting a periodic statewide needs assessment
concerning early childhood education and care for children from
birth to school entry and assessing the availability of high
quality prekindergarten services for low-income children in the
State;
``(bb) identifying barriers to, and opportunities for,
collaboration and coordination among entities carrying out
federally-funded and State-funded child development, child
care, and early childhood education programs;
``(cc) developing recommendations regarding means of
establishing a unified data collection system for early
childhood education and care throughout the State;
``(dd) developing a statewide professional development and
career ladder plan for early childhood education and care in
the State;
``(ee) assisting 2-year and 4-year public and private
institutions of higher education, which may include assisting
the institutions with development of articulation agreements or
model programs of early childhood education and care, including
practica or internships for students to spend time in a Head
Start or prekindergarten program; and
``(ff) undertaking collaborative efforts to develop, and
make recommendations for improvements in, State early learning
standards.
``(II) The State Advisory Council shall hold public hearings and
provide an opportunity for public comment on the activities described
in subclause (I). The State Advisory Council shall submit a statewide
strategic report addressing the activities described in subclause (I)
to the State Director of Head Start Collaboration and the Governor 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.
``(F)(i)(I) Prior to carrying out paragraph (4), the Secretary
shall reserve a portion to carry out this subparagraph for a fiscal
year. The Secretary shall reserve the portion from the amount (if any)
by which the funds appropriated under section 639(a) for the fiscal
year exceed the adjusted prior year appropriation (as defined in
paragraph (3)(A)(ii)), without reducing the share available for quality
improvement funds described in paragraph (3)(B).
``(II) To the extent consistent with subclause (I), the Secretary
shall reserve $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. Funds reserved under
this subclause shall remain available for obligation through fiscal
year 2012.
``(ii) The Secretary shall use the portion reserved under clause
(i) to award, on a competitive basis, one-time startup grants of not
less than $500,000 to eligible States to enable such States to pay for
the Federal share of the cost of further developing and implementing
the recommendations and plans for which the State's State Advisory
Council is responsible under subparagraph (E)(iv)(I). Such grants
shall--
``(I) facilitate the development of high-quality systems of
early childhood education and care designed to improve school
preparedness;
``(II) increase and make effective use of existing and new
delivery systems and funds for early childhood education and
care; and
``(III) enhance existing early childhood education and care
(in existence on the date on which the grant involved is
awarded).
``(iii) To be eligible to receive a grant under this subparagraph,
a State shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application, for a
3-year period, at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary shall require, including--
``(I) a description of the State's State Advisory Council's
responsibilities under subparagraph (E)(iv)(I);
``(II) a description, for each fiscal year, of how the
State will make effective use of funds available under this
subparagraph, with funds described in clause (iv), to create an
early childhood education and care system, by developing or
enhancing programs and activities described in subparagraph
(E)(iv)(I);
``(III) a description of the State early learning standards
and the State's goals for increasing the number of children
entering kindergarten ready to learn;
``(IV) information identifying the agency or joint
interagency office and individual designated to carry out the
activities under this subparagraph, which may be the individual
designated under subparagraph (E)(i)(II); and
``(V) a description of how the State plans to sustain
activities under this subparagraph beyond the grant period.
``(iv) The Federal share of the cost described in clause (ii) shall
be 30 percent, and the State shall provide the non-Federal share.
``(v) Funds made available under this subparagraph shall be used to
supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds
expended to carry out activities related to early childhood education
and care in the State.
``(vi) Not later than 18 months after the date a State receives a
grant under this subparagraph, the State shall submit an interim report
to the Secretary. A State that receives a grant under this subparagraph
shall submit a final report to the Secretary at the end of the grant
period.''; and
(D) in subparagraph (G), as redesignated by
subparagraph (B) of this paragraph--
(i) in clause (i)(I), by striking ``child
care and early childhood education programs and
resources'' and inserting ``early childhood
education and care programs and resources'';
and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``Federal
child care or early childhood education'' and
inserting ``Federal early childhood education
or child care''; and
(5) in paragraph (6)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``7.5
percent'' and all that follows and inserting ``not less
than 12 percent for fiscal year 2008, not less than 14
percent for fiscal year 2009, not less than 16 percent
for fiscal year 2010, not less than 18 percent for
fiscal year 2011, and not less than 20 percent for
fiscal year 2012, of the amount appropriated pursuant
to section 639(a).'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (B);
(C) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``required
to be'' each place it appears; and
(D) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as
subparagraph (B).
(b) Minimum Enrollment Requirement for Children With
Disabilities.--The first sentence of section 640(d) of the Head Start
Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(d)) is amended to read as follows: ``The Secretary
shall establish policies and procedures to assure that, for fiscal year
2008 and thereafter, not less than 10 percent of the total number of
children actually enrolled by each Head Start agency and each delegate
agency will be children with disabilities who are eligible for special
education or early intervention services, as appropriate, as determined
under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400
et seq.), and that the Head Start agency or delegate agency involved
will collaborate with the State or local agency providing services
under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.) to ensure the provision of
services to meet the special needs of such children.''.
(c) Service Delivery Models.--Section 640(f) of the Head Start Act
(42 U.S.C. 9835(f)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(f) The'' and inserting ``(f)(1) Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Head Start
for School Readiness Act, the'';
(2) by striking ``needs.'' and inserting ``needs, including
models that leverage the capacity and capabilities of the
delivery system of early childhood education and care.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) In establishing the procedures the Secretary shall establish
procedures to provide for--
``(A) the conversion of part-day programs to full-day
programs or part-day slots to full-day slots; and
``(B) serving additional infants and toddlers pursuant to
section 645(a)(5).''.
(d) 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, children in foster care, 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)--
(A) by striking ``community'' the first place it
appears and inserting ``communitywide''; and
(B) by striking ``other local'' and inserting ``the
State and local'';
(3) in subparagraph (E)--
(A) by inserting ``would like to participate but''
after ``community who''; and
(B) by striking ``early childhood program'' and
inserting ``early childhood education and care
program'';
(4) in subparagraph (G), by inserting ``leverage the
existing delivery systems of such services (existing as of the
date of the allocation decision) 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''.
(e) Vehicle Safety Requirements.--Section 640(i) of the Head Start
Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(i)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(i)'' and inserting ``(i)(1)'';
(2) in paragraph (1), as so designated, by adding at the
end the following: ``The regulations shall also establish
requirements to ensure the appropriate supervision of, and
appropriate background checks for, individuals with whom the
agencies contract to transport those children.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2)(A) Section 1310.12(a) of title 45, Code of Federal
Regulations, shall take effect 30 days after the date of enactment of
this Act.
``(B)(i) Not later than 60 days after the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration of the Department of Transportation submits its
study on occupant protection on Head Start transit vehicles (related to
Government Accountability Office report GAO-06-767R), the Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall review and shall revise as necessary
the allowable alternate vehicle standards described in part 1310 of
that title (or any corresponding similar regulation or ruling) relating
to allowable alternate vehicles used to transport children for a Head
Start program. In making any such revision, the Secretary shall revise
the standards to be consistent with the findings contained in such
study, including making a determination on the exemption of such a
vehicle from Federal seat spacing requirements, and Federal supporting
seating requirements related to compartmentalization, if such vehicle
meets all other applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards,
including standards for seating systems, occupant crash protection,
seat belt assemblies, and child restraint anchorage systems consistent
with that part 1310 (or any corresponding similar regulation or
ruling).
