[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 69 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5790-S5804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ENZI (for himself and Mr. Kennedy):
  S. 1107. A bill to reauthorize the Head Start Act, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Head Start 
Improvements for School Readiness Act with my colleague, Senator 
Kennedy.
  This legislation would reauthorize the Head Start program and make 
important improvements to the Head Start Act and help ensure that 
today's children receiving services by this important program will be 
better prepared for success in the future. Success in life depends a 
great deal on the preparation for that success, which comes early in 
life. It is well documented in early childhood education research that 
students who are not reading well by the third grade will struggle with 
reading most of their lives. That is why the Head Start program is so 
important. Head Start provides early education for thousands of 
children each year, most of whom would not have the opportunity to 
attend preschool programs elsewhere.
  The Head Start program is important generally, but there is some room 
for improvement. Earlier this year the Senate Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor and Pensions held a hearing on the administration of 
the Head Start program, and found that a number of changes might help 
improve the performance of the program overall.
  The first change required by this program would be providing for all 
Head Start grantees found to have a deficiency to recompete the next 
time the program's grant is up for renewal. The bill would also require 
grantees to recompete if they have not resolved issues of noncompliance 
within 120 days, or a longer time specified by the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services. This will create an important incentive for 
programs to operate at their best, which is in the best interest of our 
children.
  The bill would also shorten the timeline for programs to be 
terminated. In some instances, Head Start grantees have been found to 
be operating programs that are unsafe, or improperly using Federal 
funds. In these cases, the Administration has acted to terminate these 
programs. Unfortunately, under the law, Head Start grantees have been 
able to appeal these rulings. This process can be lengthy, some 
examples exceed 600 days, or almost two years, before a final ruling is 
made. In order to address this issue, and put the health and education 
of children first, the legislation we introduce today would limit the 
time available for Head Start grantees to appeal decisions made by the 
Secretary to terminate grants.
  A third improvement is to clarify the role of the governing body and 
policy councils in individual Head Start programs. After careful 
review, the Committee found that many of the important fiscal and legal 
responsibilities of Head Start grantees were not explicitly assigned to 
either the policy council or the governing body, or in many instances, 
were assigned equally to both. In order to clarify the shared 
governance model, the bill we introduce today would clarify the 
responsibilities of the governing body and the policy council for each 
Head Start grantee. We believe this will lead to more consistent, high 
quality fiscal and legal management, which will ensure these programs 
are serving children in the best way they can.
  I wish to thank my colleagues on the Committee, particularly Senator 
Kennedy, for their help in drafting this bipartisan legislation to 
reauthorize the Head Start Act. I believe the legislation we are 
introducing today will improve the quality and effectiveness of the 
Head Start program for generations of children to come.

[[Page S5791]]

  I ask unanimous consent that a copy 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. 1107

       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 ``Head Start Improvements for 
     School Readiness Act''.

     SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

       Section 636 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831) is 
     amended by inserting ``educational instruction in prereading 
     skills, premathematics skills, and language and through'' 
     after ``low-income children through''.

     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)'' 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 `homeless child' means a child described in 
     section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2)).
       ``(19) 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, 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 a United States territory; 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 difficulty 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.
       ``(20) The term `deficiency' means--
       ``(A) a systemic or substantial 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)(iii)(I); or
       ``(E) having an unresolved area of noncompliance.
       ``(21) 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 
     $7,215,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $7,515,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2007, $7,815,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and 
     such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2009 
     and 2010.
       ``(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 2006, and such sums as may 
     be necessary for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2010, of 
     which not more than $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 
     through 2010 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--
       ``(i) subject to the availability of appropriations, 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 subparagraph as `covered 
     programs'), on a nationwide basis, a sum that is the total of 
     not less than 4 percent of the amount appropriated under 
     section 639 for that fiscal year (for Indian Head Start 
     programs), and not less than 5 percent of that appropriated 
     amount (for migrant and seasonal Head Start programs), except 
     that--
       ``(I) if reserving the specified percentages for Indian 
     Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head Start 
     programs 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 Improvements 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;
       ``(ii) after ensuring that each grant recipient for a 
     covered program has received an amount sufficient to enable 
     the grant recipient to serve the same number of children in 
     Head Start programs as were served by such grant recipient on 
     the date of enactment of the Head Start Improvements for 
     School Readiness Act, taking into consideration an 
     appropriate adjustment for inflation, and after allotting the 
     funds reserved under paragraph (3)(A) as specified in 
     paragraph (3)(D), the Secretary shall distribute the 
     remaining funds available under this subparagraph for covered 
     programs, by--
       ``(I) distributing 65 percent of the remainder by giving 
     priority to grant recipients in the States serving the 
     smallest percentages of eligible children (as determined by 
     the Secretary); and
       ``(II) distributing 35 percent of the remainder on a 
     competitive basis;'';
       (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 section 648, in an amount for each 
     fiscal year that is equal to 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, colleges and 
     universities, 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 program 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 and 
     families who are limited English proficient 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 other 
     educational skills described in section 641A;
       ``(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 
     learning 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;

[[Page S5792]]

       ``(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, and 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 deemed appropriate to the 
     improvement of Head Start agencies' programs, as determined 
     by 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 
     to support a regional or State system of early childhood 
     education training and technical assistance, and to assist 
     local programs (including Indian Head Start programs and 
     migrant and seasonal Head Start programs) in meeting the 
     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: ``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 ``2002, 
     and''; and
       (ii) by inserting before the semicolon the following: ``, 
     30 percent of such excess amount for fiscal year 2006, and 40 
     percent of such excess amount for each of fiscal years 2007 
     through 2010'';
       (B) in subparagraph (B)--
       (i) in clause (i), by striking ``performance standards'' 
     and all that follows and inserting ``standards and measures 
     pursuant to section 641A.'';
       (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 skills, premathematics skills, and prereading 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 additional skills 
     identified in section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii); and
       ``(III) encourage the staff to continually improve their 
     skills and expertise by informing the staff of the 
     availability of Federal and State incentive and loan 
     forgiveness programs for professional development.'';
       (v) in clause (v), 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 including scholarships or other financial 
     incentives, such as differential and merit pay, to enable 
     Head Start teachers to improve competencies and the resulting 
     child outcomes.
       ``(viii) Promoting the regular attendance and stability of 
     all Head Start children with particular attention to highly 
     mobile children, including children from migrant and seasonal 
     farmworking families (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 inserting ``additional 
     educational'';
       (II) in subclause (I), by inserting ``, prereading,'' after 
     ``language'';
       (III) by striking subclause (II) and inserting the 
     following:

       ``(II) to help limited English proficient children attain 
     the knowledge, skills, and development specified in section 
     641A(a)(1)(B)(ii) and to promote the acquisition of the 
     English language by such children and 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 (ix); 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 eligible 
     homeless children.
       ``(vii) To conduct outreach to migrant and seasonal 
     farmworking 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 coaches 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 and for other 
     educational personnel who serve limited English proficient 
     students.'';
       (3) in paragraph (4)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``1998'' and inserting 
     ``2005''; 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 Improvements 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) and after allotting the funds 
     reserved under paragraph (3)(A) as specified in paragraph 
     (3)(D), the Secretary shall distribute the remaining balance, 
     by--
       ``(I) distributing 65 percent of the balance by giving 
     priority to States serving the smallest percentages of 
     eligible children (as determined by the Secretary); and
       ``(II) distributing 35 percent of the balance on a 
     competitive basis.'';
       (4) in paragraph (5)--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
     subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
       (B) 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 to facilitate 
     collaboration between Head Start agencies and entities 
     (including the State) that carry out other activities 
     designed to benefit low-income families and children from 
     birth to school entry.
       ``(ii) Grants described in clause (i) shall be used to--
       ``(I) encourage 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) encourage 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 resources 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 State 
     early learning and school readiness goals and standards, 
     including the Head Start child outcome framework;
       ``(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; 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 education services to children in the State, a State 
     that receives a grant under subparagraph (B) shall--

[[Page S5793]]

       ``(i) appoint an individual to serve as 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.
       ``(D) The State Director of Head Start Collaboration, after 
     consultation with the State Advisory Council described in 
     subparagraph (E), shall--
       ``(i) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
     the Head Start Improvements for School Readiness Act, conduct 
     an assessment that--
       ``(I) addresses the needs of Head Start agencies in the 
     State with respect to collaborating, coordinating services, 
     and implementing State early learning and school readiness 
     goals and standards to better serve children enrolled in Head 
     Start programs in the State;
       ``(II) shall be updated on an annual basis; and
       ``(III) shall be made available to the general public 
     within the State;
       ``(ii) assess the availability of high quality 
     prekindergarten services for low-income children in the 
     State;
       ``(iii) 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 
     programs and services (such as child care and 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 programs and services 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 
     State early learning and school readiness goals and standards 
     and to facilitate collaborative efforts to develop local 
     school readiness standards; and
       ``(IV) enable agencies in the State to better coordinate 
     professional development opportunities for Head Start staff, 
     such as by--
       ``(aa) assisting 2- and 4-year public and private 
     institutions of higher education to develop articulation 
     agreements;
       ``(bb) awarding grants to institutions of higher education 
     to develop model early childhood education programs, 
     including practica or internships for students to spend time 
     in a Head Start or prekindergarten program;
       ``(cc) 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
       ``(dd) enabling the State Head Start agencies to better 
     coordinate outreach to eligible families;
       ``(iv) promote partnerships between Head Start agencies, 
     State governments, and the private sector to help ensure that 
     preschool children from low-income families are receiving 
     comprehensive services to prepare the children to enter 
     school ready to learn;
       ``(v) consult with the chief State school officer, local 
     educational agencies, and providers of early childhood 
     education and care to conduct unified planning regarding 
     early care and education services at both the State and local 
     levels, including undertaking collaborative efforts to 
     develop and make improvements in school readiness standards;
       ``(vi) promote partnerships (such as the partnerships 
     involved with the Free to Grow initiative) between Head Start 
     agencies, schools, law enforcement, 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;
       ``(vii) 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
       ``(viii) 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 designate or 
     establish a council to serve as the State advisory council on 
     collaboration on early care and education activities for 
     children from birth to school entry (in this subchapter 
     referred to as the `State Advisory Council').
       ``(ii) The Governor may designate an existing entity to 
     serve as the State Advisory Council, if the entity includes 
     representatives described in subclauses (I) through (XXIV) of 
     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 appropriate regional office 
     of the Administration for Children and Families;
       ``(III) a representative of the State educational agency 
     and local educational agencies;
       ``(IV) a representative of institutions of higher 
     education;
       ``(V) a representative (or representatives) of the State 
     agency (or agencies) responsible for health or mental health 
     care;
       ``(VI) a representative of the State agency responsible for 
     teacher professional standards, certification, and licensing, 
     including prekindergarten teacher professional standards, 
     certification standards, certification, and licensing, where 
     applicable;
       ``(VII) a representative of the State agency responsible 
     for child care;
       ``(VIII) early childhood education professionals, including 
     professionals with expertise in second language acquisition 
     and instructional strategies in teaching limited English 
     proficient children;
       ``(IX) kindergarten teachers and teachers in grades 1 
     through 3;
       ``(X) health care professionals;
       ``(XI) child development specialists, including specialists 
     in prenatal, infant, and toddler development;
       ``(XII) a representative of the State agency responsible 
     for assisting children with developmental disabilities;
       ``(XIII) a representative of the State agency responsible 
     for programs under part C of the Individuals with 
     Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.);
       ``(XIV) a representative of the State interagency 
     coordinating councils established under section 641 of the 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1441);
       ``(XV) a representative of the State Head Start Association 
     (where appropriate), and other representatives of Head Start 
     programs in the State;
       ``(XVI) a representative of the State network of child care 
     resource and referral agencies;
       ``(XVII) a representative of community-based organizations;
       ``(XVIII) a representative of State and local providers of 
     early childhood education and child care;
       ``(XIX) a representative of migrant and seasonal Head Start 
     programs and Indian Head Start programs (where appropriate);
       ``(XX) parents;
       ``(XXI) religious and business leaders;
       ``(XXII) the head of the State library administrative 
     agency;
       ``(XXIII) representatives of State and local organizations 
     and other entities providing professional development to 
     early care and education providers; and
       ``(XXIV) a representative of other entities determined to 
     be relevant by the chief executive officer of the State.
       ``(iv)(I) The State Advisory Council shall be responsible 
     for, in addition to responsibilities assigned to the council 
     by the chief executive officer of the State--
       ``(aa) conducting a periodic statewide needs assessment 
     concerning early care and education programs for children 
     from birth to school entry;
       ``(bb) identifying barriers to, and opportunities for, 
     collaboration and coordination between entities carrying out 
     Federal and State child development, child care, and early 
     childhood education programs;
       ``(cc) developing recommendations regarding means of 
     establishing a unified data collection system for early care 
     and education programs throughout the State;
       ``(dd) developing a statewide professional development and 
     career ladder plan for early care and education in the State; 
     and
       ``(ee) reviewing and approving the strategic plan, 
     regarding collaborating and coordinating services to better 
     serve children enrolled in Head Start programs, developed by 
     the State Director of Head Start Collaboration under 
     subparagraph (D)(iii).
       ``(II) The State Advisory Council shall hold public 
     hearings and provide an opportunity for public comment on the 
     needs assessment and recommendations described in subclause 
     (I). The State Advisory Council shall submit a statewide 
     strategic report containing the needs assessment and 
     recommendations described in subclause (I) to the State 
     Director of Head Start Collaboration and the chief executive 
     officer 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.''; and
       (5) in paragraph (6)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``7.5 percent'' and 
     all that follows and inserting ``11 percent for fiscal year 
     2006, 13 percent for fiscal year 2007, 15 percent for fiscal 
     year 2008, 17 percent for fiscal year 2009, and 18 percent 
     for fiscal year 2010, of the amount appropriated pursuant to 
     section 639(a).'';
       (B) by striking subparagraph (B);

