[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3055 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3055

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide 
 expanded resources, technical assistance, reasonable accountability, 
  and professional development to eligible entities implementing Even 
                            Start programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 16, 2007

Mr. Yarmuth (for himself and Mr. Platts) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide 
 expanded resources, technical assistance, reasonable accountability, 
  and professional development to eligible entities implementing Even 
                            Start programs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Families Conquering Literacy 
Together Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. WILLIAM F. GOODLING EVEN START FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS.

    (a) Statement of Purpose.--Section 1231 (20 U.S.C. 6381) is 
amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``to 
        help break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by'' and 
        inserting ``to provide centered educational programs to help 
        break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy and to lay the 
        foundation for strong parental involvement in children's 
        education by''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(A) be implemented through cooperative programs 
                that, to the extent possible, coordinate high quality 
                effective educational services to create integrated and 
                supportive family-focused education programs;'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B) by inserting after 
                ``promote'' the following: ``language and literacy 
                development and'';
                    (C) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(D) be based on scientifically based research on 
                children's language and literacy development and on the 
                most rigorous research available for adults that 
                addresses the prevention and remediation of reading 
                difficulties in children and adults to the extent such 
                research is available.''.
    (b) Program Authorized.--Section 1232 (20 U.S.C. 6381a) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$200,000,000'' 
                and inserting ``$150,000,000''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(2) Special rule.--After the date of the enactment of the 
        Families Conquering Literacy Together Act of 2007, the 
        Secretary shall award a grant, on a competitive basis, of 
        sufficient size and for a period of sufficient duration to 
        demonstrate innovative family literacy programs for 
        incarcerated parents and their Even Start eligible children. 
        The Secretary shall ensure that the results are disseminated by 
        NIFL and are capable of replication.''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``Bureau of Indian 
                        Affairs'' and inserting ``Bureau of Indian 
                        Education'';
                            (ii) by striking ``and to encourage the 
                        dissemination of information'' and inserting 
                        ``and shall ensure that information''; and
                            (iii) by striking the period at the end and 
                        inserting ``is disseminated through NIFL or 
                        other appropriate means. The Secretary shall 
                        report to Congress on how the Department is 
                        carrying out the coordination required by this 
                        paragraph.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) 
                and (B) and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) establishing the comprehensive performance 
                accountability system required by section 1240 to 
                assess the effectiveness of the program in achieving 
                continuous improvement of Even Start family literacy 
                activities carried out under this subpart; and
                    ``(B) providing, through grants or contracts with 
                eligible organizations, technical assistance and 
                training that supports continuous program improvement 
                to ensure positive outcomes for participants.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``for such year'' 
                and all that follows through the period at the end and 
                inserting ``for such year exceeds $175,000,000, the 
                Secretary shall reserve $2,000,000 to carry out 
                research under section 1241 into topics set forth by 
                the independent research panel.'';
            (3) by striking subsection (c) and redesignating 
        subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), 
        respectively;
            (4) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(a), (b), or 
                (c),'' and inserting ``(a) or (b),''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``$250,000'' and inserting 
                        ``$300,000''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``(a), (b), or (c)'' and 
                        inserting ``(a) or (b)''; and
            (5) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated), in paragraph 
        (4), by inserting after ``section 1208'' the following: ``for 
        children and the most rigorous research available for adults''.
    (c) State Educational Agency Programs.--Section 1233 (20 U.S.C. 
6381b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                inserting after ``6 percent'' the following: ``(or, for 
                a fiscal year in which the amount appropriated under 
                section 1002(b)(3) is $175,000,000 or more, 7 
                percent)''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``replication'' 
                and inserting ``professional development''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``subparagraphs (B) and 
                        (C)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (B)''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``$75,000'' and inserting 
                        ``$100,000'';
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (B) and redesignating 
                subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B); and
                    (C) in subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated)--
                            (i) by striking ``$75,000'' both places 
                        such term appears and inserting ``$100,000''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by striking ``subparagraphs (A) and 
                        (B)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (A)''.