``(ii) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), until such date as the
Secretary of Health and Human Services completes the review and any
necessary revision specified in clause (i), the provisions of section
1310.12(a) of that title relating to Federal seat spacing requirements,
and Federal supporting seating requirements related to
compartmentalization, for allowable alternate vehicles used to
transport children for a Head Start program, shall not apply to such a
vehicle if such vehicle meets all other applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards, as described in clause (i).''.
(f) Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs.--Section 640(l) of
the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(l)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and seasonal farmworker
families'' and inserting ``or seasonal farmworkers''; and
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
``(3) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall continue
the administrative arrangement at the national level for meeting the
needs of Indian children and children of migrant or seasonal
farmworkers and shall ensure--
``(A) that appropriate funding is provided to meet such
needs, including training and technical assistance provided by
staff with knowledge of and experience in working with such
populations; and
``(B) the appointment of a national Indian Head Start
collaboration director and a national migrant and seasonal Head
Start program collaboration director.
``(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 (including 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 subsection (a)(2)(A), 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.
``(5)(A) In order to increase access to Head Start services for
children of migrant or seasonal farmworkers, the Secretary shall work
in collaboration with providers of migrant and seasonal Head Start
programs, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, and the
Secretary of Education to--
``(i) collect, report, and share data on farmworkers and
their families in order to adequately account for the number of
children of migrant or seasonal farmworkers who are eligible
for Head Start services and determine how many of such children
receive the services; and
``(ii) identify barriers that prevent children of migrant
or seasonal farmworkers who are eligible for Head Start
services from accessing Head Start services, and develop a plan
for eliminating such barriers, including certain requirements
relating to tracking, health records, and educational
documents.
``(B) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Head
Start for School Readiness Act, the Secretary shall publish in the
Federal Register a notice about how the Secretary plans to carry out
the activities identified in subparagraph (A) and shall provide a
period for public comment. To the extent practicable, the Secretary
shall consider comments received before implementing any of the
activities identified in subparagraph (A).
``(C) Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the
Head Start for School Readiness Act, the Secretary shall submit a
report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate detailing how the Secretary plans to carry out
the activities identified in subparagraph (A).
``(D) The Secretary shall take appropriate caution to ensure the
protection of the confidentiality of any personally identifiable data,
information, and records collected or maintained regarding children and
families served by migrant and seasonal Head Start programs.
``(E) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to authorize the
development of a nationwide database of personally identifiable data,
information, or records on individuals involved in studies or other
collections of data under this paragraph.''.
(g) 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
homeless children in Head Start programs. Such regulations shall
require Head Start agencies to--
``(1) implement policies and procedures to ensure that
homeless children are identified and receive 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; 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 childhood
education and care for children in the State, to require any child to
participate in a program in order to attend preschool, or to
participate in any initial screening prior to participation in a
program of early childhood education and care, 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 635(a)(5) of such
Act (20 U.S.C. 1435(a)(5)).
``(o) Curricula.--All curricula funded under this subchapter shall
be scientifically based, developmentally and linguistically based (to
the extent practicable), and age appropriate. The curricula shall
reflect all areas of child development and learning. 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 have the capacity to plan,
conduct, administer, and evaluate, 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--
``(A) establish program goals for improving the
school readiness of children participating in a program
under this subchapter, including goals for meeting the
performance standards described in section 641A(a)(1)
and shall establish results-based school readiness
goals that are aligned with the Head Start Child
Outcomes Framework, State early learning standards (as
appropriate), and requirements and expectations for
local public schools; and
``(B) have a governing body--
``(i) with legal and fiscal responsibility
for administering and overseeing programs under
this subchapter;
``(ii) that fully participates in the
development, planning, and evaluation of the
programs to ensure the operation of programs of
high quality;
``(iii) that is responsible for ensuring
compliance with Federal laws and regulations,
including the performance standards described
in section 641A(a)(1), as well as applicable
State, tribal, and local laws and regulations,
including laws defining the nature and
operations of the governing body; and
``(iv) that has procedures to facilitate
meaningful consultation and collaboration about
decisions of the governing body and the policy
council established under paragraph (3).
``(3) Establishment of policy council upon designation.--
Upon receiving designation as a Head Start agency, the agency
shall establish a policy council that--
``(A) in accordance with paragraph (5)(C), shall
make decisions that influence the character of programs
consistent with paragraph (5)(F); and
``(B) with the governing body, shall establish
processes to resolve internal disputes.
``(4) 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 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)(A).
``(5) Governing body and policy council.--
``(A) Establishment of governing body.--Each Head
Start agency shall establish a governing body in
accordance with paragraph (2)(B).
``(B) Composition of governing body.--
``(i) In general.--The governing body shall
be composed as follows:
``(I) Not less than 1 member of the
governing body shall have a background
in fiscal management.
``(II) Not less than 1 member of
the governing body shall have a
background in early childhood education
and care.
``(III) Not less than 1 member of
the governing body shall be a licensed
attorney familiar with issues that come
before the governing body.
``(IV) Additional members shall
reflect the community to be served, and
include parents of children who are
currently, or were formerly, enrolled
in Head Start programs.
``(V) In the case in which the
governing body is a part of a Head
Start agency that is a public agency,
members of the governing body shall
include elected or appointed public
officials.
``(ii) Consultants.--In the case that
persons described in clause (i) are not
available to serve as members of the governing
body, the governing body shall make use of
consultants in the areas described in clause
(i) to work directly with the governing body.
``(iii) Conflict of interest.--Members of
the governing body shall--
``(I) not have a conflict of
interest with the Head Start agency
(including any delegate agency); and
``(II) not receive compensation for
the purposes of serving on the
governing body or for providing
services to the Head Start agency.
``(C) Responsibilities of governing body.--
``(i) In general.--The governing body shall
be responsible for--
``(I) the selection of delegate
agencies and such agencies' service
areas;
``(II) establishing procedures and
criteria for recruitment, selection,
and enrollment;
``(III) all funding applications
and amendments to funding applications
for programs under this subchapter;
``(IV) establishing procedures and
guidelines to access and collect the
information described in paragraph (6);
``(V) review and approval of--
``(aa) the annual self-
assessment, financial audit,
and findings from the Federal
monitoring review, of the Head
Start agency (including any
delegate agency); and
``(bb) such agency's
progress in carrying out the
programmatic and fiscal intent
of such agency's grant
application;
``(VI) developing procedures for
how members of the policy council of
the Head Start agency are selected,
consistent with subparagraph (E)(ii);
``(VII) financial audits,
accounting, and reporting;
``(VIII) personnel policies and
procedures regarding hiring,
termination, salary scales (and changes
made to the scale), and salaries of the
Executive Director, Head Start
Director, the Director of Human
Resources, the Chief Fiscal Officer,
and any equivalent position; and
``(IX) review and approval of the
community assessment, including any
updates to such assessment.
``(ii) Conduct of responsibilities.--The
governing body shall ensure the development and
approval of an internal control structure to
facilitate those responsibilities in order to--
``(I) safeguard Federal funds;
``(II) comply with laws and
regulations that have an impact on
financial statements;
``(III) detect or prevent
noncompliance with this subchapter; and
``(IV) receive financial audit
reports and direct and monitor staff
implementation of corrective actions.
``(iii) Committees.--The governing body
shall, to the extent practicable and
appropriate, establish--
``(I) advisory committees to
oversee responsibilities related to
financial auditing and finances of the
Head Start agency, as well as
compliance with Federal, State, and
local laws and regulations; and
``(II) at the discretion of the
governing body, additional advisory
committees to study and make
recommendations on areas related to the
improvement of the Head Start program.