[[Page S5794]]

       (C) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``required to be''; 
     and
       (D) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B).
       (b) Service Delivery Models.--Section 640(f) of the Head 
     Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(f)) is amended by striking 
     ``needs.'' and inserting ``needs, including--
       ``(1) models that leverage the capacity and capabilities of 
     the delivery system of early childhood education and child 
     care; and
       ``(2) procedures to provide for the conversion of part-day 
     programs to full-day programs or part-day slots to full-day 
     slots.''.
       (c) 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), by striking ``other local'' and 
     inserting ``the State and local'';
       (3) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``would like to 
     participate but'' after ``community who'';
       (4) in subparagraph (G), by inserting ``leverage the 
     existing delivery systems of such services 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''.
       (d) Regulations.--Section 640(i) of the Head Start Act (42 
     U.S.C. 9835(i)) is amended by inserting ``and requirements to 
     ensure the appropriate supervision and background checks of 
     individuals with whom the agencies contract to transport 
     those children'' before the period.
       (e) Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs.--Section 
     640(l) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(l)) is amended 
     by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
       ``(3) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall 
     continue the administrative arrangement at the national or 
     regional level for meeting the needs of Indian children and 
     children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers and shall ensure 
     that appropriate funding is provided to meet such needs, 
     including training and technical assistance and the 
     appointment of a national migrant and seasonal Head Start 
     collaboration director and a national Indian Head Start 
     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 
     and 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 subsections (a), (b), and 
     (c) of section 641, 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.''.
       (f) 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 appropriate 
     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 (consistent with State 
     law); 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 education for children in the State, to require any 
     child to participate in a program of early education in order 
     to attend preschool, or to participate in any initial 
     screening prior to participation in such program, 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 614(a)(1)(C) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
     1414(a)(1)(C)).
       ``(o) Materials.--All curricula funded under this 
     subchapter shall be scientifically based and age appropriate. 
     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 be capable of planning, conducting, 
     administering, and evaluating, 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 establish program goals for improving the 
     school readiness of children participating in a program under 
     this subchapter, including goals for meeting the performance 
     standards and additional educational standards described in 
     section 641A and shall establish results-based school 
     readiness goals that are aligned with State early learning 
     standards, if applicable, and requirements and expectations 
     for local public schools.
       ``(3) 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 Improvements 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).
       ``(4) Governing body.--
       ``(A) In general.--
       ``(i) Ensuring high quality programs.--In order to be 
     designated as a Head Start agency, an entity described in 
     paragraph (1) shall have a governing body--

       ``(I) with legal and fiscal responsibility for 
     administering and overseeing programs under this subchapter; 
     and
       ``(II) that fully participates in the development, 
     planning, implementation, and evaluation of the programs to 
     ensure the operation of programs of high quality.

       ``(ii) Ensuring compliance with laws.--The governing body 
     shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with Federal 
     laws and regulations, including the performance standards 
     described in section 641A, as well as applicable State, 
     Tribal, and local laws and regulations, including laws 
     defining the nature and operations of the governing body.
       ``(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 development.
       ``(III) Not less than 1 member of the governing body shall 
     live in the local community to be served by the entity.

       ``(ii) Conflict of interest.--Members of the governing body 
     shall--

       ``(I) not have a conflict of interest with the Head Start 
     agency or delegate agencies; and
       ``(II) not receive compensation for service to the Head 
     Start agency.

       ``(C) Responsibilities.--
       ``(i) In general.--The governing body shall be responsible, 
     in consultation with the policy council or the policy 
     committee of the Head Start agency, for--

       ``(I) the selection of delegate agencies and such agencies' 
     service areas;
       ``(II) establishing criteria for defining recruitment, 
     selection, and enrollment priorities;
       ``(III) all funding applications and amendments to funding 
     applications for programs under this subchapter;
       ``(IV) the annual self-assessment of the Head Start agency 
     or delegate agency's progress in carrying out the 
     programmatic and fiscal intent of such agency's grant 
     application, including planning or other actions that may 
     result from the review of the annual audit, self-assessment, 
     and findings from the Federal monitoring review;
       ``(V) the composition of the policy council or the policy 
     committee of the Head Start agency and the procedures by 
     which group members are chosen;
       ``(VI) audits, accounting, and reporting;
       ``(VII) personnel policies and procedures including 
     decisions with regard to salary scales (and changes made to 
     the scale), salaries of the Executive Director, Head Start 
     Director, the Director of Human Resources, and the Chief 
     Fiscal Officer, and decisions to hire and terminate program 
     staff; and
       ``(VIII) the community assessment, including any updates to 
     such assessment.

