[House Report 110-116]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    110-116

======================================================================


 
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 1429) TO REAUTHORIZE THE 
 HEAD START ACT, TO IMPROVE PROGRAM QUALITY, TO EXPAND ACCESS, AND FOR 
                             OTHER PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

 May 1, 2007.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

    Ms. Castor, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 348]

    The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration 
House Resolution 348, by a non-record vote, report the same to 
the House with the recommendation that the resolution be 
adopted.

                SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION

    The resolution provides for consideration of the bill (H.R. 
1429) to reauthorize the Head Start Act, to improve program 
quality, to expand access, and for other purposes. The 
resolution provides for one hour of general debate equally 
divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Education and Labor.
    The resolution waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill except for those arising under 
clauses 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The resolution provides that the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
Committee on Education and Labor shall be considered as an 
original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be 
considered as read. The resolution waives all points of order 
against the committee amendment except those arising under 
clauses 9 or 10 of rule XXI.
    The resolution makes in order those amendments printed in 
this report and waives all points of order against such 
amendments except those arising under clauses 9 or 10 of rule 
XXI. The resolution provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions. Finally, the resolution permits the 
Chair, during consideration of the bill in the House, to 
postpone further consideration of the bill to a time designated 
by the Speaker.

                         EXPLANATION OF WAIVERS

    Although the rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill, against the committee amendment, and 
against the amendments made in order (except for those arising 
under clauses 9 or 10 of rule XXI), the Committee is not aware 
of any points of order against consideration of the bill, 
against the committee amendment, or against the amendments made 
in order. The waivers of all points of order are prophylactic 
in nature.

                            COMMITTEE VOTES

    The results of each record vote on an amendment or motion 
to report, together with the names of those voting for and 
against, are printed below:

Rules Committee record vote No. 139

    Date: May 1, 2007.
    Measure: H.R. 1429.
    Motion By: Mr. Dreier.
    Summary of Motion: To grant an open rule.
    Results: Defeated 4 to 9.
    Vote by Member: McGovern--Nay; Hastings (FL)--Nay; Matsui--
Nay; Cardoza--Nay; Welch--Nay; Castor--Nay; Arcuri--Nay; 
Sutton--Nay; Dreier--Yea; Diaz-Balart--Yea; Hastings (WA)--Yea; 
Sessions--Yea; Slaughter--Nay.

Rules Committee record vote No. 140

    Date: May 1, 2007.
    Measure: H.R. 1429.
    Motion By: Mr. Dreier.
    Summary of Motion: To make in order and provide appropriate 
waivers for an amendment by Rep. King (IA) to require Head 
Start programs to teach English to children with Limited 
English Proficiency (LEP), except in Puerto Rico, Guam, 
American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic 
of Palau.
    Results: Defeated 4 to 9.
    Vote by Member: McGovern--Nay; Hastings (FL)--Nay; Matsui--
Nay; Cardoza--Nay; Welch--Nay; Castor--Nay; Arcuri--Nay; 
Sutton--Nay; Dreier--Yea; Diaz-Balart--Yea; Hastings (WA)--Yea; 
Sessions--Yea; Slaughter--Nay.

Rules Committee record vote No. 141

    Date: May 1, 2007.
    Measure: H.R. 1429.
    Motion By: Mr. Diaz-Balart.
    Summary of Motion: To make in order and provide appropriate 
waivers for an amendment by Rep. Putnam (FL) to specify that 
monitoring visits may be conducted as needed and without 
notice, rather than just monthly; establishes an additional 
review to ensure corrective actions have been taken; and 
further clarifies that if financial assistance is terminated or 
reduced, that except in emergency situations, they will receive 
written notice no later than 30 days before their funds are 
suspended, terminated, or reduced.
    Results: Defeated 4 to 9.
    Vote by Member: McGovern--Nay; Hastings (FL)--Nay; Matsui--
Nay; Cardoza--Nay; Welch--Nay; Castor--Nay; Arcuri--Nay; 
Sutton--Nay; Dreier--Yea; Diaz-Balart--Yea; Hastings (WA)--Yea; 
Sessions--Yea; Slaughter--Nay.

Rules Committee record vote No. 142

    Date: May 1, 2007.
    Measure: H.R. 1429.
    Motion By: Mr. Diaz-Balart.
    Summary of Motion: To make in order and provide appropriate 
waivers for an amendment by Resident Commissioner Fortuno (PR) 
to ensure that (1) religious organizations that are 
participating in the Head Start program are allowed to take 
religion into account in their hiring practices and (2) 
religious organizations that are participating in the Head 
Start program are not discriminated against on the basis of 
their religious character and are not required to alter their 
form of governance or remove religious art, icons, or scripture 
or other symbols.
    Results: Defeated 4 to 9.
    Vote by Member: McGovern--Nay; Hastings (FL)--Nay; Matsui--
Nay; Cardoza--Nay; Welch--Nay; Castor--Nay; Arcuri--Nay; 
Sutton--Nay; Dreier--Yea; Diaz-Balart--Yea; Hastings (WA)--Yea; 
Sessions--Yea; Slaughter--Nay.

Rules Committee record vote No. 143

    Date: May 1, 2007.
    Measure: H.R. 1429.
    Motion By: Mr. Hastings (WA).
    Summary of Motion: To make in order and provide appropriate 
waivers for an amendment by Rep. Musgrave (CO) to allow a for-
profit agency that can demonstrate it can provide a higher 
level of services for the same number of Head Start children at 
a lower cost to keep a small portion of the administrative 
savings as profit.
    Results: Defeated 4 to 9.
    Vote by Member: McGovern--Nay; Hastings (FL)--Nay; Matsui--
Nay; Cardoza--Nay; Welch--Nay; Castor--Nay; Arcuri--Nay; 
Sutton--Nay; Dreier--Yea; Diaz-Balart--Yea; Hastings (WA)--Yea; 
Sessions--Yea; Slaughter--Nay.

Rules Committee record vote No. 144

    Date: May 1, 2007.
    Measure: H.R. 1429.
    Motion By: Mr. Hastings (WA).
    Summary of Motion: To make in order and provide appropriate 
waivers for an amendment by Rep. Musgrave (CO) to limit to 10 
percent the enrollment of families who do not meet the low-
income criteria.
    Results: Defeated 4 to 9.
    Vote by Member: McGovern--Nay; Hastings (FL)--Nay; Matsui--
Nay; Cardoza--Nay; Welch--Nay; Castor--Nay; Arcuri--Nay; 
Sutton--Nay; Dreier--Yea; Diaz-Balart--Yea; Hastings (WA)--Yea; 
Sessions--Yea; Slaughter--Nay.