``(D) Establishment of policy council.--Each Head
Start agency shall establish a policy council in
accordance with paragraph (3).
``(E) Composition of policy council.--
``(i) In general.--The policy council shall
consist of--
``(I) parents of children currently
enrolled in the programs of the Head
Start agency (including any delegate
agency), which shall constitute a
majority of the membership of the
policy council; and
``(II) members at large of the
community served by the Head Start
agency, which may include parents of
children previously enrolled in the
programs of the Head Start agency
(including any delegate agency).
``(ii) Selection.--Parents serving on the
policy council shall be elected by parents of
children currently enrolled in the programs of
the Head Start agency (including any delegate
agency) and shall represent, proportionately,
all program options and settings operated by
the Head Start agency (including any delegate
agency).
``(iii) Conflict of interest.--Members of
the policy council shall--
``(I) not have a conflict of
interest with the Head Start agency
(including any delegate agency); and
``(II) not receive compensation for
serving on the policy council or for
providing services to the Head Start
agency.
``(F) Responsibilities of policy council.--The
policy council shall be responsible for--
``(i) program planning, including--
``(I) program design, including
long and short term program goals, all
funding applications and amendments to
funding applications, and objectives
based on the annual communitywide
assessment and self-assessment;
``(II) program recruitment,
selection, and enrollment priorities;
and
``(III) budget planning for program
expenditures consistent with
subparagraph (C)(i)(VII), including
polices for reimbursement and
participation in policy council
activities;
``(ii) program operation consistent with
subparagraph (C)(i)(VIII), including
implementation of standards of conduct for
program staff, contractors, and volunteers and
criteria for the employment and dismissal of
program staff; and
``(iii) activities to support the active
involvement of parents in supporting program
operations, including policies to ensure that
the Head Start program is responsive to
community and parent needs.
``(6) Information sharing.--The governing body and the
policy council shall share with each other regular and accurate
information for use by both entities about program planning,
policies, and Head Start agency operations, including--
``(A) monthly financial statements (including
detailed credit card account expenditures for any
employee with a Head Start agency credit card or who
seeks reimbursement for charged expenses);
``(B) monthly program information summaries;
``(C) program enrollment reports, including
attendance reports for children whose care is partially
subsidized by another public agency;
``(D) monthly reports of meals and snacks provided
through programs of the Department of Agriculture;
``(E) the financial audit;
``(F) the annual self-assessment, including any
findings related to the annual self-assessment;
``(G) the community assessment of the Head Start
agency's service area and any applicable updates;
``(H) communication and guidance from the
Secretary; and
``(I) the program information reports.
``(7) Training and technical assistance.--Appropriate
training and technical assistance shall be provided to the
members of the governing body and the policy council to ensure
that the members understand the information the members receive
and can effectively oversee and participate in the programs of
the Head Start agency.
``(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) Redesignation.--
``(1) In general.--In administering the provisions of this
section, the Secretary shall, in consultation with the Governor
of the State involved, redesignate as a Head Start agency any
Head Start agency (including any delegate agency) that is high
performing, as determined by meeting each of the following
criteria:
``(A) Is receiving assistance under this
subchapter.
``(B) Meets or exceeds standards described in
section 641A(a)(1) (including program and financial
management requirements).
``(C) Has no unresolved deficiencies, including
having resolved any deficiencies found during the last
triennial review under section 641A(c).
``(D) Can demonstrate, through agreements such as
memoranda of understanding, active collaboration with
the State or local community 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).
``(E) Completes and submits the appropriate
reapplication forms as required by the Secretary.
``(2) Limitation.--A Head Start agency with a triennial
review under section 641A(c) scheduled not later than 18 months
after the date of enactment of the Head Start for School
Readiness Act shall not be subject to the criteria described in
paragraph (1) for that review in order to be redesignated. The
Head Start agency shall be subject to the criteria for any
subsequent triennial review.
``(d) Designation When No Entity Is Redesignated.--If no entity in
a community is redesignated according to 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 programs that use scientifically based research
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) other preschool program under title I of that
Act (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.);
``(C) programs under section 619 and part C of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C.
1419, 1431 et seq.);
``(D) State prekindergarten programs;
``(E) child care programs;
``(F) the educational programs that the children in
the Head Start program involved will enter at the age
of compulsory school attendance; and
``(G) 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 facilitate 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, including through
providing transportation costs;
``(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), if needed, 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 (including
foster parents and grandparents, where applicable)
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, including procedures to identify
such children, procedures for referral of such children for
evaluation to State and local agencies providing services under
section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq), and plans for
collaboration with those State and local agencies;
``(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 providing early childhood education and care in the
community;
``(15) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of
homeless children and children in foster care, including the
transportation needs of such children; and
``(16) the plan of such applicant to recruit and retain
qualified staff.
``(f) Involvement of Parents and Area Residents.--The Secretary
shall continue the practice of involving parents and area residents who
are affected by programs under this subchapter in the selection of
qualified applicants for designation as Head Start agencies.
``(g) Priority.--In selecting from among qualified applicants for
designation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall give priority
to applicants that have demonstrated capacity in providing effective,
comprehensive, and well-coordinated early childhood education and care
to children and their families.
``(h) Interim Basis.--If there is not a qualified applicant in a
community for designation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall
designate a qualified agency to carry out the Head Start program in the
community on an interim basis until a qualified applicant from the
community is so designated.
``(i) Prohibition Against Non-Indian Head Start Agency Receiving a
Grant for an Indian Head Start Program.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law except as provided in paragraph (2), under no condition may
a non-Indian Head Start agency receive a grant to carry out an
Indian Head Start program.
``(2) Exception.--In a community in which there is no
Indian Head Start agency available for designation to carry out
an Indian Head Start program, a non-Indian Head Start agency
may receive a grant to carry out an Indian Head Start program
but only until such time as an Indian Head Start agency in such
community becomes available and is designated pursuant to this
section.''.
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;
``(II) pre-literacy knowledge and skills;
``(III) premathematics knowledge and
skills;
``(IV) scientific abilities;
``(V) general cognitive abilities related
to academic achievement and child development;
``(VI) social and emotional development
related to early learning and school success;
``(VII) physical development; and
``(VIII) in the case of limited English
proficient children, progress toward
acquisition of the English language (which may
include progress made with linguistically
appropriate instructional services) 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
including any 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; and'';
(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 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 for School Readiness
Act'';
(III) in clause (iii)--
(aa) by striking ``early
childhood education and
development'' and inserting
``early childhood education and
care''; and
(bb) by inserting
``homeless children, children
in foster care,'' after
``children with
disabilities,'';
(IV) in clause (vi), by striking
``including the language'' and all that
follows and inserting ``and the
language background and family
structure of such children, and changes
in the population and number of such
children who are in foster care or are
homeless children'';
(V) by striking clause (vii) and
inserting the following:
``(vii) the need for Head Start agencies to
maintain close and frequent communications with
parents, including conducting periodic meetings
to discuss the progress of individual children
in Head Start programs; and
``(viii) the unique challenges faced by
individual programs, including those programs
that are seasonal or short term and those
programs that serve rural populations;'';
(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 for School Readiness Act; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) consult with Indian tribes, American Indian
and Alaska Native experts in early childhood education
and care, linguists, and the National Indian Head Start
Directors Association on the review and promulgation of
standards under this subchapter (including standards
for language acquisition and school readiness).'';
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Evaluations and corrective actions for delegate
agencies.--
``(A) Procedures.--
``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii),
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.