       ``(ii) Conduct of responsibilities.--The governing body 
     shall develop an internal control structure to facilitate 
     these 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

[[Page S5795]]

       ``(IV) receive audit reports and direct and monitor staff 
     implementation of corrective actions.

       ``(D) Receipt of information.--To facilitate oversight and 
     Head Start agency accountability, the governing body shall 
     receive regular and accurate information about program 
     planning, policies, and Head Start agency operations, 
     including--
       ``(i) 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);
       ``(ii) monthly program information summaries;
       ``(iii) program enrollment reports, including attendance 
     reports for children whose care is partially subsidized by 
     another public agency;
       ``(iv) monthly report of meals and snacks through programs 
     of the Department of Agriculture;
       ``(v) the annual financial audit;
       ``(vi) the annual self-assessment, including any findings 
     related to the annual self-assessment;
       ``(vii) the community assessment of the Head Start agency's 
     service area and any applicable updates; and
       ``(viii) the program information reports.
       ``(E) Training and technical assistance.--Appropriate 
     training and technical assistance shall be provided to the 
     members of the governing body 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) Priority in Designation.--In administering the 
     provisions of this section, the Secretary shall, in 
     consultation with the chief executive officer of the State 
     involved, give priority in the designation (including 
     redesignation) of Head Start agencies to any high-performing 
     Head Start agency or delegate agency that--
       ``(1) is receiving assistance under this subchapter;
       ``(2) meets or exceeds program and financial management 
     requirements or standards described in section 641A(a)(1);
       ``(3) has no unresolved deficiencies and has not had 
     findings of deficiencies during the last triennial review 
     under section 641A(c); and
       ``(4) 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).
       ``(d) Designation When Entity Has Priority.--If no entity 
     in a community is entitled to the priority specified in 
     subsection (c), the Secretary shall, after conducting an open 
     competition, designate a Head Start agency from among 
     qualified applicants in such community.
       ``(e) Rule of Construction.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, under no condition may a non-Indian Head 
     Start agency receive a grant to carry out an Indian Head 
     Start program.
       ``(f) 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) programs under section 619 and part C of the 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 
     1431 et seq.);
       ``(C) State prekindergarten programs;
       ``(D) child care programs;
       ``(E) the educational programs that the children in the 
     Head Start program involved will enter at the age of 
     compulsory school attendance; and
       ``(F) 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 seek 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), 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 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;
       ``(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 carrying out early childhood education and child 
     care programs 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.
       ``(g) 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.
       ``(h) 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

[[Page S5796]]

     qualified applicants for designation as Head Start agencies.
       ``(i) 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 services to children and 
     their families.''.

     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, including--

       ``(aa) understanding and use of a diverse vocabulary 
     (including knowing the names of colors) and knowledge of how 
     to use oral language to communicate for various purposes;
       ``(bb) narrative abilities used, for example, to 
     comprehend, tell, and respond to a story, or to comprehend 
     instructions;
       ``(cc) ability to detect and produce sounds of the language 
     the child speaks or is learning; and
       ``(dd) clarity of pronunciation and speaking in 
     syntactically and grammatically correct sentences;

       ``(II) prereading knowledge and skills, including--

       ``(aa) alphabet knowledge including knowing the letter 
     names and associating letters with their shapes and sounds in 
     the language the child speaks or is learning;
       ``(bb) phonological awareness and processes that support 
     reading, for example, rhyming, recognizing speech sounds and 
     separate syllables in spoken words, and putting speech sounds 
     together to make words;
       ``(cc) knowledge, interest in, and appreciation of books, 
     reading, and writing (either alone or with others), and 
     knowledge that books have parts such as the front, back, and 
     title page;
       ``(dd) early writing, including the ability to write one's 
     own name and other words and phrases; and
       ``(ee) print awareness and concepts, including recognizing 
     different forms of print and understanding the association 
     between spoken and written words;

       ``(III) premathematics knowledge and skills, including--

       ``(aa) number recognition;
       ``(bb) use of early number concepts and operations, 
     including counting, simple adding and subtracting, and 
     knowledge of quantitative relationships, such as part versus 
     whole and comparison of numbers of objects;
       ``(cc) use of early space and location concepts, including 
     recognizing shapes, classification, striation, and 
     understanding directionality; and
       ``(dd) early pattern skills and measurement, including 
     recognizing and extending simple patterns and measuring 
     length, weight, and time;

       ``(IV) scientific abilities, including--

       ``(aa) building awareness about scientific skills and 
     methods, such as gathering, describing, and recording 
     information, making observations, and making explanations and 
     predictions; and
       ``(bb) expanding scientific knowledge of the environment, 
     time, temperature, and cause-and-effect relationships;

       ``(V) general cognitive abilities related to academic 
     achievement and child development, including--

       ``(aa) reasoning, planning, and problem-solving skills;
       ``(bb) ability to engage, sustain attention, and persist on 
     challenging tasks;
       ``(cc) intellectual curiosity, initiative, and task 
     engagement; and
       ``(dd) motivation to achieve and master concepts and 
     skills;

       ``(VI) social and emotional development related to early 
     learning and school success, including developing--

       ``(aa) the ability to develop social relationships, 
     demonstrate cooperative behaviors, and relate to teachers and 
     peers in positive and respectful ways;
       ``(bb) an understanding of the consequences of actions, 
     following rules, and appropriately expressing feelings;
       ``(cc) a sense of self, such as self-awareness, 
     independence, and confidence;
       ``(dd) the ability to control negative behaviors with 
     teachers and peers that include impulsiveness, aggression, 
     and noncompliance; and
       ``(ee) knowledge of civic society and surrounding 
     communities;

       ``(VII) physical development, including developing--

       ``(aa) fine motor skills, such as strength, manual 
     dexterity, and hand-eye coordination; and
       ``(bb) gross motor skills, such as balance and coordinated 
     movements; and

