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:

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:

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:

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:

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 childrens language and literacy development, and its relationship to childrens 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.