``(ii) Termination.--The Head Start agency
may not terminate a delegate agency's contract
or reduce a delegate agency's service area
without showing cause or demonstrating the
cost-effectiveness of such a decision.
``(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 shall take action,
which may include--
``(i) initiating procedures to terminate
the designation of the agency unless the agency
corrects the deficiency;
``(ii) conducting 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) releasing funds to such delegate
agency--
``(I) only as reimbursements, until
all deficiencies are corrected or the
Head Start agency decides to defund
such delegate agency; and
``(II) only if there is continuity
of services for children and families.
``(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 (including any 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 be issued by regulation and
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);
(D) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph
(4); and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subchapter
shall be construed to authorize or permit the Secretary or any
employee or contractor of the Department of Health and Human
Services to mandate, direct, control, or suggest the selection
of a curriculum, a program of instruction, or instructional
materials, for a Head Start program.'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (C) and
inserting the following:
``(C) Unannounced site inspections for health and
safety reasons, as appropriate.'';
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as
subparagraph (E); and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C)
the following:
``(D) Followup reviews, including--
``(i) prompt return visits as necessary for
failure to meet 1 or more of the performance
measures developed by the Secretary under
subsection (b);
``(ii) a review of agencies and programs
with citations that include findings of
deficiencies not later than 6 months after the
date of such citation; and
``(iii) followup reviews that incorporate a
monitoring visit without prior notice of the
visit to the agency or program involved or with
such limited prior notice as is necessary to
ensure the participation of parents and key
staff members.''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Conduct of reviews.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that
reviews described in paragraph (1)--
``(i) are performed, to the maximum extent
practicable, by employees of the Department of
Health and Human Services who are knowledgeable
about Head Start programs;
``(ii) are conducted by review teams that
shall include individuals who are knowledgeable
about Head Start programs and other early
childhood education and care and, to the
maximum extent practicable, the diverse
(including linguistic and cultural) needs of
eligible children (including children with
disabilities, homeless children, and children
in foster care) and limited English proficient
children and their families, and personnel
management, financial accountability, and
systems development and monitoring;
``(iii) include as part of the reviews of
the programs, a review and assessment of
program effectiveness, including strengths and
weaknesses, as measured in accordance with the
results-based performance measures developed by
the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b) and
with the performance standards established
pursuant to subsection (a)(1);
``(iv) 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
providing early childhood education and care in
the community;
``(v) 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;
``(vi) include as part of the reviews of
the programs, a review and assessment of
whether programs have adequately addressed
population and community needs (including needs
of populations of limited English proficient
children and children of migrant or seasonal
farmworkers);
``(vii) include as part of the reviews of
the programs, a review and assessment of
whether programs have adequately addressed the
needs of children with disabilities, including
whether the agencies involved have met the 10
percent minimum enrollment requirement
specified in section 640(d) and whether the
agencies have made sufficient efforts to
collaborate with State and local agencies
providing services under section 619 or part C
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
``(viii) 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 agency-determined school readiness
goals described in section 641(a)(2)(A); and
``(ix) in the case of Early Head Start
agencies and programs, are conducted by a
review team that includes individuals who are
knowledgeable about the development of infants
and toddlers.
``(B) Training; quality and consistency.--The
Secretary, from funds available under section
640(a)(2)(D), shall provide periodic training for
supervisors and members of review teams in such topics
as program management and financial audit performance.
The Secretary shall ensure the quality and consistency
across and within regions of reviews and non-compliance
and deficiency determinations by conducting periodic
interrater reliability checks.'';
(4) in subsection (d)(1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
inserting ``or fails to address the communitywide
strategic plan and needs assessment identified in
section 640(g)(2)(C),'' after ``subsection (b),''; and
(B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and
identify the 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 parents with children receiving assistance
under this subchapter in an understandable and uniform format,
and to the extent practicable, 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) Self-Assessments.--
``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once each
program year, with the consultation and participation of policy
councils, and, as applicable, policy committees, and, as
appropriate, other community members, each agency receiving
funds under this subchapter shall conduct a comprehensive self-
assessment of the agency's effectiveness and progress in
meeting program goals and objectives and in implementing and
complying with performance standards described in subsection
(a)(1).
``(2) Report and improvement plans.--
``(A) Report.--An agency conducting a self-
assessment shall report the findings of the self-
assessment to the relevant policy council, policy
committee, governing body, and regional office of the
Administration for Children and Families of the
Department of Health and Human Services. Each self-
assessment shall identify areas of strength and
weakness.
``(B) Improvement plan.--The agency shall develop
an improvement plan approved by the governing body of
the agency to strengthen any areas identified in the
self-assessment as weaknesses or in need of
improvement. The agency shall report the areas to the
appropriate regional office of the Administration for
Children and Families.
``(3) Ongoing monitoring.--Each Head Start agency
(including each Early Head Start agency and including any
delegate agency) shall establish and implement procedures for
the ongoing monitoring of their Head Start (including Early
Head Start) programs, to ensure that the operations of the
programs work toward meeting program goals and objectives and
Head Start performance standards.
``(4) Training and technical assistance.--Funds may be made
available, through section 648(d), for training and technical
assistance to assist agencies in conducting self-assessments.
``(g) 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 or 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 award.
``(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 communitywide 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 funds made
available under this subchapter 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 community
served; 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 funded 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 9 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 (3)(A).
``(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 children of migrant or
seasonal farmworkers, homeless children,
children in foster care, 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 or seasonal Head Start program, whose
base grant is derived from amounts specified in
paragraph (1)(B)(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)(B), 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), in the case of a
Head Start agency described in 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.
``(h) Contract With Nonprofit Intermediary Organization.--From
funds reserved under clause (i) or (ii) of section 640(a)(2)(C) or from
whatever other resources the Secretary determines appropriate, in
carrying out the provisions of this section, the Secretary or a Head
Start agency may contract with a nonprofit intermediary organization
that--
``(1) provides evaluations and technical assistance to
improve overall performance management; and
``(2) has an exclusive focus of improving the performance
management and the use of technology in assessing performance
and meeting Head Start regulations and can provide on-site,
hands-on guidance with the implementation of Head Start
programs.''.
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, Indian Head
Start agencies, and migrant and seasonal 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), except as provided in
clause (ii), 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 Indian Head
Start agency or a migrant or seasonal Head
Start agency, to be eligible to receive a
designation as a center of excellence under
subsection (b), such an agency shall be
nominated by the head of the appropriate
regional office of the Department of Health and
Human Services 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 performance standards described in
section 641A(a)(1), as evidenced by successful
completion of programmatic and monitoring
reviews, and has no findings of deficiencies
with respect to such standards;
``(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 among the Head
Start agency, the State (or a State agency),
and other providers of early childhood
education and care in the local community
involved;
``(v) a nomination letter from the
Governor, or appropriate regional office,
demonstrating the agency's ability to provide
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 education
and care to children and families in the
community served by the agency;
``(vi) information demonstrating the
existence of 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; and
``(vii) a description of how the Center, in
order to expand accessibility and continuity of
quality early childhood education and care,
will coordinate activities assisted under this
section with--
``(I) programs carried out under
the Child Care and Development Block
Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et
seq.);
``(II) other programs carried out
under this subchapter, including the
Early Head Start programs carried out
under section 645A;
``(III)(aa) Early Reading First and
Even Start programs carried out 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.);
``(bb) other preschool programs
carried out under title I of that Act
(20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.); and
``(cc) the Ready-to-Learn
Television program carried out under
subpart 3 of part D of title II of that
Act (20 U.S.C. 6775 et seq.);
``(IV) programs carried out under
section 619 and part C of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
``(V) State prekindergarten
programs; and
``(VI) other programs of early
childhood education and care.