    (d) Uses of Funds.--Section 1234 (20 U.S.C. 6381c) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
                            (i) in clause (iv), by adding ``and'' at 
                        the end; and
                            (ii) by striking clauses (v) and (vi) and 
                        inserting the following:
                            ``(v) 50 percent in the fifth and 
                        subsequent years.''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (3); and
            (2) in subsection (c), by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
        follows:
            ``(3) Technical assistance.--In carrying out paragraph (1), 
        a State educational agency may use the funds referred to in 
        that paragraph to provide technical assistance on program 
        improvement and on high quality local program 
        collaborations.''.
    (e) Program Elements.--Section 1235 (20 U.S.C. 6381d) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ``in need of'' the 
        following: ``family literacy'';
            (2) by striking paragraphs (2) through (4) and inserting 
        the following:
            ``(2) include screening of families (including parents and 
        children) to determine their readiness to enable those parents 
        and children to participate fully in the instruction provided 
        under this subpart, to remain in the program a sufficient time 
        to meet their program goals and to attend regularly. Such 
        screening shall include assessment, referral to development 
        support services and related services, including counseling, if 
        appropriate and necessary;
            ``(3) be designed to accommodate the participants' work 
        schedule and other responsibilities, such as--
                    ``(A) the provision of support services, such as 
                child care and transportation. Such services shall be 
                available only when those services are unavailable from 
                other sources, necessary for participation in the 
                family literacy activities assisted under this subpart; 
                and
                    ``(B) scheduling and locating of services to allow 
                joint participation by parents and children;
            ``(4) include high-quality, intensive, and integrated 
        instructional programs that operate on a year-round basis to 
        promote adult literacy, to empower parents to support the 
        educational growth of their children, to provide 
        developmentally and linguistically appropriate early childhood 
        educational services that prepare children for success in 
        regular school programs and include the use of scientifically-
        based reading research for children and the most rigorous 
        research available for adults;'';
            (3) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
                subparagraph (C);
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(A) the individual responsible for administration 
                of family literacy services under this subpart has 
                received training in the operation of a family literacy 
                program and meets minimum qualifications of 
                instructional staff;
                    ``(B) paraprofessionals who provide support for 
                academic instruction have a secondary school diploma or 
                its recognized equivalent; and''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated), in 
                the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``all 
                new'' and inserting ``all'';
            (4) by amending paragraph (7) to read as follows:
            ``(7) provide and monitor integrated instruction to 
        participating parents and children in the home;'';
            (5) by striking paragraphs (8), (10), (11), (12), and (13);
            (6) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (8) and, in 
        subparagraph (A) of that paragraph, by striking ``other 
        programs'' and inserting ``other relevant programs'';
            (7) by redesignating paragraph (14) as paragraph (9) and, 
        in that paragraph, by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (8) by redesignating paragraph (15) as paragraph (10) and, 
        in that paragraph, by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (9) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) ensure that programs will provide interactive 
        literacy activities for parents and their children at such 
        times when parents are unable to attend classes at the same 
        time as their children.''.
    (f) Eligible Participants.--Section 1236(a)(2) (20 U.S.C. 
6381e(a)(2)) is amended by striking ``age 7, of any individual'' and 
inserting ``age 7 (with an emphasis of serving ages birth through age 
5), of an individual''.