Rules Committee record vote No. 145

    Date: May 1, 2007.
    Measure: H.R. 1429.
    Motion By: Mr. Sessions.
    Summary of Motion: To make in order and provide appropriate 
waivers for an amendment by Rep. Price (GA) to make regulations 
for emergency rear door exits and safety belts on vehicles used 
to transport children effective upon enactment.
    Results: Defeated 4 to 9.
    Vote by Member: McGovern--Nay; Hastings (FL)--Nay; Matsui--
Nay; Cardoza--Nay; Welch--Nay; Castor--Nay; Arcuri--Nay; 
Sutton--Nay; Dreier--Yea; Diaz-Balart--Yea; Hastings (WA)--Yea; 
Sessions--Yea; Slaughter--Nay.

           SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER UNDER THE RULE

    (Summaries derived from information provided by sponsors.)
    1. Johnson, Eddie Bernice (TX): The amendment would 
instruct the Secretary of HHS to create partnerships between 
Head Start and the HBCUs. These partnerships would increase the 
number of associate, baccalaureate, and advanced degrees in 
early childhood education that are earned by Head Start staff 
and parents of Head Start students. (10 minutes)
    2. Price, Tom (GA): The amendment allows eight states to 
coordinate Head Start with state-run early childhood 
development programs through a demonstration program. (10 
minutes)
    3. Sestak (PA): The amendment authorizes the Education 
Secretary to carry out a program to forgive student loans for 
Head Start and Early Head Start teachers who have earned a 
bachelor's degree in a field related to early childhood 
education and who commit to teach in the program for a minimum 
of 3 years. (10 minutes)
    4. Hirono (HI): The amendment revises the training and 
technical assistance program for Early Head Start by ensuring 
that training and technical assistance are provided by entities 
with specific expertise in infant and toddler development. The 
amendment also directs 50 percent of training and technical 
assistance funds directly to the grantees for the purposes of 
program improvement. (10 minutes)
    5. Mica (FL): The amendment amends Section 18 of the bill 
to require that the Secretary certify that at least 50 percent 
of all Head Start teachers nationwide meet certain degree 
requirements by September 30, 2011, two years earlier than 
required under the current legislation. (10 minutes)
    6. Kennedy, Patrick (RI)/Hall, John (NY): The amendment 
would define ``inclusive classrooms'' as Head Start classrooms 
that include both children with disabilities and children 
without disabilities. It would make certain funds in the bill 
available to increase the understanding of the impact of Head 
Start services delivered in inclusive classrooms on both 
children with and without disabilities and to assist Head Start 
programs in improving the quality of inclusive classrooms. (10 
minutes)
    7. Putnam (FL): The amendment strikes the development and 
implementation of the application review system, including the 
expert panel provision. In addition, the amendment strikes 
designation when no entity has priority and instead designates 
competition--calling for the automatic recompetition for agency 
designation every five years, regardless of performance. (10 
minutes)
    8. Porter (NV): The amendment requires that Head Start 
grantees, before hiring individuals, obtain (1) a state, 
Federal, or tribal criminal record check in all jurisdictions 
where the grantee provides services, (2) a state, Federal, or 
tribal criminal record check as required by the jurisdictions 
where they provide services, or (3) a criminal record check as 
otherwise required by Federal law. (10 minutes)
    9. Carnahan (MO): The amendment provides that, in the event 
that the amounts appropriated to carry out the program do not 
exceed the funds appropriated for the prior year, Head Start 
grantees may negotiate with the Secretary a reduced funded 
enrollment level if the grantee can demonstrate that such 
reduction is necessary to maintain the quality of services. (10 
minutes)
    10. Cuellar (TX): The amendment would require the states or 
agencies that administer the Head Start program to describe the 
type of assessment used to determine the rate of progress made 
by students with Limited English Proficiency. (10 minutes)
    11. Shuler (NC)/Ellsworth (IN)/Loebsack (IA): The amendment 
outlines the history and importance of allowing faith-based and 
community-based organizations to participate in Head Start 
programs. It inserts language into the Head Start 
Reauthorization that explicitly states that faith-based and 
community-based organizations will continue to be eligible to 
participate in the Head Start program on the same basis as 
other organizations. (10 minutes)
    12. Space (OH)/Hare (IL)/Welch (VT): The amendment amends 
the criteria for the allocation of resources for technical 
assistance and training to include consideration of barriers in 
rural areas to professional development, parent involvement, 
home visits and health screening. The amendment also requires 
the Secretary to consider the needs of rural and urban areas 
when entering contracts with entities in each state for the 
purposes of technical and training assistance.

            TEXT OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER UNDER THE RULE

 1. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Johnson of Texas, or 
                 Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 152, line 23, strike the close quotation and the period 
at the end.
  Page 152, after line 23, insert the following (and make such 
technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate):
  ``(s) Historically Black Colleges and Universities Head Start 
Partnerships.--In order to promote quality services and 
instruction to children with diverse backgrounds, the Secretary 
shall work in collaboration with Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities to--
          ``(1) implement education programs that include 
        education to increase the number of associate, 
        baccalaureate, and advanced degrees in early childhood 
        education and related fields that are earned by Head 
        Start agency staff members, and parents of children 
        served by such an agency; and
          ``(2) carry out other activities to upgrade the 
        skills and qualifications of noncertified educational 
        personnel to meet the professional standards in section 
        648A(a).
Individuals who receive assistance under this paragraph shall 
subsequently teach in a center-based Head Start program for a 
period of time equivalent to the period for which they received 
assistance or shall repay such assistance.''.
                              ----------                              


 2. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Price of Georgia, or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  At the end, add the following (and make such technical and 
conforming changes as may be appropriate):

                 TITLE II--STATE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM

SEC. 201. STATE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

  The Head Start Act is amended by inserting after section 643 
the following new section:

``SEC. 643A. STATE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

  ``(a) Grants.--
          ``(1) In general.--
                  ``(A) Eligible states.--In the case of each 
                eligible State that submits to the Secretary an 
                application that fulfills the requirements of 
                this section, the Secretary, from amounts 
                appropriated under section 639(a), shall make a 
                grant to the State to carry out a State 
                demonstration program under this section, 
                except that the Secretary shall not make such 
                grants to more than 8 eligible States.
                  ``(B) Determination.--The Secretary shall 
                make awards to those States that demonstrate--
                          ``(i) that the State standards 
                        generally meet or exceed the standards 
                        that ensure the quality and 
                        effectiveness of programs operated by 
                        Head Start agencies;
                          ``(ii) the capacity to deliver high 
                        quality early childhood education 
                        services to prepare children, including 
                        low-income children, for school; and
                          ``(iii) success in improving the 
                        school readiness of children.
          ``(2) State eligibility.--A State shall be eligible 
        to participate in the program under this section if it 
        meets each of the following criteria:
                  ``(A) The State has an existing State 
                supported system providing public 
                prekindergarten to children prior to entry into 
                kindergarten.
                  ``(B) The State has implemented standards as 
                of fiscal year 2007 for school readiness that 
                include standards for language, prereading and 
                premathematics development for prekindergarten 
                that are aligned with State kindergarten 
                through twelfth grade academic content 
                standards and which shall apply to all programs 
                receiving funds under this part or provides an 
                assurance that such standards will be aligned 
                by the end of the second fiscal year of 
                participation.
                  ``(C) State and locally appropriated funds 
                for prekindergarten services and Head Start 
                services in the base year under this section 
                shall not be less than 50 percent of the 
                Federal funds that the grantees in the State 
                received under this Act in the base year for 
                services to Head Start eligible children, 
                excluding amounts for services provided under 
                section 645A.
                  ``(D) The State has established a means for 
                inter-agency coordination and collaboration in 
                the development of the plan under subsection 
                (h).
  ``(b) Lead Agency.--A program under this section shall be 
administered by a State governmental entity designated by the 
Chief Executive Officer of the State as the lead State agency.
  ``(c) State Operation of Program.--The State may conduct all 
or any part of the program under this section (including the 
activities specified in subsection (g)) directly or by grant, 
contract, or cooperative agreement.
  ``(d) Transition.--
          ``(1) In general.--For 60 months after the effective 
        date of this section, the State shall continue to 
        provide funds to each local grantee who--
                  ``(A) was receiving funds under this 
                subchapter, as in effect prior to the date of 
                enactment of this section, and
                  ``(B) is serving the geographic area covered 
                by the plan in section 643A(h).''
          Such continuing grants shall be made in accordance 
        with the terms of the grant made to the local grantee 
        immediately prior to such date of enactment. This 
        paragraph shall not apply to a grant applicant who has 
        experienced substantial uncorrected deficiencies on 
        Department of Health and Human Services monitoring 
        reports during any year of the most recent 5-year 
        period, or to a grantee that, as determined by the 
        State, does not comply with the State plan described in 
        subsection 643A(h) submitted to the Secretary.
  ``(e) Federal Financial Assistance.--
          ``(1) Allocation of federal allotments to state 
        programs.--From each total amount described in 
        paragraph (2) allotted to a State for a fiscal year, 
        the Secretary shall pay to a State with a program 
        approved under this section for such fiscal year an 
        amount equal to--
                  ``(A) if the State program is statewide, 100 
                percent of such total amount; and
                  ``(B) if the State program is limited to a 
                geographic area or areas, the sum of--
                          ``(i) an amount equal to the amount 
                        received by grantees in such geographic 
                        area or areas for the Federal fiscal 
                        year preceding the first fiscal year of 
                        the State program under this section; 
                        plus
                          ``(ii) an amount bearing the same 
                        ratio to the excess (if any) above the 
                        total amount for such preceding fiscal 
                        year as the number of children less 
                        than 5 years of age from families whose 
                        income is below the poverty line in the 
                        geographic area or areas included in 
                        the program bears to the total number 
                        of such children in the State (as 
                        determined using the same data used 
                        pursuant to section 640(a)(4)(B)).
          ``(2) Funds allocated.--For purposes of paragraph 
        (1), amounts described in this paragraph are:
                  ``(A) Basic state allotments.--Amounts 
                allotted to States pursuant to section 
                640(a)(4), including amounts reserved pursuant 
                to section 640(a)(5), excluding amounts for 
                services provided under section 645A.
                  ``(B) State allotments of expansion funds.--
                Amounts allotted to States pursuant to section 
                640(a)(3)(D)(i)(I) for program expansion.
                  ``(C) Quality improvement funds.--Quality 
                improvement funds (if any) reserved pursuant to 
                section 640(a)(3).
                  ``(D) Training and technical assistance 
                funds.--An amount bearing the same ratio to the 
                amount set aside for training and technical 
                assistance activities pursuant to section 
                640(a)(2)(C)(i) and (ii) as the State's share 
                of amounts allotted under section 640(a)(4)(B) 
                bears to the total amount so allotted (and for 
                purposes of subparagraph (A), such amount shall 
                be considered an amount allotted to the State 
                for the fiscal year).
          ``(3) Non-federal match.--(A) In determining the 
        amount of Federal and non-Federal contributions for 
        purposes of this section, the amounts required to be 
        expended by the State under subsection (h)(14)(B) 
        (relating to maintenance of effort) shall be excluded.
          ``(B) Financial assistance made available to a State 
        under this subchapter shall be in an amount equal to 95 
        percent of the total amount expended for such programs. 
        The Secretary shall require non-Federal contributions 
        in an amount equal to 5 percent of the total amount 
        expended under this subchapter for such programs.
          ``(C) Non-Federal contributions may be made in cash 
        or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, 
        equipment, or services.
          ``(4) Combined operations with other early childhood 
        education programs.--A State may combine funds for a 
        program under this section with funds for other early 
        childhood programs serving children in the same age 
        group, as long as all applicable requirements of this 
        subchapter are met with respect to either--
                  ``(A) the entire combined program; or
                  ``(B) each child served in such combined 
                program for whom the services provided are 
                funded from appropriations under this 
                subchapter or non-Federal matching 
                contributions under this subchapter.
          ``(5) Use of funds without regard to allotment 
        purposes.--A State may use funds received pursuant to 
        this section for any program purpose set forth in 
        section 636, without regard to the purposes for such 
        funds specified in section 640.
          ``(6) Other funds.--Funds received under this section 
        shall not supplant any non-Federal, State or local 
        funds that would otherwise be used for activities 
        authorized under this section or similar activities 
        carried out in the State.
  ``(f) Coordination and Choice.--
          ``(1) In general.--A State demonstration Program 
        shall be coordinated with the education programs of 
        local educational agencies in the State to ensure that 
        the program is effectively designed to develop in 
        children in the program the knowledge and behaviors 
        necessary to transition successfully to kindergarten 
        and to succeed in school.
          ``(2) Programs concerned.--
                  ``(A) Required programs.--Such coordination 
                shall occur regarding the implementation of the 
                following:
                          ``(i) The Early Reading First and 
                        Even Start programs under title I, part 
                        B, subparts 2 and 3 of the Elementary 
                        and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 
                        and other preschool programs carried 
                        out under title I of that Act.
                          ``(ii) State prekindergarten 
                        programs.
                          ``(iii) The Ready-to-Learn Television 
                        Program under subpart 3 of part D of 
                        title II of the Elementary and 
                        Secondary Education Act.
                  ``(B) Optional programs.--Such coordination 
                may occur regarding the implementation of the 
                following:
                          ``(i) Programs under the Child Care 
                        and Development Block Grant Act.
                          ``(ii) Other publicly funded early 
                        childhood education programs.
          ``(3) Parental choice.--The program shall allow 
        parents to choose the preschool program for their 
        child.
  ``(g) Required Services.--With funds under this section, the 
State shall provide services described in section 641A at least 
as extensive as were provided, and to at least as many low-
income children and families in each fiscal year as were 
provided such services, with such funds in the base year in the 
State (or, if applicable, in the geographic area included in 
the State program). A program under this section shall include 
the following comprehensive activities designed to promote 
school readiness and success in school:
          ``(1) Child development and education.--Activities 
        with enrolled children that promote--
                  ``(A) cognitive development, language 
                development, prereading, and premathematics 
                knowledge and skills;
                  ``(B) physical development, health, and 
                nutrition (including through coordination with, 
                and referral of children and families to local 
                health service entities; and
                  ``(C) social development important for 
                environments constructive for child 
                development, early learning, and school 
                success.
          ``(2) Parent education and involvement.--Activities 
        with the parents of enrolled children directed at 
        enhancing and encouraging--
                  ``(A) involvement in, and ability to support, 