       ``(VIII) in the case of limited English proficient 
     children, progress toward acquisition of the English language 
     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 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.'';
       (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 Improvements 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 Improvements for School Readiness Act'';
       (III) in clause (vi), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     semicolon;
       (IV) in clause (vii), by striking ``public schools'' and 
     inserting ``the schools that the children will be 
     attending''; and
       (V) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(viii) the unique challenges faced by individual 
     programs, including those programs that are seasonal or short 
     term and those programs that serve rural populations; and'';
       (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 Improvements for School Readiness Act''; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) consult with Indian tribes, American Indian and 
     Alaska Native experts in early childhood development, 
     linguists, and the National Indian Head Start Directors 
     Association on the review and promulgation of program 
     standards and measures (including standards and measures 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 
     may--
       ``(i) initiate procedures to terminate the designation of 
     the agency unless the agency corrects the deficiency;
       ``(ii) conduct 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) release funds to such delegate agency only as 
     reimbursements until all deficiencies are corrected or the 
     Head Start agency decides to defund such delegate agency.
       ``(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 or 
     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

[[Page S5797]]

       ``(F) be reviewed not less than every 4 years, based on 
     advances in the science of early childhood development.

     The performance measures 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) and inserting the following:
       ``(4) Results-based outcome measures.--Results-based 
     outcome measures shall be designed for the purpose of 
     promoting the knowledge, skills, abilities, and development, 
     described in subsection (a)(1)(B)(ii), of children 
     participating in Head Start programs that are strongly 
     predictive (as determined on a scientific basis) of a child's 
     school readiness and later performance in school.''; and
       (D) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
       ``(5) Additional local results-based educational measures 
     and goals.--Head Start agencies may establish and implement 
     additional local results-based educational measures and 
     goals.'';
       (3) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
     ``and Head Start centers'' after ``Head Start programs'';
       (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``such agency'' and 
     inserting ``Head Start center'';
       (iii) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(C) Unannounced site inspections of Head Start centers 
     for health and safety reasons, as appropriate.'';
       (iv) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); 
     and
       (v) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
       ``(D) Notwithstanding subparagraph (C), followup reviews, 
     including--
       ``(i) prompt return visits to agencies, programs, and 
     centers that fail to meet 1 or more of the performance 
     measures developed by the Secretary under subsection (b); and
       ``(ii) a review of programs with citations that include 
     findings of deficiencies not later than 6 months after the 
     date of such citation.''; and
       (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
       ``(2) Conduct of reviews.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
     reviews described in paragraph (1)--
       ``(A) that incorporate a monitoring visit, may incorporate 
     the visit without prior notice of the visit to the agency 
     involved or with such limited prior notice as is necessary to 
     ensure the participation of parents and key staff members;
       ``(B) are conducted by review teams that shall include 
     individuals who are knowledgeable about Head Start and other 
     early childhood education programs 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;
       ``(C) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a 
     review and assessment of program effectiveness, as measured 
     in accordance with the results-based performance measures 
     developed by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b) and 
     with the standards established pursuant to subparagraphs (A) 
     and (B) of subsection (a)(1);
       ``(D) 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 carrying out early childhood education and child 
     care programs in the community;
       ``(E) 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;
       ``(F) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a 
     review and assessment of whether programs have adequately 
     addressed the population and community needs (including needs 
     of populations of limited English proficient children and 
     children of migrant and seasonal farmworking families); and
       ``(G) 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 State, local, and agency-determined school 
     readiness goals.'';
       (4) in subsection (d)(1)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
     ``or fails to address the community needs and strategic plan 
     identified in section 640(g)(2)(C),'' after ``subsection 
     (b),''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and identify the 
     technical 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 all parents with children receiving 
     assistance under this subchapter in an understandable and 
     uniform format, and to the extent practicable, provided 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 groups and, as appropriate, other community members, 
     each agency receiving funds under this subchapter shall 
     conduct a self-assessment of the effectiveness and progress 
     in meeting programs goals and objectives and in implementing 
     and complying with Head Start program performance standards.
       ``(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 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.
       ``(3) Ongoing monitoring.--Each Head Start agency, Early 
     Head Start agency, and delegate agency shall establish and 
     implement procedures for the ongoing monitoring of their Head 
     Start and 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)(13), 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 and 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 agreement.
       ``(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 community 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 Head Start funds 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 local catchment area; 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.

[[Page S5798]]

       ``(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 full 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 (2)(B).
       ``(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 migrant or seasonal 
     farmworker, homeless, foster, 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 and seasonal Head 
     Start program, whose base grant is derived from amounts 
     specified in paragraph (1)(C)(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)(C), 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), 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.''.

     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 and 
     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 standards 
     and performance measures described in subsections (a) and (b) 
     of section 641A, as evidenced by successful completion of 
     programmatic and monitoring reviews, and has no findings of 
     deficiencies with respect to the standards and measures;
       ``(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 early care and education 
     providers in the local community involved;
       ``(v) a nomination letter from the Governor, or appropriate 
     regional office, demonstrating the agency's ability to carry 
     out 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 services 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 care and 
     education, will coordinate the early care and education 
     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 part C of the Individuals 
     with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.);
       ``(V) State prekindergarten programs; and
       ``(VI) other early care and education programs.