    (g) Applications.--Section 1237 (20 U.S.C. 6381f) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) to provide access to the professional development and 
        technical assistance needed to prepare program administrators 
        and staff to implement and manage the program effectively and 
        the skills necessary to provide high quality services, which 
        may be offered by eligible organizations; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) to provide linguistically and culturally appropriate 
        services to the eligible population to be served by an eligible 
        organization.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and 
                        how those strategies'' and all that follows 
                        through the semicolon at the end and inserting 
                        ``and how those objectives are consistent with 
                        and support the achievement of the quality 
                        indicators set forth in section 1240;'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (E)--
                                    (I) in clause (ii)--
                                            (aa) by striking ``to 
                                        provide services'' and 
                                        inserting ``to provide English 
                                        literacy and language 
                                        acquisition program services''; 
                                        and
                                            (bb) by striking ``and'' at 
                                        the end;
                                    (II) in clause (iii) by adding 
                                ``and'' at the end; and
                                    (III) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(iv) to ensure that the programs will 
                        provide developmentally, linguistically, and 
                        culturally appropriate activities and services 
                        for the eligible families most in need of 
                        services under this subpart;'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (F)--
                                    (I) by striking ``other programs'' 
                                and inserting ``other relevant 
                                programs''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``and'' at the 
                                end;
                            (iv) in subparagraph (G)--
                                    (I) by inserting after ``program 
                                objectives'' the following: ``and 
                                quality indicators''; and
                                    (II) by striking the period at the 
                                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (v) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(H) a description of how the plan provides for 
                access to professional development and how information 
                gained through such professional development is 
                implemented to improve the program's ability to provide 
                high quality services and enhance participants' 
                learning.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting before the 
                period at the end the following: ``and submitted to the 
                State for approval''.
    (h) Award of Subgrants.--Section 1238 (20 U.S.C. 6381g) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting 
                        before the semicolon at the end the following: 
                        ``and meeting the Indicators of Program Quality 
                        under section 1240''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``the 
                        greatest possible cooperation and coordination 
                        between a variety of relevant service 
                        providers'' and inserting ``cooperation and 
                        coordination among a variety of relevant high 
                        quality service providers''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by inserting after ``A review panel'' the 
                        following: ``shall be independent and''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) An individual with expertise in bilingual 
                education or teaching English as a second language.''; 
                and
            (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``4 years'' and 
        inserting ``6 years''.
    (i) Evaluation.--Section 1239 (20 U.S.C. 6381h) is amended to read 
as follows:

``SEC. 1239. PROGRAM MONITORING AND REPORTS.

    ``(a) In General.--From funds reserved under section 1232(b)(1), 
the Secretary shall provide for an annual report to Congress on 
programs assisted under this subpart based upon reports from grantees.
    ``(b) Reports by Grantees.--Each State educational agency that 
receives a grant under this subpart, and each migrant or tribal grantee 
that receives a grant under this subpart, shall annually prepare and 
submit to the Secretary a report on the progress of the State 
educational agency or migrant or tribal grantee in achieving program 
quality, including information on the levels of performance achieved 
with respect to the core indicators of performance.
    ``(c) Information Dissemination.--The Secretary--
            ``(1) shall make the information contained in the reports 
        available to the general public through publication and other 
        appropriate methods;
            ``(2) shall provide the authorizing and appropriating 
        committees that have jurisdiction over early childhood, 
        elementary and secondary education, and adult education copies 
        of such reports to determine the performance and effectiveness 
        of programs under this subpart; and
            ``(3) shall provide State educational agencies and eligible 
        entities receiving a subgrant under this subpart, directly or 
        through a grant or contract with an organization with 
        experience in the development and operation of successful 
        family literacy services, technical assistance to ensure that 
        local evaluations undertaken under section 1235(10) provide 
        accurate information on the effectiveness of programs assisted 
        under this subpart.''.
    (j) Indicators of Program Quality.--Section 1240 (20 U.S.C. 6381i) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 1240. INDICATORS OF PROGRAM QUALITY.