                their children's educational development;
                  ``(B) parenting skills and understanding of 
                child development; and
                  ``(C) ability to participate effectively in 
                decisions relating to the education of their 
                children.
          ``(3) Social and family support services.--Activities 
        directed at securing appropriate social and family 
        support services for enrolled children and their 
        families, primarily through referral and coordination 
        with local, State, and Federal entities that provide 
        such services.
          ``(4) Head start services.--For purposes of paragraph 
        (1) Head Start services furnished in a State program 
        under this section shall include all Head Start 
        services, other than--
                  ``(A) Indian Head Start programs and migrant 
                and seasonal Head Start programs supported with 
                funds reserved under section 640(a)(2)(A); and
                  ``(B) Early Head Start services provided 
                under section 645A.
  ``(h) State Plan.--A State proposing to administer a program 
under this section shall submit a State plan to the Secretary. 
The State plan shall include the following:
          ``(1) Lead state agency.--The plan shall identify the 
        entity designated by the Chief Executive Officer of the 
        State as the lead State agency.
          ``(2) Geographic area.--The plan shall specify 
        whether the program is statewide, and, if it is not, 
        identify the geographic area or areas covered by the 
        plan. A geographic area may be a city, county, standard 
        metropolitan statistical area, or such other geographic 
        area in the State.
          ``(3) Program period.--A State program under this 
        section shall be in effect for 5 Federal fiscal years.
          ``(4) Program description.--The plan shall describe 
        the services under subsection (f) to be provided in the 
        program and arrangements the State proposes to use to 
        provide the services specified in subsection (g), 
        including how the State will leverage existing delivery 
        systems for such services.
          ``(5) Needs assessment.--The plan shall describe the 
        results of a State needs assessment and shall provide 
        an assurance that the State will use the results to 
        identify the needs for early childhood education 
        services within a State or geographic area to be served 
        and is targeting services to those areas of greatest 
        need and to expand and improve services to 
        disadvantaged children in the State.
          ``(6) Assurance of compliance.--The plan shall 
        provide an assurance that the State program will comply 
        with the requirements of this section, including each 
        of the following:
                  ``(A) Priority for low-income children.--
                Requirements established pursuant to section 
                645(a) concerning the eligibility and priority 
                of individuals for participation in Head Start 
                programs.
                  ``(B) Continuation for existing providers.--
                An applicant who received funds under this 
                subchapter in prior fiscal years and has not 
                corrected any substantial deficiencies 
                identified in the past 5 years shall not be 
                eligible to receive any grants, contract, or 
                cooperative agreements under this section.
                  ``(C) Participation of children with 
                disabilities.--Requirements pursuant to section 
                640(d) concerning Head Start enrollment 
                opportunities and services for children with 
                disabilities.
                  ``(D) Provisions concerning fees and 
                copayments.--The provisions of section 645(b) 
                concerning the charging of fees and the 
                circumstances under which copayments are 
                permissible.
                  ``(E) Federal share; state and local 
                matching.--The provisions of section 640(b) 
                limiting Federal financial assistance for Head 
                Start programs, and providing for non-Federal 
                contributions.
                  ``(F) Administrative costs.--The provisions 
                of section 644(b) limiting the share of program 
                funds that may be used for developing and 
                administering a program.
                  ``(G) Federal property interest.--Applicable 
                provisions of this subchapter regarding the 
                Federal Government interest in property 
                (including real property) purchased, leased, or 
                renovated with Federal funds.
          ``(7) Identification of barriers.--The plan shall 
        identify barriers in the State to the effective use of 
        Federal, State, and local public funds, and private 
        funds, for early education and care that are available 
        to the State on the date on which the application is 
        submitted.
          ``(8) State guidelines for school readiness.--The 
        plan shall include--
                  ``(A) a State definition of school readiness;
                  ``(B) a description of the State's general 
                goals for school readiness, including how the 
                State intends to--
                          ``(i) promote and maintain ongoing 
                        communication and collaboration between 
                        providers of early care and education 
                        and local educational agencies in the 
                        State;
                          ``(ii) align early childhood and 
                        kindergarten curricula to ensure 
                        program continuity; and
                          ``(iii) ensure that children 
                        successfully transition to 
                        kindergarten.
          ``(9) Teacher qualifications.--The plan shall assure 
        that the qualifications and credentials for early 
        childhood teachers meet or exceed the standards in 
        section 648A(a)(2)(A), (B), and (C).
          ``(10) Professional development.--The plan shall 
        provide a description of the State plan for assuring 
        the ongoing professional development of early childhood 
        educators and administrators including how the State 
        intends to--
                  ``(A) improve the competencies of early 
                childhood educators in meeting the cognitive 
                and other developmental needs of young children 
                through effective instructional strategies, 
                methods, and skills;
                  ``(B) develop and implement initiatives to 
                effectively recruit and promote the retention 
                of well-qualified early childhood educators;
                  ``(C) encourage institutions of higher 
                education, providers of community-based 
                training, and other qualified providers to 
                develop high-quality programs to prepare 
                students to be early childhood education 
                professionals; and
                  ``(D) improve the quality of professional 
                development available to meet the needs of 
                teachers that serve preschool children.
          ``(11) Quality standards.--The State shall describe 
        the State's standards, applicable to all agencies, 
        programs, and projects that receive funds under this 
        subchapter, including a description of--
                  ``(A) standards with respect to services 
                required to be provided, including health, 
                parental involvement, nutritional, social, 
                transition activities described in section 
                642(d) of this subchapter, and other services;
                  ``(B)(i) education standards to promote the 
                school readiness of children participating in a 
                State program under title II of this 
                subchapter; and
                  ``(ii) additional education standards to 
                ensure that the children participating in the 
                program, at a minimum develop and demonstrate--
                          ``(I) language skills;
                          ``(II) prereading knowledge and 
                        skills, including interest in and 
                        appreciation of books, reading and 
                        writing either alone or with others;
                          ``(III) premathematics knowledge and 
                        skills, including aspects of 
                        classification, seriation, number, 
                        spatial relations, and time;
                          ``(IV) cognitive abilities related to 
                        academic achievement;
                          ``(V) social development important 
                        for environments constructive for child 
                        development, early learning, and school 
                        success; and
                          ``(VI) in the case of limited-English 
                        proficient children, progress toward 
                        acquisition of the English language;
                  ``(C) the State's minimum standards for early 
                childhood teacher credentials and 
                qualifications;
                  ``(D) the student-teacher ratio for each age-
                group served;
                  ``(E) administrative and financial management 
                standards;
                  ``(F) standards relating to the condition and 
                location of facilities for such agencies, 
                programs, and projects; and
                  ``(G) such other standards as the State finds 
                to be appropriate.
          ``(12) State accountability system.--
                  ``(A) In general.--The State plan shall--
                          ``(i) ensure that individual 
                        providers are achieving results in 
                        advancing the knowledge and behaviors 
                        identified by the State as 
                        prerequisites for kindergarten success; 
                        and
                          ``(ii) specify the measures the State 
                        will use to evaluate the progress 
                        toward achieving such results and the 
                        effectiveness of the State program 
                        under this section, and of individual 
                        providers in such program.
                  ``(B) Publication of results.--
                          ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause 
                        (ii), the results shall be made 
                        publicly available in the communities 
                        served by the program.
                          ``(ii) Confidentiality safeguards.--
                        The system shall have in effect privacy 
                        safeguards ensuring that information on 
                        children included in data and results 
                        made public in accordance with clause 
                        (i) shall be in aggregated form, and 
                        shall not include information allowing 
                        identification of individual children.
          ``(13) Transition plan.--The initial State plan shall 
        make provision for transition from the direct Federal 
        program under section 640 to the demonstration program.
          ``(14) Cooperation with research studies.--The plan 
        shall provide assurances that the State will cooperate 
        with research activities described in section 649.
          ``(15) Maintenance of effort.--The State plan shall--
                  ``(A) contain a commitment to provide data, 
                at such times and in such format as the 
                Secretary requires, concerning non-Federal 
                expenditures and numbers of children and 
                families served in preschool and Head Start 
                programs during the base year and each fiscal 
                year covered under the State plan, sufficient 
                to satisfy the Secretary that the State program 
                will meet its obligation with respect to the 
                maintenance of effort requirement under 
                subparagraph (B); and
                  ``(B) assure that the resources (which may be 
                cash or in-kind) contributed by the State 