       ``(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 and seasonal Head Start program, and the Commonwealth 
     of Puerto Rico.
       ``(3) 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).
       ``(4) 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) may use the funds made 
     available through the bonus grant--
       ``(A) to provide Head Start services to additional eligible 
     children;
       ``(B) 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;

[[Page S5799]]

       ``(C) to model and disseminate best practices for achieving 
     early academic success, including achieving school readiness 
     and developing prereading and premathematics skills for at-
     risk children and achieving the acquisition of the English 
     language for limited English proficient children, and to 
     provide seamless service delivery for eligible children and 
     their families;
       ``(D) to further coordinate early childhood and social 
     services available in the community served by the center for 
     at-risk children (birth through age 8), their families, and 
     pregnant women;
       ``(E) 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 services, and training and cross training 
     to develop agency leaders;
       ``(F) 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 
     services, to help the providers described in this 
     subparagraph increase their ability to work with low-income, 
     at-risk children and their families;
       ``(G) 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 
     coaches to preschool children in Head Start programs; and
       ``(H) 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, 
     several additional Head Start agencies, and other providers 
     of early childhood services in the community involved, to 
     encourage the agencies and providers described in this 
     sentence 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, make a 
     grant 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 
     services 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 Improvements 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 fiscal year 2006 and each 
     subsequent fiscal year--
       ``(1) $90,000,000 to make bonus grants to centers of 
     excellence under subsection (b) to carry out activities 
     described in subsection (d);
       ``(2) $2,500,000 to pay for the administrative costs of the 
     Secretary in carrying out this section, including the cost of 
     a conference of centers of excellence; 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 to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 642. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

       ``(a) In General.--In order to be designated as a Head 
     Start agency under this subchapter, an agency shall have 
     authority under its charter or applicable law to receive and 
     administer funds provided under this subchapter, funds and 
     contributions from private or local public sources that may 
     be used in support of a Head Start program, and funds 
     provided under any Federal or State assistance program 
     pursuant to which a public or private nonprofit or for-profit 
     agency (as the case may be) organized in accordance with this 
     subchapter, could act as a grantee, contractor, or sponsor of 
     projects appropriate for inclusion in a Head Start program. 
     Such an agency shall also be empowered to transfer funds so 
     received, and to delegate powers to other agencies, subject 
     to the powers of its governing board and its overall program 
     responsibilities. The power to transfer funds and delegate 
     powers shall include the power to make transfers and 
     delegations covering component projects in all cases in which 
     that power will contribute to efficiency and effectiveness or 
     otherwise further program objectives.
       ``(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) seek the involvement of parents, area residents, and 
     local business in the design and implementation of the 
     program;
       ``(5) provide for the regular participation of parents and 
     area residents in the implementation of the program;
       ``(6) 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;
       ``(7) establish effective procedures to facilitate the 
     involvement of parents of participating children in 
     activities designed to help such parents become full partners 
     in the education of their children, and to afford such 
     parents the opportunity to participate in the development and 
     overall conduct of the program at the local level;
       ``(8) 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;
       ``(9) 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.)), to 
     parents of participating children, family literacy services, 
     and parenting skills training;
       ``(10) offer to parents of participating children substance 
     abuse and other 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;
       ``(11) at the option of such agency, offer (directly or 
     through referral to local entities), to such parents--
       ``(A) training in basic child development (including 
     cognitive development);
       ``(B) assistance in developing literacy and communication 
     skills;
       ``(C) opportunities to share experiences with other parents 
     (including parent mentor relationships);
       ``(D) regular in-home visitation; or
       ``(E) any other activity designed to help such parents 
     become full partners in the education of their children;
       ``(12) 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 this subsection in 
     which such parents may choose to be involved (taking into 
     consideration their specific family needs, work schedules, 
     and other responsibilities);
       ``(13) consider providing services to assist younger 
     siblings of children participating in its Head Start program, 
     to obtain health services from other sources;
       ``(14) perform community outreach to encourage individuals 
     previously unaffiliated with Head Start programs to 
     participate in its Head Start program as volunteers;
       ``(15)(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;
       ``(16) 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
       ``(17) 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 coaches to Head Start participants.
       ``(c) Progress.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each Head Start agency shall take steps 
     to ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that children 
     maintain the developmental and educational gains achieved in 
     Head Start programs and build upon such gains 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--

[[Page S5800]]

       ``(i) share information about such children;
       ``(ii) get advice and support from 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 carrying 
     out early childhood education and development programs, 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. 620 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;
       ``(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 upon transition to school, 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--

       ``(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.--Each Head Start agency shall adopt, in 
     consultation with experts in child development and with 
     classroom teachers, an assessment to be used when hiring or 
     evaluating any classroom teacher in a center-based Head Start 
     program. Such assessment shall measure whether such teacher 
     has mastered the functions described in section 648A(a)(1) 
     and 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 community 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.

       ``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, including--
       ``(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 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 facilitate 
     coordination of programs;
       ``(3) developing continuity of developmentally appropriate 
     curricula and practice between the Head Start agency and 
     local educational agency to ensure an effective transition 
     and appropriate shared expectations for children's learning 
     and development as the children make the transition to 
     school;
       ``(4) conducting meetings involving parents, kindergarten 
     or elementary school 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 limited English proficient parents;
       ``(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) linking the services provided in such Head Start 
     program with the education services, including services 
     relating to language, literacy, and numeracy, provided by 
     such local educational agency;
       ``(9) 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;
       ``(10) developing and implementing a system to increase 
     program participation of underserved populations of eligible 
     children, including children with disabilities, homeless 
     children, children in foster care, and limited English 
     proficient children; and
       ``(11) coordinating activities and collaborating to ensure 
     that curricula used in the Head Start program is aligned with 
     State early learning standards with regard to cognitive, 
     social, emotional, and physical competencies that children 
     entering kindergarten are expected to demonstrate.''.

     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 inserting ``for approval'' after ``submitted to the 
     chief executive officer of the State''; and
       (B) by striking ``45'' and inserting ``30''; and
       (2) in the last sentence, by inserting ``to Indian and 
     migrant and seasonal Head Start programs in existence on the 
     date of enactment of the Head Start Improvements for School 
     Readiness Act, or'' after ``other assistance''.

     SEC. 13. PARTICIPATION IN HEAD START PROGRAMS.

       Section 645(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840(a)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``130 percent of'' 
     after ``below''; and
       (2) 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 if 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 community 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.''.