    ``(a) In General.--Each State educational agency receiving funds 
under this subpart shall use the indicators of program quality to 
monitor, evaluate, and improve those programs within the State. The 
indicators shall consist of--
            ``(1) increased access of parents to literacy services that 
        help parents promote emergent literacy in their children and 
        enhance language and literacy development in the home;
            ``(2) providing Even Start instruction and services that 
        are developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate 
        for the ages and populations served;
            ``(3) using research and evidence based screening, 
        assessments, and curricula for instructional improvements, and 
        referrals as needed to support language and literacy 
        development;
            ``(4) improving type, duration, mix, and intensity of 
        intergenerational literacy services, including scheduling and 
        locating of services to promote intergenerational participation 
        in Even Start;
            ``(5) improving the quality, type, and intensity of 
        professional development of Even Start staff, including 
        teachers, teacher aides, and program administrators, 
        including--
                    ``(A) professional development of Even Start staff 
                in child development, including language and literacy 
                and its connection to other domains of child 
                development; and
                    ``(B) professional development of Even Start staff 
                in adult learning theory, basic skills, and English 
                language skills and application in multiple contexts; 
                and
            ``(6) improving the quality of collaboration to enhance 
        program implementation.''.
    (k) Research.--Section 1241 (20 U.S.C. 6381j) is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 1241. RESEARCH.

    ``(a) In General.--In order to provide rigorous research utilizing 
appropriate, scientifically-based research standards, the Secretary 
shall carry out, through grant or contract, research into the 
components of successful family literacy services to inform the field 
and improve practice and program quality. The agenda for such research 
shall be determined by an independent panel (in this section referred 
to as the `Research Panel').
    ``(b) Composition of Research Panel.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Research Panel shall be composed of 
        9 members appointed as follows:
                    ``(A) 3 members shall be appointed by the President 
                from among nominations received from the Secretary, of 
                whom--
                            ``(i) 1 shall be from among individuals who 
                        are Even Start coordinators;
                            ``(ii) 1 shall be from among individuals 
                        who are practitioners from a migrant Even Start 
                        program; and
                            ``(iii) 1 shall be from among individuals 
                        who are practitioners from a tribal Even Start 
                        program.
                    ``(B) 3 members shall be appointed by the President 
                from among nominations received from the majority 
                leader of the Senate, of whom--
                            ``(i) 1 shall be from among individuals who 
                        are Even Start practitioners;
                            ``(ii) 1 shall be from among individuals 
                        who are researchers and experts in family 
                        literacy; and
                            ``(iii) 1 shall be from among individuals 
                        who are experts in early childhood language and 
                        literacy development.
                    ``(C) 3 members shall be appointed by the President 
                from among nominations received from the Speaker of the 
                House of Representatives, of whom--
                            ``(i) 1 shall be from among individuals who 
                        are experts in adult literacy development;
                            ``(ii) 1 shall be from among individuals 
                        who are experts in early childhood and adult 
                        literacy services for non-English language 
                        speaking children and adults; and
                            ``(iii) 1 shall be from among individuals 
                        who are representatives from other national 
                        organizations involved in family literacy.
            ``(2) Considerations.--In making nominations under 
        paragraph (1), the President, Speaker, and Majority Leader 
        shall take into consideration nominations received from 
        organizations that have expertise in family literacy, young 
        child literacy, and adult literacy.
    ``(c) Appointment Rules and Qualifications.--
            ``(1) Representation.--To the extent feasible, the 
        membership of the Research Panel shall be geographically 
        representative of the United States and reflect the diversity 
        of the United States with regard to race, native language, 
        ethnicity, gender, and disability characteristics.
            ``(2) Division between political parties.--To the extent 
        feasible, the individuals nominated and the individuals 
        appointed to the Research Panel shall be equally divided 
        between the 2 major political parties.
    ``(d) Terms.--
            ``(1) In general.--Members shall be appointed for 3-year 
        terms, with no member serving more than 2 consecutive terms.
            ``(2) Staggering.--
                    ``(A) The Research Panel shall establish initial 
                terms for members of 1, 2, or 3 years in order to 
                establish a rotation in which one-third of the members 
                are selected each year.