                government to child care for preschool-aged 
                children and other preschool programs, 
                including Head Start, in the State (or, if 
                applicable, in the geographic area included in 
                the State program) for each fiscal year in 
                which the program under this section is in 
                effect shall be in an amount at least equal to 
                the total amount of such State governmental 
                resources contributed to support such programs 
                in the State (or geographic area) for the base 
                year.
          ``(16) Training and technical assistance.--The State 
        plan shall describe the training and technical 
        assistance activities that shall provide high quality, 
        sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused training 
        and technical assistance in order to have a positive 
        and lasting impact on classroom instruction.
  ``(i) Records, Reports and Audits.--The State agency 
administering the State program, and each entity participating 
as a Head Start service provider, shall maintain such records, 
make such reports, and cooperate with such audits as the 
Secretary may require for oversight of program activities and 
expenditures.
  ``(j) Inapplicability of Provisions Concerning Priority in 
Agency Designation.--The provisions of subsections (c) and (d) 
of section 641 (concerning priority in designation of Head 
Start agencies, successor agencies, and delegate agencies) 
shall not apply to a State program under this section.
  ``(k) Consultation.--A State proposing to administer a 
program under this section shall submit, with the plan under 
this section, assurances that the plan was developed through 
timely and meaningful consultation with appropriate public and 
private sector entities, including--
          ``(1) representatives of agencies responsible for 
        administering early education and care programs in the 
        State, including Head Start providers;
          ``(2) parents;
          ``(3) the State educational agency and local 
        educational agencies;
          ``(4) early childhood education professionals;
          ``(5) kindergarten teachers and teachers in grades 1 
        through 4;
          ``(6) child welfare agencies;
          ``(7) child care resource and referral agencies;
          ``(8) child care providers; and
          ``(9) a wide array of persons interested in and 
        involved with early care and early education issues in 
        the State, such as representatives of--
                  ``(A) health care professionals;
                  ``(B) the State agency with responsibility 
                for the special supplemental nutrition program 
                for women, infants, and children established by 
                section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966;
                  ``(C) institutions of higher education;
                  ``(D) community-based and faith-based 
                organizations;
                  ``(E) the business community;
                  ``(F) State legislators and local officials;
                  ``(G) museums and libraries;
                  ``(H) other relevant entities in the State; 
                and
                  ``(I) other agencies that provide resources 
                for young children.
  ``(l) State Plan Submission.--An application shall be 
submitted by a State pursuant to this section to the Secretary, 
in consultation with the Secretary of Education, and shall be 
deemed to be approved by the Secretary unless the Secretary 
makes a written determination, prior to the expiration of a 
reasonable time beginning on the date on which the Secretary 
received the application, that the application is not in 
compliance with this section.
  ``(m) Treatment of Funds.--If a State or local government 
contributes its own funds to supplement activities carried out 
under the applicable programs, the State or local government 
has the option to separate out the Federal funds or commingle 
them. If the funds are commingled, the provisions of this 
subchapter shall apply to all of the commingled funds in the 
same manner, and to the same extent, as the provisions apply to 
the Federal funds.
  ``(n) Federal Oversight Authority; Corrective Action; 
Withdrawal of Approval.--
          ``(1) Federal oversight.--The Secretary shall retain 
        the authority to oversee the operation of the State 
        program under this section, including through review of 
        records and reports, audits, and onsite inspection of 
        records and facilities and monitoring of program 
        activities and operations.
          ``(2) Correction of deficiencies.--If the Secretary 
        determines that a State program under this section 
        substantially fails to meet the requirements of this 
        section, the Secretary shall notify the State of the 
        deficiencies identified and require corrective action 
        as follows:
                  ``(A) Deficiencies causing immediate 
                jeopardy.--The Secretary shall require 
                immediate corrective action to eliminate a 
                deficiency that the Secretary finds threatens 
                the health or safety of staff or program 
                participants or poses a threat to the integrity 
                of Federal funds.
                  ``(B) Other deficiencies.--The Secretary, 
                taking into consideration the nature and 
                magnitude of a deficiency not described in 
                subparagraph (A), and the time reasonably 
                required for correction, may--
                          ``(i) require the State to correct 
                        the deficiency within 90 days after 
                        notification under this paragraph; or
                          ``(ii) require the State to implement 
                        a quality improvement plan designed to 
                        correct the deficiency within one year 
                        from identification of the deficiency.
          ``(3) Withdrawal of approval.--If the deficiencies 
        identified under paragraph (2) are not corrected by the 
        deadlines established by the Secretary, the Secretary 
        shall initiate proceedings to withdraw approval of the 
        State program under this section.
          ``(4) Procedural rights.--A State subject to adverse 
        action under this subsection shall have the same 
        procedural rights as a Head Start agency subject to 
        adverse action under section 641A.
  ``(o) Independent Evaluation.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall contract with 
        an independent organization outside of the Department 
        to design and conduct a multi-year, rigorous, 
        scientifically valid, quantitative evaluation of the 
        State demonstration program.
          ``(2) Process.--The Secretary shall award a contract 
        within 180 days of the date of enactment of the 
        Improving Head Start Act of 2007, to an organization 
        that is capable of designing and carrying out an 
        independent evaluation described in this subsection.
          ``(3) Analysis.--The evaluation shall include an 
        analysis of each State participating in the State 
        demonstration program, including--
                  ``(A) A quantitative description of the State 
                prekindergarten program and Head Start programs 
                within such State, as such programs existed 
                prior to participation in the State 
                demonstration program, including:
                          ``(i) data on the characteristics of 
                        the children served, including the 
                        overall number and percentages of 
                        children served disaggregated by 
                        socioeconomic status, race and 
                        ethnicity of those served;
                          ``(ii) the quality and 
                        characteristics of the services 
                        provided to such children; and
                          ``(iii) the education attainment of 
                        instructional staff.
                  ``(B) A quantitative and qualitative 
                description of the State program after each 
                year of participation in the State 
                demonstration, which shall include each of the 
                following:
                          ``(i) A description of changes in the 
                        administration of the State program, 
                        including the Head Start program, 
                        within such State.
                          ``(ii) The rate of progress of the 
                        State in improving the school readiness 
                        of disadvantaged children in the key 
                        domains of development.
                          ``(iii) Data as described in 
                        subparagraph (A), as updated annually.
                          ``(iv) The extent to which each State 
                        has met the goals established by such 
                        State with respect to annual goals as 
                        described under section 643(h)(10).
          ``(4) Report.--(A) The Secretary shall provide an 
        interim report on the progress of such evaluation and 
        of the progress of States participating in the State 
        demonstration in increasing the availability of high 
        quality prekindergarten services for low-income 
        children not later than October 1, 2010 to the 
        Committee on Education and the Workforce in the House 
        of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions in the Senate.
          ``(B) The Secretary shall provide a final report to 
        the Committee on Education and the Workforce in the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions in the Senate, not later 
        than October 1, 2011, which shall include an overall 
        evaluation of the State demonstration program, 
        including an assessment of its success in increasing 
        the overall availability of high quality 
        prekindergarten services for low income children in 
        each of the participating States as compared to a 
        representative sample of non-participating States.
  ``(p) State Participation Agreement.--Following the 
submission of an application fulfilling all requirements of 
this section, a State that meets all eligibility requirements 
set forth in section 643A(a)(2) and is selected by the 
Secretary to participate in the demonstration program under 
this section shall:
          ``(1) maintain or increase fiscal year 2007 State 
        funding levels for early childhood education;
          ``(2) provide an additional contribution of non-
        federal funds equal to 5 percent of the State's Federal 
        Head Start allotment;
          ``(3) use Head Start funding only for the purposes of 
        Head Start as described in section 636;
          ``(4) provide all comprehensive social services 
        currently available to Head Start children, including 
        health and nutrition;
          ``(5) develop a strategy to maximize parental 
        involvement to enable parents to become full partners 
        in the education of their children;
          ``(6) demonstrate that the qualifications and 
        credentials for early childhood teachers meet or exceed 
        the standards in section 648A(a)(2)(A), (B), and (C);
          ``(7) enforce quality standards for school readiness 
        that are aligned with K-12 educational standards and 
        generally meet or exceed the Federal Head Start 
        performance standards;
          ``(8) continue funding, for a period of 60 months, 
        all current Head Start grantees as described in section 
        643A(d);
          ``(9) provide services described in section 641A that 
        are at least as extensive as were provided, and to at 
        least as many low-income children and families in the 
        State, in each fiscal year as were provided such 
        services in the base year;
          ``(10) establish a comprehensive collaboration effort 
        to integrate Head Start, state-funded pre-kindergarten 
        programs, Even Start, Title I preschool, and Early 
        Reading First;
          ``(11) participate in independent evaluations of the 
        demonstration program authorized under this subchapter; 
        and
          ``(12) submit to Federal oversight by the Secretary.
  ``(q) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
`base year' means the fiscal year 2007.''.
                              ----------                              


3. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Sestak of Pennsylvania, 
               or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 159, after line 12, insert the following (and make such 
technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate):
  ``(g) Incentives for Head Start Teachers and Early Head Start 
Teachers.--
          ``(1) Statement of purpose.--It is the purpose of 
        this subsection to encourage individuals to begin and 
        continue teaching in Head Start programs and Early Head 
        Start programs.
          ``(2) Program authorized.--
                  ``(A) In general.--From the sums appropriated 
                pursuant to paragraph (9), the Secretary of 
                Education, in consultation with the Secretary 
                of Health and Human Services, is authorized 
                carry out a program to forgive, in accordance 
                with this subsection, the student loan debt of 
                any borrower who has one or more loans 
                described under subparagraph (B) made on or 
                after October 1, 1998, and who--
                          ``(I) commits to working as a Head 
                        Start teacher or an Early Head Start 
                        teacher for at least 3 consecutive 
                        complete program years;
                          ``(ii) has a bachelor's degree in a 
                        field related to early childhood 
                        education; and
                          ``(iii) is not in default on a loan 
                        for which the borrower seeks 
                        forgiveness.
                  ``(B) Method of loan forgiveness.--To provide 
                the loan forgiveness authorized in subparagraph 
                (A), the Secretary of Education, in 
                consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
                Human Services, shall, subject to subparagraph 
                (C), carry out a program--
                          ``(I) through the holder of the loan, 
                        to assume the obligation to repay a 
                        qualified loan amount for a loan made 
                        under section 428 or 428H of the Higher 
                        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078, 
                        1078-8); and
                          ``(ii) to cancel a qualified loan 
                        amount for a Federal Direct Stafford 
                        Loan or a Federal Direct Unsubsidized 
                        Stafford Loan made under part D of 
                        title IV of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1087a 
                        et seq.).
                  ``(C) Treatment of consolidation loans.--A 
                loan amount for a loan made under section 428C 
                or section 455(g) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1078-
                3, 1087e(g)) may be a qualified loan amount for 
                the purposes of subparagraph (B) only to the 
                extent that such loan amount was used to repay 
                a loan made under section 428 or 428H, a 
                Federal Direct Stafford Loan, or a Federal 
                Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan for a 
                borrower who meets the requirements of 
                subparagraph (A), as determined in accordance 
                with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
                Education, in consultation with the Secretary 
                of Health and Human Services.
          ``(3) Qualified loan amount.--After the beginning of 
        the qualifying employment described in paragraph 
        (2)(A)(I) and upon approval of a borrower's application 
        under paragraph (5), the Secretary of Education, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services, shall forgive under this subsection not more 
        than $10,000 of the student loan obligation of a 
        borrower that is outstanding at the beginning of such 
        employment.
          ``(4) Award basis.--Loan forgiveness under this 
        subsection shall be on a first-come, first-served basis 
        and subject to the availability of appropriations.
          ``(5) Application for forgiveness.--
                  ``(A) In general.--Each borrower desiring 
                loan forgiveness under this subsection shall 
                submit a complete and accurate application to 
                the Secretary of Education at such time, in 
                such manner, and containing such information as 
                the Secretary of Education, in consultation 
                with the Secretary of Health and Human 
                Services, may require.
                  ``(B) Service agreement.--Each such 
                application shall contain an agreement by the 
                borrower--
                          ``(I) to complete the commitment 
                        described in paragraph (2)(A)(I) within 
                        6 years after receiving loan 
                        forgiveness under this subsection; or
                          ``(ii) to repay the portion required 
                        by the regulations under paragraph 
                        (6)(A) if the borrower does not 
                        complete such commitment.
          ``(6) Repayment for failure to complete service.--
                  ``(A) In general.--In the event that any 
                recipient of loan forgiveness under this 
                subsection fails or refuses to complete a 
                portion of the recipient's service obligation 
                under the agreement required by paragraph 
                (5)(B), the same portion of the amounts of 
                loans forgiven under this subsection for such 
                recipient shall be subject to repayment in 
                accordance with terms and conditions, and in 
                the amounts, specified by the Secretary of 
                Education, in consultation with the Secretary 
                of Health and Human Services, in regulations 
                under this subsection.
                  ``(B) Forgiveness if deceased or disabled.--
                Such regulations shall provide that, subject to 
                the availability of appropriations, an 
                individual shall be excused from repayment of 
                any amount required under paragraph (1) if the 
                individual dies or becomes permanently and 
                totally disabled (as determined in accordance 
                with such regulations).
          ``(7) Regulations.--The Secretary of Education, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services, is authorized to issue such regulations as 
        may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
        subsection.
          ``(8) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
        be construed to authorize any refunding of any 
        repayment of a loan.
          ``(9) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
        subsection such sums as may be necessary for fiscal 
        year 2008 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
          ``(10) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                  ``(A) Head start teacher.--The term `Head 
                Start teacher' means an individual who--
                          ``(I) is employed by a Head Start 
                        agency or an entity that carries out an 
                        Early Head Start program, to provide 
                        for the education and care of children 
                        who have not reached the age of 
                        compulsory school attendance who are 
                        enrolled in a Head Start program or an 
                        Early Head Start program receiving 
                        funds under the Head Start Act (42 
                        U.S.C. 9831 et. seq.); and
                          ``(ii) who has, at a minimum, an 
                        associate's degree in early childhood 
                        education or a related field.
                  ``(B) Program year.--The term `program year', 
                where applied to service as a Head Start 
                teacher or an Early Head Start teacher, means a 
                program year as defined by the Secretary of 
                Health and Human Services.''.
                              ----------                              