``(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, an Indian Head Start program, a migrant
or seasonal Head Start program, and the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico.
``(3) Priority.--In making bonus grant determinations under
this section, the Secretary shall give priority to programs
that, through their applications, demonstrate that they are of
exceptional quality and would serve as exemplary models for
programs in the same geographic region. The Secretary may also
consider the populations served by the applicants, such as
programs that serve large proportions of families of limited
English proficient children or other underserved populations,
and may make bonus grants to programs that do an exceptional
job meeting the needs of children in such populations.
``(4) 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).
``(5) 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 eligible for Head Start services in the community
involved. The Secretary shall, subject to the availability of
funding, make such a bonus grant in an amount of not less than
$200,000 per year.
``(d) Use of Funds.--
``(1) Activities.--A center of excellence that receives a
bonus grant under subsection (b)--
``(A) shall use the funds made available through
the bonus grant to model and disseminate, to other Head
Start centers in the State involved, best practices for
achieving early academic success, including--
``(i) best practices for achieving school
readiness and developing pre-literacy and
premathematics skills for at-risk children and
achieving the acquisition of the English
language for limited English proficient
children; and
``(ii) best practices for providing
seamless service delivery for eligible children
and their families;
``(B) may use the funds made available through the
bonus grant--
``(i) to provide Head Start services to
additional eligible children;
``(ii) 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;
``(iii) to further coordinate early
childhood education and care and social
services available in the community served by
the center for at-risk children (birth through
age 8), their families, and pregnant women;
``(iv) to provide training and cross
training for Head Start teachers and staff,
child care providers, public and private
preschool and elementary school teachers, and
other providers of early childhood education
and care, and training and cross training to
develop agency leaders;
``(v) 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 education and
care, to help the providers described in this
clause increase their ability to work with low-
income, at-risk children and their families;
``(vi) to develop or maintain partnerships
with institutions of higher education and
nonprofit organizations, including community-
based organizations, that recruit, train,
place, and support college students to serve as
mentors and reading partners to preschool
children in Head Start programs; and
``(vii) 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.--A center that receives a bonus grant under
subsection (b), in carrying out activities under this
subsection, shall work with the center's delegate agencies and
several additional Head Start agencies (especially agencies
that are low-performing on the performance standards described
in section 641A(a)(1)), and other providers of early childhood
education and care in the community involved, to encourage the
agencies and providers described in this paragraph to carry out
model programs.
``(e) Research and Reports.--
``(1) Research.--The Secretary shall, subject to the
availability of funds to carry out this subsection, award a
grant or contract 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 education and care 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 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 each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012--
``(1) $90,000,000 to make bonus grants to centers of
excellence under subsection (b) to carry out activities
described in subsection (d);
``(2) $500,000 to pay for the administrative costs of the
Secretary in carrying out this section; 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--
(1) by striking all that precedes ``In order'' the first
place it appears and inserting the following:
``SEC. 642. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES.
``(a) In General.--''; and
(2) by striking subsections (b) through (e) and inserting
the following:
``(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) establish effective procedures, for determining the
needs of children, that include high quality research based
developmental screening tools that have been demonstrated to be
valid, reliable, and accurate for children from a range of
backgrounds;
``(5) establish effective procedures for timely referral of
children with disabilities to State and local agencies
providing services under section 619 and part C of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419,
1431 et seq.), and collaboration with those agencies;
``(6) establish effective procedures for providing
necessary services to children with disabilities prior to an
eligibility determination by the State or local agency
responsible for providing services under section 619 or part C
of such Act;
``(7) require each delegate agency to create a policy
committee, which shall--
``(A) be comprised of members of the community to
be served, including parents of children who are
currently enrolled in the Head Start programs of the
Head Start agency; and
``(B) serve in an advisory capacity to the delegate
agency, to make decisions and recommendations regarding
program planning and operation and parental
involvement.
``(8) seek the involvement of parents, area residents, and
local business in the design and implementation of the program;
``(9) provide for the regular participation of parents and
area residents in the implementation of the program;
``(10) 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;
``(11) establish effective procedures to carry out
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 641(f)(8);
``(12) 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;
``(13) establish effective procedures to carry out section
641(f)(8)(C);
``(14) establish effective procedures to carry out section
641(f)(8)(D);
``(15) establish effective procedures to carry out section
641(f)(8)(E);
``(16) establish effective procedures to carry out section
641(f)(8)(F);
``(17) consider providing services to assist younger
siblings of children participating in its Head Start program,
to obtain health services from other sources;
``(18) perform community outreach to encourage individuals
previously unaffiliated with Head Start programs to participate
in its Head Start program as volunteers;
``(19)(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;
``(20) provide parents of limited English proficient
children outreach and information in an understandable and
uniform format and, to the extent practicable, in a language
that the parents can understand; and
``(21) at the option of such agency, partner with an
institution of higher education and a nonprofit organization to
provide college students with the opportunity to serve as
mentors or reading partners to Head Start participants.
``(c) Transition Activities To Facilitate Continued Progress.--
``(1) In general.--Each Head Start agency shall collaborate
with the entities listed in this subsection, to the maximum
extent possible, to ensure the successful transition of Head
Start children to school, so that such children are able to
build upon the developmental and educational gains achieved in
Head Start programs 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) collaborate with 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.), other entities providing early childhood
education and care, and the agencies responsible for
administering section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a), parts B and E of
title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et
seq. and 670 et seq.), 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, in appropriate cases;
``(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, 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, upon the
transition of their children to school--
``(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 or Evaluation.--Each Head Start agency shall
adopt, in consultation with experts in child development and with
classroom teachers, an assessment or evaluation to measure whether
classroom teachers have mastered the functions described in section
648A(a)(1) and have 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.
``(f) Technical Assistance and Training Plan.--In order to receive
funds under this subchapter, a Head Start agency shall develop an
annual technical assistance and training plan. Such plan shall be based
on the agency's self-assessment, the communitywide needs assessment,
and the needs of parents to be served by such agency.''.
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.
``(a) In General.--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, which may include--
``(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, as appropriate, 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--
``(A) facilitate coordination of programs;
``(B) develop continuity of developmentally
appropriate curricular objectives and practices, in
order to ensure an effective transition to school and
appropriate shared expectations for the learning and
development of children as they make the transition to
school; and
``(C) provide appropriate linkages between the Head
Start program and educational services, including
services related to language, literacy, and numeracy,
provided by such local educational agency;
``(3) establishing comprehensive transition policies and
procedures that support children transitioning to school,
including by engaging the local education agency in the
establishment of such policies;
``(4) conducting outreach to parents, elementary school
(such as kindergarten) 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 parents of limited English proficient children;
``(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) 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;
``(9) helping parents understand the instructional and
other services provided by the school in which their child will
enroll after participation in the Head Start program; and
``(10) coordinating activities and collaborating to ensure
that curricula used in the Head Start program are aligned with
the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate,
State early learning standards, with regard to cognitive
development (including language, pre-literacy, and
premathematics competencies), and social, emotional, and
physical competencies that children entering kindergarten are
expected to demonstrate.