                    ``(B) The Secretary shall determine, pursuant to a 
                lottery, which members serve terms of 1, 2, or 3 years 
                under subparagraph (A).
    ``(e) Date of Appointment.--The initial members shall be appointed 
not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this 
section.
    ``(f) Initiation.--The Research Panel shall begin to carry out the 
duties of the Research Panel under this section when all 12 members 
have been appointed.
    ``(g) Retention.--In order to retain an appointment to the Research 
Panel, a member shall attend at least two-thirds of the scheduled 
meetings of the Research Panel in any given year.
    ``(h) Vacancy.--A vacancy on the Research Panel shall not affect 
the powers of the Research Panel, but shall be filled in the same 
manner as the original appointment.
    ``(i) Compensation.--Members of the Research Panel shall not 
receive compensation from the federal government for service on the 
Research Panel.
    ``(j) Conflict of Interest.--
            ``(1) In general.--A member of the Research Panel shall 
        disclose any and all conflicts of interest, including serving 
        on other public or private councils or panels, research 
        projects, or having a financial interest in any materials or 
        consultations relating to family literacy, child literacy, and 
        adult literacy.
            ``(2) Special rules.--
                    ``(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
                before an individual is appointed to the Research 
                Panel, the official responsible for issuing waivers 
                under section 208(b)(3) of title 18, United States 
                Code, shall submit to the Committee on Education and 
                Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
                on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate 
                a copy of the waiver required by that section. 
                Information contained in the waiver that would not 
                otherwise be publicly available under section 208(d)(1) 
                of title 18, United States Code, shall be provided to 
                such committees, but shall be noted as nonpublic 
                information.
                    ``(B) The Research Panel shall develop, consistent 
                with the provisions of and regulations promulgated 
                pursuant to section 208(b)(3) of title 18, United 
                States Code, and submit to the Committee on Education 
                and Labor of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
                the Senate procedures governing the participation of 
                members in any matter that affects the financial 
                interests of the members or of a person or entity whose 
                interests are imputed to the member.
    ``(k) Travel.--Each member of the Research Panel may be allowed 
appropriate and reasonable travel expenses, including per diem in lieu 
of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States 
Code, for each day the member is engaged in the performance of duties 
away from the home or regular place of business of the member.
    ``(l) Officers.--The members of the Research Panel shall select 
officers from among its members. The officers of the Research Panel 
shall serve for one-year terms.
    ``(m) Meetings.--Meetings of the Research Panel shall be open to 
the public, and shall be given appropriate notice in the Federal 
Register.
    ``(n) Dissemination.--The National Institute for Literacy shall 
disseminate, pursuant to section 1207, the results of research 
conducted under this section to those receiving funds for Even Start, 
the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, and other Federally funded 
programs carrying out family literacy activities.
    ``(o) Report to Congress.--Within 6 months after the completion of 
such research, a report on the research and dissemination to 
appropriate providers shall be submitted to the Secretary of Education 
to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
Senate.''.
    (l) Construction; Longitudinal Evaluation.--
            (1) Construction.--Section 1242 (20 U.S.C. 6381k) is 
        redesignated as section 1243.
            (2) Longitudinal evaluation.--Subpart 3 of part B of title 
        I is amended by inserting after section 1241 the following:

``SEC. 1242. LONGITUDINAL EVALUATION.

    ``(a) National William F. Goodling Even Start Evaluation.--From 
funds reserved under section 1232 (b)(1), the Secretary shall provide 
for a longitudinal evaluation of the Even Start program.
    ``(b) Expert Panel.--
            ``(1) Appointment.--The Secretary shall appoint an 
        independent panel consisting of experts in research on 
        delivering services in multiple types of program settings; 
        family literacy; parent involvement in children's education; 
        and adult and early childhood education, including experts in 
        second language acquisition for young children and adults, 
        adults' and young children`s language and literacy development, 
        and its relationship to children's development in cognitive, 
        social, and emotional and other domains; and experts in 
        professional development for individuals working with young 
        children and adults.
