[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10463-S10464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER (for herself and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 1548. A bill to establish a program to help States expand the 
existing education system to include a least 1 year of early education 
preceding the year a child enters kindergarten; to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


                    the early education act of 1999

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce today what I 
think is a very innovative proposal to move our education system into 
the 21st century.
  There has been a growing body of research suggesting that a child's 
early years are critical to the development of the brain, and that 
early brain development is an important component of educational and 
intellectual achievement. Yet, in every state in this country, school 
does not officially begin until a child is 5 to 6 years old. Many 
children are missing some critical years.
  I submit that as we enter the next century, if we are going to have 
the best educational system, we must start reaching children at an 
earlier age.
  Head Start does that. Private preschool does that. But Head Start is 
only for low-income children, and there are not enough slots for all 
those children eligible to participate. And private preschools are 
often so expensive that they are out of reach for many middle-class 
working families.
  We need to start thinking outside the box. One way to do that is to 
redefine what our educational system is. If education before 
kindergarten--before the age of 5--is so critical, maybe school should 
start a year earlier.
  The legislation that I am introducing today--the Early Education 
Act--would begin the process of expanding the existing public education 
system to include at least one year of early education preceding the 
year a child enters kindergarten. My bill would set up a 10-state 
demonstration program over the next 5 years for states that want to 
move in this direction. The Federal Government would provide seed money 
of up to 50 percent of the costs for participating states to expand 
elementary school to include at least one year of early education, with 
that program open to all students in a school district that 
participates within the state.
  A few states, most notably Georgia, are already implementing 
programs. Several other states, including my state of California, are 
planning to. In fact, I want to commend our state schools 
superintendent Delaine Eastin for all of her work in this area.
  But even those states that are committed to this idea are finding 
that resources can be a significant barrier. And so what I want to do 
is to help states out. Let's see if early education--in those states 
that are interested--really does make a difference.
  We know what the evidence so far shows. Compared to children with 
similar backgrounds who have not participated in early education 
programs, children who do participate in such programs perform better 
on reading and math tests, are more likely to make normal academic 
progress throughout elementary school, show greater learning retention 
and creativity, and are more enthusiastic about school.
  If these evaluations are accurate--and that is, in part, what my bill 
is intended to find out--early education has the potential to make 
significant improvements in the education of our children.
  I am pleased to be joined in this effort by Senator Bingaman. And I 
want to recognize Representative Anna Eshoo, who is introducing the 
House version of this bill. I encourage my colleagues to join us in 
working to adapt our educational system for the 21st century.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1548

       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 ``Early Education Act of 
     1999''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) In 1989 the Nation's governors established a goal that 
     all children would have access to high quality early 
     education programs by the year 2000.
       (2) Research suggests that a child's early years are 
     critical to the development of the brain. Early brain 
     development is an important component of educational and 
     intellectual achievement.
       (3) The National Research Council reported that early 
     education opportunities are necessary if children are going 
     to develop the language and literacy skills necessary to 
     learn to read.
       (4) Evaluations of early education programs demonstrate 
     that compared to children with similar backgrounds who have 
     not participated in early education programs, children who 
     participate in such programs--
       (A) perform better on reading and mathematics achievement 
     tests;
       (B) are more likely to stay academically near their grade 
     level and make normal academic progress throughout elementary 
     school;
       (C) are less likely to be held back a grade or require 
     special education services in elementary school;
       (D) show greater learning retention, initiative, 
     creativity, and social competency; and
       (E) are more enthusiastic about school and are more likely 
     to have good attendance records.
       (5) Studies have estimated that for every dollar invested 
     in quality early education, about 7 dollars are saved in 
     later costs.

     SEC. 3. EARLY EDUCATION.

       Title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 8001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

                       ``PART L--EARLY EDUCATION

     ``SEC. 10995. EARLY EDUCATION.

       ``(a) Definition of Early Education.--In this part the term 
     `early education' means not less than a half-day of schooling 
     each week day during the academic year preceding the academic 
     year a child enters kindergarten.
       ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish 
     a program to develop the foundation of early literacy and 
     numerical training among young children by helping State 
     educational agencies expand the existing education system to 
     include early education for all children.
       ``(c) Program Authorized.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award 
     grants to not less than 10 State educational agencies to 
     enable the State educational agencies to expand the existing 
     education system with programs that provide early education.
       ``(2) Matching requirement.--The amount provided to a State 
     educational agency under paragraph (1) shall not exceed 50 
     percent of the cost of the program described in the 
     application submitted pursuant to subsection (d).
       ``(3) Requirements.--Each program assisted under this 
     section--
       ``(A) shall be carried out by one or more local educational 
     agencies, as selected by the State educational agency;
       ``(B) shall be carried out--
       ``(i) in a public school building; or
       ``(ii) in another facility by, or through a contract or 
     agreement with, a local educational agency;
       ``(C) shall be available to all children served by a local 
     educational agency carrying out the program; and
       ``(D) shall only involve instructors who are licensed or 
     certified in accordance with applicable State law.

[[Page S10464]]

       ``(d) Application.--Each State educational agency desiring 
     a grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
     Secretary at such time, in such manner and accompanied by 
     such information as the Secretary may require. Each 
     application shall--
       ``(1) include a description of--
       ``(A) the program to be assisted under this section; and
       ``(B) how the program will meet the purpose of this 
     section; and
       ``(2) contain a statement of the total cost of the program 
     and the source of the matching funds for the program.
       ``(e) Secretarial Authority.--In order to carry out the 
     purpose of this section, the Secretary--
       ``(1) shall establish a system for the monitoring and 
     evaluation of, and shall annually report to Congress 
     regarding, the programs funded under this section; and
       ``(2) may establish any other policies, procedures, or 
     requirements, with respect to the programs.
       ``(f) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under 
     this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other 
     Federal, State, or local funds, including funds provided 
     under Federal programs such as Head Start and the Even Start 
     Family Literacy Program under part B of title I.
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
     $300,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2000 through 
     2004.''.
                                 ______