``(b) Construction.--In this section, a reference to a Head Start
agency, or its program, services, facility, or personnel, shall not be
construed to be a reference to an Early Head Start agency, or its
program, services, facility, or personnel.''.
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--
(A) by striking ``chief executive officer'' and
inserting ``Governor''; and
(B) by striking ``45'' and inserting ``30'';
(2) in the last sentence, by striking ``, however,''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following: ``This section
shall not apply to contracts, agreements, grants, loans, or
other assistance for Indian Head Start programs and migrant and
seasonal Head Start programs.''.
SEC. 13. COSTS OF DEVELOPING AND ADMINISTERING A PROGRAM.
Section 644(b) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9839(b)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``Except'' and inserting ``(1) Except'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2)(A) The limitation prescribed by paragraph (1) shall not
prohibit a Head Start agency from expending an amount in excess of
allowable direct costs associated with developing and administering a
program assisted under this subchapter, if--
``(i) the agency submits an application for a grant year
containing an assurance that--
``(I) the agency will serve a greater percentage of
children in the community involved than were served in
the preceding grant year; and
``(II) the agency will not diminish services
provided to currently enrolled children (as of the date
of the application), including the number of hours and
days such services are provided;
``(ii) any such excess amount does not exceed 5 percent of
the total costs, including the required non-Federal
contributions to such costs, of such program; and
``(iii) in the event that the applicant applies to expend
any such excess amount in a subsequent grant year, the
applicant continues to serve the same number of children as
proposed in the initial application submitted under this
paragraph and accomplishes, relative to the prior Head Start
agency, at least 3 of the 5 improved outcomes.
``(B) In subparagraph (A), the term `improved outcome' means--
``(i) an increase in average teacher salary;
``(ii) an increase in the number of qualified teachers;
``(iii) a significant increase in the number of children
who receive full-day Head Start services;
``(iv) a decrease in the caseload for family workers; or
``(v) an increase in transportation options for families.
``(C) The Secretary shall approve not more than 10 applications
described in subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, and to the extent
practicable shall ensure participation under this paragraph of a
diverse group of Head Start agencies, including public, private
nonprofit, and for-profit agencies operating Head Start programs.''.
SEC. 14. PARTICIPATION IN HEAD START PROGRAMS.
Section 645 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by inserting ``130 percent of''
after ``below''; and
(II) by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
subparagraph (C);
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A)
the following:
``(B) that the Head Start agencies involved make efforts to
ensure that the programs serve children from families with
incomes below the poverty line prior to serving other income-
eligible children; and''; and
(iv) in the flush matter at the end, by
adding at the end the following: ``A homeless
child shall be deemed eligible for Head Start
services.''; and
(B) 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 of 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 communitywide 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.
``(5)(A) Consistent with a communitywide needs assessment, a Head
Start agency may apply to the Secretary to serve additional infants and
toddlers if the agency submits an application to the Secretary
containing--
``(i) a description of how the needs of pregnant women,
infants, and toddlers will be addressed in accordance with
section 645A(b), and with regulations prescribed by the
Secretary pursuant to section 641A in areas including the
agency's approach to child development and provision of health
services, approach to family and community partnerships, and
approach to program design and management;
``(ii) a description of how the needs of eligible Head
Start children are being and will be served;
``(iii) assurances that the agency will participate in
technical assistance activities (including a planning period,
start-up site visits, and national training activities) in the
same manner as recipients of grants under section 645A; and
``(iv) evidence that the agency meets the same eligibility
criteria as recipients of grants under section 645A.
``(B) In approving such applications, the Secretary shall take into
account the costs of serving persons under section 645A.
``(C) Any Head Start agency designated under this section and
permitted to use grant funds under subparagraph (A) to serve additional
infants and toddlers shall be considered to be an Early Head Start
agency and shall be subject to the same rules, regulations, and
conditions as apply to recipients of grants under section 645A for
those grant funds.''; and
(2) in the first sentence of subsection (c), by striking
``(age 3 to compulsory school attendance)'' and inserting
``(other than children eligible for an Early Head Start
program)''; and
(3) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an Indian
tribe that operates both an Early Head Start program under section 645A
and a Head Start program may, at its discretion, at any time during the
grant period involved, reallocate funds between the Early Head Start
program and the Head Start program in order to address fluctuations in
client population, including pregnant women and children birth to
compulsory school age. The reallocation of such funds between programs
by an Indian tribe shall not serve as the basis for the Secretary to
reduce a base grant (as defined in section 641A(g)(1)) for either
program in succeeding years.''.
SEC. 15. 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 and
research-based activities to parents to support their
role as parents (including parenting skills training
and training in basic child development)'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), (7), (8),
and (9) as paragraphs (6), (8), (11), (12), and (13),
respectively;
(C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) where appropriate and in conjunction with services
provided under this section to the children's immediate
families (or as approved by the Secretary), provide home-based
services to family child care homes, and kin caregivers, caring
for infants and toddlers who also participate in Early Head
Start programs, to provide continuity in supporting the
children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical
development;'';
(D) in paragraph (6), as redesignated by
subparagraph (B)--
(i) by inserting ``(including home-based
services)'' after ``with services'';
(ii) by inserting ``and homeless infants
and toddlers'' after ``disabilities''; and
(iii) by inserting ``, and family support
services'' after ``health services'';
(E) by inserting after paragraph (6), as
redesignated by subparagraph (B), the following:
``(7) ensure that children with documented behavioral
problems, including problems involving behavior related to
prior or existing trauma, receive appropriate screening and
referral;'';
(F) by inserting after paragraph (8), as
redesignated by subparagraph (B), the following:
``(9) develop and implement a systematic procedure for
transitioning children and parents from an Early Head Start
program to a Head Start program or another local program of
early childhood education and care;
``(10) establish channels of communication between staff of
Early Head Start programs and staff of Head Start programs or
other local providers of early childhood education and care, to
facilitate the coordination of programs;''; and
(G) in paragraph (12), as redesignated by
subparagraph (B)--
(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) and parts B and E of title IV
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et
seq. and 670 et seq.)'' 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)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by adding at the end the
following: ``In determining the amount so reserved, the
Secretary shall consider the number of Early Head Start
programs newly funded for that fiscal year.''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (ii), by inserting ``,
including supporting infant and toddler
specialists to assist such staff and improve
the programs carried out under this section''
after ``section''; and
(ii) 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.'';
and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Staff Qualifications and Development.--
``(1) Center-based staff.--The Secretary shall establish
staff qualification goals to ensure that, not later than
September 30, 2012, 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
with a focus on infant and toddler 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, including use of research-based
strategies to support the development of
literacy and language skills for children who
are limited English proficient;
``(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. 16. APPEALS, NOTICE, AND HEARING AND RECORDS AND FINANCIAL AUDITS.