     SEC. 14. 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 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), (7), (10), (11), and (12), 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 physical, social, emotional, and intellectual 
     development;'';
       (D) in paragraph (6), as redesignated by subparagraph (B)--

[[Page S5801]]

       (i) by inserting ``(including home-based services)'' after 
     ``with services''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``, and family support services'' after 
     ``health services'';
       (E) by inserting after paragraph (7), as redesignated by 
     subparagraph (B), the following:
       ``(8) develop and implement a systematic procedure for 
     transitioning children and parents from an Early Head Start 
     program into a Head Start program or another local early 
     childhood education program;
       ``(9) establish channels of communication between staff of 
     Early Head Start programs and staff of Head Start programs or 
     other local early childhood education programs, to facilitate 
     the coordination of programs;''; and
       (F) in paragraph (11), 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. 620 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)(B), by striking clause (iv) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(iv) providing professional development and personnel 
     enhancement activities, including the provision of funds to 
     recipients of grants under subsection (a), relating to--

       ``(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.'';

       (5) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(h) Staff Qualifications and Development.--
       ``(1) Center-based staff.--The Secretary shall ensure that, 
     not later than September 30, 2010, 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.
       ``(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. 15. APPEALS, NOTICE, AND HEARING AND RECORDS AND AUDITS.

       (a) Appeals.--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 funding 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 
     within 30 days of notice of the decision from the Secretary; 
     and
       ``(B) access to a full and fair hearing of the appeal, not 
     later than 120 days from 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 Head Start Parent Policy 
     Councils;
       ``(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 for not 
     more than 30 days.''.
       (b) 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 agency, Head Start center, or 
     Early Head Start center receiving''.
       (c) 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 agency, Head Start center, or 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. 16. 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 regional or State 
     system of early childhood education training and technical 
     assistance 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, migrant and 
     seasonal Head Start programs, and other entities providing 
     training and technical assistance in early education, for the 
     region or State are included in the planning and coordination 
     of the system; and
       ``(2) encourage States to supplement the funds authorized 
     in section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) with Federal, State, or local 
     funds other than Head Start funds, to expand training and 
     technical assistance activities beyond Head Start agencies to 
     include other providers of other early childhood services 
     within a region or State.'';
       (4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated--
       (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 1221(b)(3) of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6371(b)(3))'' 
     after ``children with disabilities'';
       (C) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``, including assessing 
     the needs of homeless children and their families'' after 
     ``needs assessment'';
       (D) in paragraph (10), by striking ``; and'' and inserting 
     a semicolon;
       (E) in paragraph (11), by striking the period and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (F) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(12) assist Head Start agencies and programs in 
     increasing the program participation of homeless children;
       ``(13) provide training and technical assistance to members 
     of governing bodies to ensure that the members can fulfill 
     the functions described in section 641(a)(4);
       ``(14) provide training and technical assistance to Head 
     Start agencies to assist such agencies in conducting self-
     assessments; and
       ``(15) assist Head Start agencies and Head Start programs 
     in improving outreach to, and quality of services available 
     to, limited English proficient children and their families, 
     including such services to help such families learn English, 
     particularly in communities that have experienced a large 
     percentage increase in the population of limited English 
     proficient individuals, as measured by the Bureau of the 
     Census.'';
       (5) in subsection (e), as so redesignated, by inserting 
     ``including community-based organizations,'' after 
     ``nonprofit entities'';
       (6) in subsection (f), as so redesignated, 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
       (7) 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 
     migrant and seasonal farmworking families, families 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.

[[Page S5802]]

       ``(i) Funds used under this section for training shall be 
     used for needs identified annually by a grant applicant or 
     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 and 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 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 English 
     language learners or are limited English proficient.
       ``(6) The literacy training shall include specific methods 
     to best address the needs of children who have speech and 
     language delays, including problems with articulation, or 
     have other disabilities.''.

     SEC. 17. 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 ensure that--
       ``(i) not later than September 30, 2010, all Head Start 
     teachers 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); and

       ``(ii) not later than September 30, 2008, all Head Start 
     curriculum specialists and education coordinators 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, 2008, all Head Start 
     teaching assistants 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, 2011--

       ``(I) in States that have established teacher requirements 
     for State prekindergarten programs, all Head Start teachers 
     in center-based programs--

       ``(aa) if such requirements are not less than those 
     requirements described in subclause (II), meet such teacher 
     requirements for State prekindergarten programs; and
       ``(bb) if such requirements are less than those 
     requirements described in subclause (II), meet the 
     requirements described in subclause (II); and

       ``(II) in States that do not have teacher requirements for 
     their State prekindergarten programs, 50 percent of all Head 
     Start teachers in each center-based program have a 
     baccalaureate degree relating to early childhood (or a 
     related educational area or a baccalaureate degree that meets 
     State specialized training requirements for prekindergarten 
     teachers, such as State licensure, endorsement, or 
     certification for prekindergarten or other early childhood 
     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 an average of 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) demonstrate continuing progress each year to reach 
     the result 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 graduate degrees; and

       ``(II) compile and submit a summary of all program reports 
     described in subclause (I)(bb) to the Committee on Education 
     and the Workforce 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 progress by partnering with institutions of 
     higher education or other programs that recruit, train, 
     place, and support college students to deliver an innovative 
     early learning program 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 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) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(3) Waiver.--
       ``(A) In general.--On request, the Secretary may grant a 
     waiver of the postsecondary degree requirements of paragraph 
     (2) for 1 or more Head Start agencies, either individually, 
     statewide, or throughout a region, that can demonstrate--
       ``(i) that continuing aggressive statewide and national 
     efforts have been unsuccessful at recruiting an individual to 
     serve as a Head Start teacher or curriculum specialist or 
     education coordinator who meets the requirements of paragraph 
     (2)(A);
       ``(ii) limited access to degree programs (including quality 
     distance learning programs), due to the remote location of 
     the program involved; or
       ``(iii) that Head Start staff members are, as of the day 
     the waiver is granted, enrolled in a program that--

       ``(I) grants the required degree; and
       ``(II) will be completed within 1 year.

       ``(B) Limitation.--An agency that receives a waiver under 
     subparagraph (A) shall ensure that Head Start teachers for 
     the agency, as of the day the waiver is granted, who have not 
     met the postsecondary degree requirements of paragraph (2) 
     but are otherwise highly qualified and competent shall be 
     directly and appropriately supervised by a teacher who has 
     met or exceeded the requirements of this subchapter.
       ``(C) Duration.--The Secretary may not grant a waiver under 
     subparagraph (A) for a period that exceeds 1 year.'';
       (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 limited English 
     proficient populations).'';
       (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 to meet the requirements set forth in subsection 
     (a).''.