            ``(2) Duties.--The duties of the independent panel shall 
        be--
                    ``(A) to review, and make recommendations on, the 
                design and plan for the research (whether conducted as 
                a single assessment or as a series of assessments 
                described in subsection (c)(2)), within 6 months after 
                the date of the enactment of this section;
                    ``(B) to update and advise the Secretary regarding 
                the progress of the research; and
                    ``(C) to comment, if the panel so desires, on the 
                interim and final research reports submitted under 
                paragraphs (8) and (9) of subsection (c).
    ``(c) General Authority.--
            ``(1) Independent research.--After reviewing the 
        recommendations of the expert panel, the Secretary shall make a 
        grant to, or enter into a contract or cooperative agreement 
        with, an organization to conduct independent research that 
        provides a national analysis of the impact of Even Start 
        programs. The Secretary shall ensure that the organization 
        shall have expertise in family literacy program operation and 
        research, adult literacy education, family literacy, second 
        language acquisition for young children and adults, and early 
        childhood education.
            ``(2) Designs and techniques.--The Secretary shall ensure 
        that the independent research under paragraph (1) uses rigorous 
        methodological designs and techniques (based on the 
        recommendations of the expert panel) appropriate for 
        longitudinal studies, including experimental or quasi-
        experimental designs, selecting an appropriate sample of Even 
        Start programs and participants, and using nationally 
        recognized standardized measures, as appropriate. The Secretary 
        may provide that the research shall be conducted as a single 
        comprehensive assessment or as a group of coordinated 
        assessments designed to provide, when taken together, a 
        national analysis of the impact of Even Start programs. Such 
        design must include evaluation of how the Even Start programs 
        are being implemented in the range of eligible settings, 
        including the quantity of services for children and families, 
        different program approaches and community contexts for 
        delivery and impact of the services, how different 
        implementation settings impact services, the characteristics of 
        children and families, and the impact on parenting, parent-
        child relationships, parental involvement in schools, and 
        family literacy activities in the home.
            ``(3) Programs.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        research focuses on Even Start programs that operate in the 50 
        States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of 
        Columbia, or the Territories and that do not specifically 
        target or omit special populations.
            ``(4) Analysis.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        organization conducting the research--
                    ``(A) determines if, overall, the Even Start 
                programs have impacts consistent with their primary 
                goal of providing family-centered educational programs 
                to help break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy and 
                laying the foundation for strong parental involvement 
                in children's education;
                    ``(B) considers whether Even Start programs--
                            ``(i) provide family literacy services to 
                        adults and children not otherwise available or 
                        accessible to such children, or that supplement 
                        child development or adult education services 
                        provided by other programs;
                            ``(ii) strengthen families as the primary 
                        nurturers of their children;
                            ``(iii) strengthen parents' knowledge and 
                        skills that support parent-child relationships, 
                        parental involvement in schools, and family 
                        literacy activities in the home;
                            ``(iv) strengthen families as the primary 
                        teachers of their children and partners in 
                        their education;
                            ``(v) improve adults basic skill levels in 
                        reading, writing, speaking the English language 
                        and basic math; and
                            ``(vi) increase adults entry into 
                        employment and retention in employment;
                    ``(C) examines--
                            ``(i) the impact of Even Start programs on 
                        increasing access for adults and children to 
                        such services as educational, health, 
                        nutritional services, and linking families to 
                        needed community services;
                            ``(ii) how receipt of services described in 
                        section 1235 enriches the lives of children and 
                        families participating in Even Start programs; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) how differences in the type, 
                        length, mix and intensity of services affect 
                        the desired program goals;
                    ``(D) examines the impact of Even Start programs--
                            ``(i) on children at the end of 
                        kindergarten and at the end of first grade by 
                        examining a variety of factors, including 
                        educational achievement, referrals for special 
                        education or remedial course work, and 
                        absenteeism;
                            ``(ii) on adults by examining various 
                        factors including demonstrated improvements in 