(a) Appeals, Notice, and Hearing.--Section 646(a) of the Head Start
Act (42 U.S.C. 9841(a)) is amended by striking paragraphs (3) and (4)
and inserting the following:
``(3) financial assistance under this subchapter may be
terminated or reduced, and an application for refunding may be
denied, after the recipient has been afforded reasonable notice
and opportunity for a full and fair hearing, including--
``(A) a right to file a notice of appeal of a
decision not later than 30 days after notice of the
decision from the Secretary; and
``(B) access to a full and fair hearing of the
appeal, not later than 120 days after receipt by the
Secretary of the notice of appeal;
``(4) the Secretary shall develop and publish procedures
(including mediation procedures) to be used in order to--
``(A) resolve in a timely manner conflicts
potentially leading to an adverse action between--
``(i) recipients of financial assistance
under this subchapter; and
``(ii) delegate agencies, or policy
councils of Head Start agencies;
``(B) avoid the need for an administrative hearing
on an adverse action; and
``(C) prohibit a Head Start agency from expending
financial assistance awarded under this subchapter for
the purpose of paying legal fees pursuant to an appeal
under paragraph (3), except that such fees shall be
reimbursed by the Secretary if the agency prevails in
such decision; and
``(5) the Secretary may suspend funds to a grantee under
this subchapter--
``(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), for
not more than 30 days; or
``(B) in the case of a grantee under this
subchapter that has multiple and recurring deficiencies
for 180 days or more and has not made substantial and
significant progress toward meeting the goals of the
grantee's quality improvement plan or eliminating all
deficiencies identified by the Secretary, during the
hearing of an appeal described in paragraph (3), for
any amount of time, including permanently.''.
(b) Records and Financial Audits.--
(1) Heading.--Section 647 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9842) is amended by striking the section heading and inserting
the following: ``records and financial audits''.
(2) 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 center, including each Early
Head Start center, receiving''.
(3) Financial audits.--Subsections (a) and (b) of section
647 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9842) are amended by
striking ``audit'' and inserting ``financial audit''.
(4) 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 center, including each 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. 17. 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 State system of training and technical
assistance (which may include such a system for a consortium of States
within a region) 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, Indian Head
Start agencies, migrant and seasonal Head Start agencies, and
other entities providing training and technical assistance in
early childhood education and care, for the State (including
such a consortium of States within a region), are included in
the planning and coordination of the system; and
``(2) encourage States (including such consortia) to
supplement the funds authorized in section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii)
with Federal, State, or local funds other than funds made
available under this subchapter, to expand training and
technical assistance activities beyond Head Start agencies to
include other providers of other early childhood education and
care within a State (including such a consortium).'';
(4) in paragraph (3) of subsection (c), as redesignated by
paragraph (2), by striking ``child care and early childhood
programs'' and inserting ``early childhood education and care
programs'';
(5) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
(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 1222(d) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6372(d))'' after ``children with disabilities'';
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``early childhood
professional development systems'' and inserting
``professional development systems regarding early
childhood education and care'';
(D) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``, including
assessing the needs of homeless children and their
families'' after ``needs assessment'';
(E) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the
following:
``(7) assist Head Start agencies in better serving the
needs of families with very young children, including providing
support and program planning and implementation assistance for
Head Start agencies that apply to serve or are serving
additional infants and toddlers with funds previously used for
3- and 4-year-olds in accordance with section 645(a)(5);'';
(F) in paragraph (10), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(G) in paragraph (11), by striking the period and
inserting a semicolon; and
(H) by adding at the end the following:
``(12) assist Head Start agencies in increasing the program
participation of homeless children;
``(13) provide training and technical assistance to members
of governing bodies, policy councils, and, as appropriate,
policy committees, to ensure that the members can fulfill their
functions;
``(14) provide training and technical assistance to Head
Start agencies to assist such agencies in conducting self-
assessments;
``(15) assist Head Start agencies in improving outreach to,
and the quality of services available to, families of limited
English proficient children, including such services to help
such families learn English, particularly in communities that
have experienced a large percentage increase in the population
of such families;
``(16) assist Head Start agencies and improve programs to
increase the capacity of classroom staff to meet the needs of
children with disabilities in Head Start classrooms;
``(17) provide activities that help ensure that Head Start
programs have qualified staff who can promote prevention of
childhood obesity by integrating into the programs
developmentally appropriate research-based initiatives that
stress the importance of physical activity and nutrition
choices made by children and family, through daily classroom
and family routines; and
``(18) assist Indian Head Start agencies to provide on-site
and off-site training to staff, using approaches that identify
and enhance the positive resources and strengths of Indian
children and families, to improve parent and family engagement
and staff development, particularly with regard to child and
family development.'';
(6) in subsection (e), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by
inserting ``including community-based organizations,'' after
``nonprofit entities,'';
(7) in subsection (f), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``early childhood development and
child care programs'' and inserting ``early childhood
education and care programs''; and
(B) 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
(8) 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 children with disabilities
and their families, migrant and seasonal farmworker families, families
of children 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 (including any 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 awareness (including 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 involved 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 limited English proficient.
``(6) The literacy training shall include training on how to best
address the language and literacy needs of children with disabilities,
including training on how to work with specialists in language
development.''.
SEC. 18. 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 establish
staff qualification goals to ensure that--
``(i) not later than September 30, 2012,
all Head Start teachers nationwide 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);
``(ii) not later than September 30, 2010,
all Head Start curriculum specialists and
education coordinators nationwide 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, 2010,
all Head Start teaching assistants nationwide
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, 2013,
50 percent of all Head Start teachers in
center-based programs in each State (and
geographic region for Indian Head Start
programs and for migrant and seasonal Head
Start programs) have a baccalaureate degree
relating to early childhood (or a related
educational area), 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) Teacher in-service requirement.--Each Head
Start teacher shall attend not less than 15 clock hours
of professional development per year. Such professional
development shall be high quality, sustained,
intensive, and classroom-focused in order to have a
positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction
and the teacher's performance in the classroom, and
regularly evaluated for effectiveness.
``(C) Progress.--
``(i) Report.--The Secretary shall--
``(I) require Head Start agencies
to--
``(aa) describe continuing
progress each year toward
achieving the goals 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 advanced
degrees; and
``(II) compile and submit a summary
of all program reports described in
subclause (I)(bb) to the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
of the Senate.
``(ii) Demonstrate progress.--A Head Start
agency may demonstrate that progress by
partnering with institutions of higher
education or other programs that recruit,
train, place, and support college students to
deliver an innovative program of early
childhood education and care to preschool
children.
``(D) 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 or credential 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) in paragraph (3), by striking ``(i) or (ii)''
and inserting ``(i) or (iv)'';
(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 populations of limited
English proficient children).'';
(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, and teaching assistants to meet the requirements set
forth in subsection (a).
``(g) Construction.--In this section, a reference to a Head Start
agency, or its program, services, facility or personnel, shall not be
considered to be a reference to an Early Head Start agency, or its
program, services, facility or personnel. For purposes of this section,
a teacher who is providing services, in a migrant or seasonal Head
Start program, in a classroom for children under age 3, shall be
considered to be a teacher in an Early Head Start program, as described
in section 645A.''.
SEC. 19. 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
advanced 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,
including providing the programs through such means as
distance learning and use of advanced technology, as
appropriate; 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
2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2009
through 2012.