     SEC. 18. 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 graduate degrees

[[Page S5803]]

     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 2006 and such sums as may be 
     necessary for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2010.
       ``(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. 19. 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 ``and children 
     determined to be abused or neglected'' after ``children with 
     disabilities'';
       (2) in subsection (d)--
       (A) in paragraph (8), by adding ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) by striking paragraph (9);
       (C) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (9); and
       (D) by striking the last sentence;
       (3) in subsection (g)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
       (i) by striking clause (i); and
       (ii) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (i) 
     and (ii), respectively; and
       (B) in paragraph (7)(C)--
       (i) in clause (i)(I), by striking ``2003'' and inserting 
     ``2007''; and
       (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``Labor and Human 
     Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions''; and
       (4) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
       ``(h) National Academy of Sciences Study.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into a 
     contract with the Board on Children, Youth, and Families of 
     the National Research Council, the Board on Testing and 
     Assessments, and the Institute of Medicine, of the National 
     Academy of Sciences to establish an independent panel of 
     experts to review and synthesize research and theories in the 
     social, behavioral, and biological sciences regarding early 
     childhood, and make recommendations with regard to each of 
     the following:
       ``(A) Age- and developmentally appropriate Head Start 
     academic requirements and outcomes, including the standards 
     described in section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii).
       ``(B) Differences in the type, length, mix, and intensity 
     of services that are necessary to ensure that children from 
     challenging family or social backgrounds (including low-
     income children, children with disabilities, and limited 
     English proficient children) enter kindergarten ready to 
     succeed.
       ``(C) Appropriate assessments of young children for the 
     purposes of improving instruction, services, and program 
     quality, including--
       ``(i) formal and systematic observational assessments in a 
     child's natural environment;
       ``(ii) assessments of children's development through parent 
     and provider interviews;
       ``(iii) appropriate accommodations for children with 
     disabilities and limited English proficient children;
       ``(iv) appropriate assessments for children with 
     disabilities, limited English proficient children, and 
     children from different cultural backgrounds; and
       ``(v) other assessments used in Head Start programs.
       ``(D) Identification of existing, or recommendations for 
     the development of, scientifically based, valid and reliable 
     assessments that are capable of measuring child outcomes in 
     the domains important to school readiness, including language 
     skills, prereading ability, premathematics ability, cognitive 
     ability, scientific ability, social and emotional 
     development, and physical development;
       ``(E) Appropriate use and application of valid and reliable 
     assessments for Head Start programs identified in accordance 
     with subparagraph (D).
       ``(2) Composition.--
       ``(A) In general.--The panel described in paragraph (1) 
     shall consist of multiple experts in each of the following 
     areas:
       ``(i) Child development (including cognitive, social, 
     emotional, and physical development) and child education 
     (including approaches to learning).
       ``(ii) Professional development, including preparation of 
     individuals who teach young children.
       ``(iii) Assessment of young children (including children 
     with disabilities and limited English proficient children), 
     including screening, diagnostic, and classroom-based 
     instructional assessment.
       ``(B) Representatives.--The panel described in paragraph 
     (1) shall be selected and appointed by the National Academy 
     of Sciences, after consultation with the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services.
       ``(3) Timing.--
       ``(A) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of enactment of the Head Start Improvements for School 
     Readiness Act, the Board on Children, Youth, and Families of 
     the National Research Council, the Board on Testing and 
     Assessments, and the Institute of Medicine, of the National 
     Academy of Sciences shall establish the panel described in 
     paragraph (1), including selecting and appointing the members 
     of the panel. Representatives described in paragraph (2) 
     shall be selected and appointed after consultation with the 
     Secretary.
       ``(B) Recommendations.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     panel described in paragraph (1) is established, the panel 
     shall complete, and submit to the Secretary a report 
     containing, the recommendations described in paragraph (1). 
     The Secretary shall not implement the amendments made to 
     section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii) by the Head Start Improvements for 
     School Readiness Act until the panel submits the report.
       ``(4) Application of panel report.--The Secretary shall use 
     the results of the review and recommendations described in 
     paragraph (1) to (where appropriate) develop, inform, and 
     revise--
       ``(A) the educational standards, and the performance 
     measures, described in section 641A; and
       ``(B) the assessments utilized in the Head Start programs.
       ``(i) 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 or Early Head Start programs.
       ``(2) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit to 
     Congress, not later than September 2009, 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 or Early Head Start 
     services and the geographic distribution of children 
     described in this subparagraph;
       ``(B) the nature of Head Start or 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 and training provided to Head 
     Start and 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 programs 
     and 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 
     2004;
       ``(ii) the correlation between such progress and the type 
     of instruction and educational program provided to the 
     limited English proficient children; and
       ``(iii) the correlation between such progress 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.''.

     SEC. 20. 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), by striking 
     ``Labor and Human Resources'' and inserting ``Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions'';
       (B) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``homelessness, children 
     in foster care, children who are abused or neglected,'' after 
     ``ethnic background,''; and

[[Page S5804]]

       (C) in the flush matter at the end by striking ``Labor and 
     Human Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education, Labor, 
     and Pensions''; and
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``Labor and Human 
     Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions''.

     SEC. 21. 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'';
       (2) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by striking 
     ``or (2)'' and inserting ``(2) in excess of the salary of the 
     Secretary, in the case of an individual compensated with 
     funds awarded under this subchapter or the Community Services 
     Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.); or (3)''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) If in any fiscal year the restriction described in 
     subsection (a)(2) is violated, the Secretary shall withhold 
     from the base grant of the Head Start agency involved (as 
     defined in section 641A(g)(1)) for the next fiscal year, an 
     amount equal to the aggregate amount by which the salary that 
     resulted in the violation exceeded the salary of the 
     Secretary.''.

     SEC. 22. 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. 23. 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, a 
     program assessed 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;
       ``(B) any activity to provide voters or prospective voters 
     with transportation to the polls or similar assistance in 
     connection with any such election; or
       ``(C) any voter registration activity.
       ``(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. 24. 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 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, or 
     referral for, any health care service provided or arranged to 
     be provided, including 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.''.

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