                        English language acquisition; literacy skills 
                        levels in reading and writing, including in the 
                        home language, numeracy, problem solving, and 
                        other literacy skills; placement in, retention 
                        in, or completion of postsecondary education, 
                        training, unsubsidized employment or career 
                        advancement, receipt of a secondary school 
                        diploma or its recognized equivalent; and
                            ``(iii) on parents by examining various 
                        factors, including parent-school communication, 
                        monitoring the progress and reinforcing 
                        learning of their children in school, 
                        participating in school connected activities, 
                        and participating in interactive literacy 
                        activities with their child;
                    ``(E) makes use of random selection from all Even 
                Start programs for inclusion in the research; and
                    ``(F) includes comparisons of individuals who 
                participate in Even Start programs with comparison or 
                control groups composed of--
                            ``(i) individuals who participate in other 
                        early childhood programs;
                            ``(ii) individuals who do not participate 
                        in other early childhood programs;
                            ``(iii) individuals who participate in 
                        other adult education programs;
                            ``(iv) individuals who do not participate 
                        in other adult education programs; and
                            ``(v) individuals who do/not participate in 
                        language and literacy focused parent education 
                        programs.
            ``(5) Consideration of sources of variation.--In designing 
        the research, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, 
        consider addressing possible sources of variation in impact of 
        Even Start programs, including variations in impact related to 
        such factors such as--
                    ``(A) Even Start program operations, including 
                geographic location and population served disaggregated 
                by race and ethnicity;
                    ``(B) Even Start program quality, including state 
                assessment of Indicators of Program Quality;
                    ``(C) the quantity of services, including length of 
                time, a family attends an Even Start program;
                    ``(D) the age of the child on entering and leaving 
                the Even Start program;
                    ``(E) the primary language of the child and adults 
                participating in the Even Start program;
                    ``(F) parents and children of migratory families, 
                Indian tribes, or tribal organizations;
                    ``(G) the type of organization providing services 
                for the Even Start program, including programs 
                pertaining to Indian tribes and tribal organizations; 
                and
                    ``(H) the type of organization providing services 
                for the Even Start program, including programs 
                pertaining to Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
            ``(6) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `impact', 
        when used with respect to an Even Start program, means a 
        difference in an outcome for a participant in the program that 
        would not have occurred without the participation in the 
        program.
            ``(7) Special rule.--The use of assessment data on any 
        assessment authorized under this subpart by an agent or agents 
        of the Federal Government to provide rewards or sanctions for 
        individual parents, children, or teachers is prohibited. The 
        Secretary shall not use the results of adult or child 
        assessment outcomes as the sole or primary method for assessing 
        program effectiveness or making grantee funding determinations 
        at the national, state, or local level.
            ``(8) Submission of interim evaluation reports.--The 
        organization shall prepare and submit to the Secretary two 
        interim reports on the research. The first interim report shall 
        describe the design of the research, and the rationale for the 
        design, including a description of how potential sources of 
        variation in impact of Even Start programs have been considered 
        in designing the research. The second interim report shall 
        describe the status of the research and preliminary findings of 
        the research, as appropriate.
            ``(9) Submission of final evaluation report.--The 
        organization shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a final 
        report containing the findings of the research.
            ``(10) Transmittal of evaluation reports to congress.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall transmit, to 
                the Committees described in subparagraph (B)--
                            ``(i) the first interim report 18 months 
                        after the date of the enactment of this 
                        section;
                            ``(ii) the second interim report three 
                        years after the date of the enactment of this 
                        section; and
                            ``(iii) the final report five years after 
                        the date of the enactment of this section.
                    ``(B) Committees.--The Committees referred to in 
                subparagraph (A) are the Committee on Education and 
                Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
                on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
                Senate.''.
                                 <all>