``(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. 20. 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 ``, children
determined to be abused or neglected, homeless children, and
children in foster care'' after ``children with disabilities'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), (7), (8),
(9), and (10), as paragraphs (6), (8), (9), (10), (11),
and (12);
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5)(A) identify successful strategies that promote good
oral health and provide effective linkages to quality dental
services through pediatric dental referral networks, for
infants and toddlers participating in Early Head Start programs
and children participating in other Head Start programs; and
``(B) identify successful strategies that promote good
vision health through vision screenings for such infants,
toddlers, and children, and referrals for appropriate followup
care for those identified as having a vision problem;'';
(C) in paragraph (6), as redesignated by
subparagraph (A), by striking ``child care, early
childhood education, or child development services''
and inserting ``early childhood education and care
services'';
(D) by inserting after that paragraph (6) the
following:
``(7)(A) contribute to understanding the impact of services
related to children with disabilities, delivered in Head Start
classrooms, on both children with disabilities and typically-
developing children; and
``(B) disseminate promising practices for increasing the
availability and quality of such services;'';
(E) in paragraph (10), as redesignated by
subparagraph (A), by adding ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(F) by striking paragraph (11), as redesignated by
subparagraph (A);
(G) by redesignating paragraph (12), as
redesignated by subparagraph (A), as paragraph (11);
and
(H) by striking the last sentence;
(3) in subsection (e)(3), by striking ``child care, early
childhood education, or child development services'' and
inserting ``early childhood education and care services'';
(4) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ``education, and early childhood
programs'' and inserting ``and early childhood
education and care programs'';
(ii) by striking clause (i); and
(iii) by redesignating clauses (ii) and
(iii) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``, and research,
education, and early childhood programs'' and inserting
``and research, and early childhood education and care
programs'';
(C) in paragraph (5)(D)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``early
childhood programs'' and inserting ``early
childhood education and care programs''; and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``early
childhood program'' and inserting ``early
childhood education and care program''; and
(D) in paragraph (7)(C)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``2003'' and
inserting ``2008''; and
(ii) in clause (ii)--
(I) by striking ``Education and the
Workforce'' and inserting ``Education
and Labor''; and
(II) by striking ``Labor and Human
Resources'' and inserting ``Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions''; and
(5) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
``(h) Review of Assessments.--
``(1) Application of study.--When the study on
Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children by
the National Academy of Sciences is made available to the
Secretary, the Secretary shall--
``(A) incorporate the results of the study, as
appropriate and in accordance with paragraphs (2) and
(3), into each assessment used in the Head Start
programs; and
``(B) use the results of the study to develop,
inform, and revise the standards and measures described
in section 641A.
``(2) Development and refinement.--In developing and
refining any assessment used in the Head Start programs, the
Secretary shall--
``(A) receive recommendations from the Panel on
Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young
Children of the National Academy of Sciences; and
``(B) with respect to the development or refinement
of such assessment, ensure--
``(i) consistency with relevant, nationally
recognized professional and technical
standards;
``(ii) validity and reliability for all
purposes for which assessments under this
subchapter are designed and used;
``(iii) developmental and linguistic
appropriateness of such assessments for
children assessed, including children who are
limited English proficient; and
``(iv) that the results can be used to
improve the quality of, accountability of, and
training and technical assistance in, Head
Start programs.
``(3) Additional requirements.--The Secretary, in carrying
out the process described under paragraph (2), shall ensure
that--
``(A) staff administering any assessments under
this subchapter have received appropriate training to
administer such assessments;
``(B) appropriate accommodations for children with
disabilities and children who are limited English
proficient are made;
``(C) the English and Spanish (and any other
language, as appropriate) forms of such assessments are
valid and reliable; and
``(D) such assessments are not used to exclude
children from Head Start programs.
``(4) Suspended implementation of national reporting
system.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) suspend implementation and terminate further
development and use of the National Reporting System;
and
``(B) incorporate, as appropriate, recommendations
under paragraph (2)(A) into any assessment used in the
Head Start programs.
``(i) Special Rule.--The use of assessment items and data on any
assessment authorized under this subchapter by any agent of the Federal
Government to rank or compare individual children or teachers, or to
provide rewards or sanctions for individual children or teachers is
prohibited. The Secretary shall not use the results of a single
assessment as the sole method for assessing program effectiveness or
making grantee funding determinations at the national, regional, or
local level under this subchapter.
``(j) 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 (including Early Head Start) programs.
``(2) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit to
Congress, not later than September 2011, 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
(including Early Head Start) services and the
geographic distribution of children described in this
subparagraph;
``(B) the nature of Head Start (including 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 of and training provided
to Head Start (including 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
(including 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
2006;
``(ii) the correlation between the progress
described in this subparagraph and the type of
instruction and educational program provided to
the limited English proficient children; and
``(iii) the correlation between the
progress described in this subparagraph 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.
``(k) Research and Evaluation Activities Relevant to Diverse
Communities.--For purposes of conducting the study in described in
subsection (j), activities described in section 640(l)(5)(A), and other
research and evaluation activities relevant to limited English
proficient children and their families, migrant and seasonal farmworker
families, and other families from diverse populations served by Head
Start programs, the Secretary shall award, on a competitive basis,
funds from amounts made available under section 639(b) to 1 or more
organizations with a demonstrated capacity for serving and studying the
populations involved.''.
SEC. 21. REPORTS.
Section 650 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9846) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``Education and the
Workforce'' and inserting ``Education and
Labor'';
(ii) by striking ``Labor and Human
Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions''; and
(iii) by striking ``(including disabled and
non-English language background children)'' and
inserting ``(including children with
disabilities, limited English proficient
children, and children participating in Indian
Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal
Head Start programs)'';
(B) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``homelessness,
children in foster care,'' after ``ethnic
background,'';
(C) in paragraph (12), by inserting ``vision
care,'' after ``dental care,'';
(D) in paragraph (14)--
(i) by striking ``Alaskan Natives'' and
inserting ``Alaska Natives''; and
(ii) by striking ``migrant and'' and
inserting ``migrant or''; and
(E) in the flush matter at the end--
(i) by striking ``Education and the
Workforce'' and inserting ``Education and
Labor''; and
(ii) by striking ``Labor and Human
Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``Education and the Workforce'' and
inserting ``Education and Labor'';
(B) by striking ``Labor and Human Resources'' and
inserting ``Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions'';
and
(C) by striking ``Native Alaskan'' and inserting
``Alaska Native''.
SEC. 22. 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''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) No Federal funds shall be used to pay the compensation of an
individual employed by a Head Start agency in carrying out programs
under this subchapter, either as direct or indirect costs or any
proration of such costs, in an amount in excess of an amount based on
the rate payable for level II of the Executive Schedule under section
5313 of title 5, United States Code.''.
SEC. 23. 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. 24. 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 or
in, a program assisted 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; or
``(B) any activity to provide voters or prospective
voters with transportation to the polls or similar
assistance in connection with any such election.
``(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. 25. 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 involved 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 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.''.
SEC. 26. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
Section 2501(c)(1)(C) of the Children's Health Act of 2000 (42
U.S.C. 247b-1 note) is amended by striking ``9840a(h)'' and inserting
``9840a''.
SEC. 27. COMPLIANCE WITH THE IMPROPER PAYMENTS INFORMATION ACT OF 2002.
(a) Definitions.--In this section, the term--
(1) ``appropriate committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Education and Labor of the
House of Representatives; and
(2) ``improper payment'' has the meaning given that term
under section 2(d)(2) of the Improper Payments Information Act
of 2002 (31 U.S.C. 3321 note).
(b) Requirement for Compliance Certification and Report.--The
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to the
appropriate committees that--
(1) contains a certification that the Department of Health
and Human Services has, for each program and activity of the
Administration for Children and Families, performed and
completed a risk assessment to determine programs and
activities that are at significant risk of making improper
payments; and
(2) describes the actions to be taken to reduce improper
payments for the programs and activities determined to be at
significant risk of making improper payments.
Attest:
Secretary.
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1429
_______________________________________________________________________
AMENDMENT