 4. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Hirono of Hawaii, or 
                 Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Beginning on page 124, strike line 8 and all that follows 
through line 9 on page 126, and insert the following:
  ``(g) Monitoring, Training, Technical Assistance, and 
Evaluation.--
          ``(1) Requirement.--To ensure the successful 
        operation of programs assisted under this section, the 
        Secretary shall use funds from the portion specified in 
        section 640(a)(6) to monitor the operation of such 
        programs, evaluate their effectiveness, and provide 
        training and technical assistance tailored to the 
        particular needs of such programs.
          ``(2) Training and technical assistance account.--
                  ``(A) In general.--Of the amount made 
                available to carry out this section for any 
                fiscal year, not less than 5 percent, and not 
                more than 10 percent, shall be reserved to fund 
                a training and technical assistance account. In 
                determining the amount so reserved, the 
                Secretary shall consider the number of new 
                programs serving pregnant women, infants, 
                toddlers, and their families, recognizing their 
                need for more intensive training and technical 
                assistance services during program expansion.
                  ``(B) Activities.--Of the funds in the 
                account described in subparagraph (A)
                          ``(I) not less than 50 percent shall 
                        be available to local entities that 
                        carry out Early Head Start programs for 
                        training and technical assistance 
                        activities in order to make program 
                        improvements identified by such 
                        entities;
                          ``(ii) not less than 30 percent shall 
                        be available to the Secretary to 
                        support a State-based system of early 
                        childhood education training and 
                        technical assistance to local entities 
                        that carry out Early Head Start 
                        programs that shall meet the 
                        requirements of subparagraph (C), 
                        including the creation, management, and 
                        support of a national network of the 
                        State-based infant-toddler specialists 
                        specified in such subparagraph; and
                          ``(iii) the remainder of such amount 
                        shall be available to the Secretary to 
                        assist local entities that carry out 
                        Early Head Start programs in meeting 
                        and exceeding the standards described 
                        in section 641A(a)(1), including--
                                  ``(I) making grants to, and 
                                entering into contracts with, 
                                organizations with specialized 
                                expertise relating to infants, 
                                toddlers, and families and the 
                                capacity needed to provide 
                                direction and support to a 
                                national training and technical 
                                assistance system, in order to 
                                provide such direction and 
                                support;
                                  ``(II) providing ongoing 
                                training and technical 
                                assistance on Early Head Start 
                                program development and 
                                improvement for regional staff 
                                charged with monitoring and 
                                overseeing the administration 
                                of the program carried out 
                                under this section;
                                  ``(III) developing training 
                                and technical assistance 
                                materials and resources to 
                                support program development and 
                                improvement and best practices 
                                in providing services to 
                                children and families served by 
                                Early Head Start programs;
                                  ``(IV) creating special 
                                training and technical 
                                assistance initiatives targeted 
                                to serving high risk 
                                populations, such as children 
                                in the child welfare system and 
                                homeless children;
                                  ``(V) providing ongoing 
                                training and technical 
                                assistance to Early Head Start 
                                grantees, and support and 
                                program planning and 
                                implementation assistance for 
                                new recipients of such grants, 
                                including the conversion of 
                                Head Start grants to Early Head 
                                Start grants; and
                                  ``(VI) providing professional 
                                development designed to 
                                increase program participation 
                                for underserved populations of 
                                eligible children.
                  ``(C) Contracts.--For the purposes of 
                delivering a State-based training and technical 
                assistance system, as described in subparagraph 
                (B)(ii), that will meet the needs of local 
                grantees and provide high quality, sustained, 
                and intensive training and technical assistance 
                on programming for infants and toddlers to 
                Early Head Start programs and in order to help 
                such programs meet or exceed the program 
                performance standards described in section 
                641A(a)(1), the Secretary shall--
                          ``(i) enter into contracts in each 
                        State with 1 or more entities that have 
                        a demonstrated expertise in supporting 
                        the delivery of high quality programs 
                        for pregnant women and children less 
                        that 3 years of age, except that bi-
                        State or multi-State contracts may be 
                        entered into if the demographics of 
                        proximal States make such a system more 
                        appropriate;
                          ``(ii) ensure that contracts awarded 
                        under clause (I) are in an amount 
                        sufficient to provide for each state a 
                        minimum of one full-time specialist 
                        with expertise in the development of 
                        children under age three and 
                        programming for pregnant women and such 
                        children;
                          ``(iii) to the maximum extent 
                        practicable, ensure that the contracts 
                        awarded Under clause (I) and the 
                        services provided therein are 
                        integrated with and augment the 
                        contract or contracts awarded and 
                        services provided under section 648 
                        (n); and
                          ``(iv) ensure that the entities 
                        described in clause (I) determine the 
                        types of services to be provided 
                        through consultation with--
                                  ``(I) local entities that 
                                carry out Early Head Start 
                                programs;
                                  ``(II) the State Head Start 
                                collaboration office; and
                                  ``(III) the State Head Start 
                                Association.''.
                              ----------                              


5. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Mica of Florida, or His 
                   Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 154, line 9, strike ``2013'' and insert ``2011''.
                              ----------                              


   6. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Kennedy of Rhode 
           Island, or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 3, line 2, strike ``(22) and (23)'' and insert ``(23) 
and (24)''.
  Page 3, line 4, strike ``(20)'' and insert ``(21)''.
  Page 3, line 6, strike ``(15) through (18)'' and insert 
``(16) through (19)''.
  Page 3, line 8, strike``(13)'' and insert ``(14)''.
  Page 4, line 20, strike the close quotation and the comma at 
the end.
  Page 4, after line 20, insert the following:
          ``(13) The term `inclusive classroom' means a Head 
        Start classroom that contains both children with 
        disabilities and children without disabilities.'',
  Page 136, line 20, strike ``and'' at the end
  Page 136, line 25, strike the period at the end and insert 
``; and''.
  Page 136 after line 25, insert the following:
          ``(17) assist Head Start agencies and programs to 
        increase the capacity of classroom staff to meet the 
        needs of eligible children in inclusive classrooms.''.
  Page 160, strike lines 6 through 12, and insert the 
following:
                  (A) in paragraph (8) by adding ``and'' at the 
                end,
                  (B) by striking paragraphs (9) and (10) and 
                insert the following:
          ``(9) contribute to understanding the impact of Head 
        Start services delivered in inclusive classrooms on 
        both children with disabilities and children without 
        disabilities, and develop practices for increasing the 
        availability and quality of inclusive classrooms.''.
                              ----------                              


 7. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Putnam of Florida, or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 37, beginning on line 10, strike ``subsections (a), (b), 
and (c) of''.
  Beginning on page 39, line 21, strike ``, except'' and all 
that follows through line 3 on page 40, and insert as period.
  Beginning on page 40, strike line 7 and all that follows 
through line 10 on page 45, insert the following:.
  ``(c) Designation on Competitive Basis.--
          ``(1) Selection.--From among entities that submit 
        plans under subsection (b), the Secretary shall, 
        after''.
  Beginning on page 52, strike line 20 and all that follows 
through line 2 on page 53.
  Page 53, line 3, strike ``(g)'' and insert ``(d)''.
  Page 53, line 7, strike ``(h)'' and insert ``(e)''.
                              ----------                              


 8. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Porter of Nevada, or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 159, line 12, strike the close quotation and the period 
at the end.
  Page 159, after line 12, insert the following:
  ``(g) Staff Recruitment and Selection Procedures.--Before a 
Head Start agency employs an individual, such agency shall--
          ``(1) conduct an interview of such individual;
          ``(2) verify the personal and employment references 
        provided by such individual; and
          ``(3) obtain--
                  ``(A) a State, tribal, or Federal criminal 
                record check covering all jurisdictions where 
                the grantee provides Head Start services to 
                children;
                  ``(B) a State, tribal, or Federal criminal 
                record check as required by the law of the 
                jurisdiction where the grantee provides Head 
                Start services; or
                  ``(C) a criminal record check as otherwise 
                required by Federal law.''.
                              ----------                              


 9. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Carnahan of Missouri, 
               or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 35, after line 10, insert the following (and make such 
technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate):
  (d) Enrollment.--Section 640(g) of the Head Start Act (42 
U.S.C. 9835(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
  ``(5) In the event that the amounts appropriated to carry out 
the program under this subchapter do not exceed the amount 
appropriated in the prior fiscal year, or exceed the amount 
appropriated in the prior fiscal year by an amount equal to 
less than the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index For 
All Urban Consumers, as published by the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics, Head Start grantees may negotiate with the 
Secretary a reduced funded enrollment level without a reduction 
in the grant amount if such grantee can demonstrate that such 
reduction is necessary to maintain the quality of services.
          ``(A) In accordance with this paragraph, the 
        Secretary shall set up a process for grantees to 
        negotiate the above-mentioned reduced funded enrollment 
        level.
          ``(B) Under the conditions detailed in this 
        paragraph, the Secretary shall be required to notify 
        grantees of their right to negotiate a reduced funded 
        enrollment level if such grantee can demonstrate that 
        such reduction is necessary to maintain the quality of 
        services.''.
                              ----------                              


 10. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Cuellar of Texas, or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    Page 163, after line 3, insert the following (and make such 
technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate):
                  ``(ii) a description of the type of 
                assessment or assessments used to determine the 
                rate of progress made by limited English 
                proficient children;''.
                              ----------                              


   11. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Shuler of North 
          Carolina, or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 2, line 4, insert ``(a) Short Title._''.
  Page 2, after line 5, insert the following:
  (b) Sense of the Congress.--The Congress--
          (1) finds that--
                  (A) while the steady economic growth and low 
                inflation in the United States has yielded 
                unprecedented prosperity, many children and 
                families in this country have not benefited 
                from this prosperity and continue to be 
                socioeconomically disadvantaged,
                  (B) many community- and faith-based 
                organizations have expertise in moving 
                individuals and families from dependency to 
                self-sufficiency by providing families with the 
                tools and skills they need to participate in 
                the community and contribute to our economy,
                  (C) the Head Start Act was established to 
                help prepare low-income young children to 
                succeed in school and in life by addressing the 
                needs of the whole child and providing 
                comprehensive services such as health and 
                nutrition,
                  (D) research confirms that children who 
                attend Head Start programs enter school better 
                prepared than low-income children who do not 
                attend the program, are less likely to need 
                special education services, to repeat a grade, 
                or commit crimes in adolescence, and are more 
                likely to graduate from high school,
                  (E) community- and faith-based organizations 
                have participated in Head Start programs since 
                the enactment of the Head Start Act in 1965 and 
                continue to serve more than 90,000 children and 
                their families,
                  (F) parents have an integral role in the 
                development and implementation of Head Start 
                programs, community- and faith-based providers 
                of Head Start services employ parents and 
                encourage parents to volunteer in the programs 
                because parents are children's most important 
                and influential teachers,
                  (G) community- and faith-based providers of 
                Head Start services not only serve the needs of 
                low-income children and their families but 
                enrich, strengthen and reflect the diversity of 
                the communities wherein they reside, and
                  (H) the Head Start Act is a critical 
                component of America's civil rights platform, 
                and community and faith-based organizations 
                have been leaders in the civil rights movement 
                in the United States,
          (2) supports the continued role of community and 
        faith-based organizations in Head Start programs as 
        providers of comprehensive services to children, 
        families, and communities, and
          (3) extends its gratitude to community- and faith-
        based organizations that provide Head Start services, 
        and to the employees and volunteers for their 
        commitment to the education, health, and economic well-
        being of low-income children and families.
  Page 52, after line 19, insert the following:
          ``(3) Continued eligibility.--Faith-based and 
        community-based organizations continue to be eligible, 
        on the same basis as other organizations, to 
        participate in any program under this subchapter for 
        which they are otherwise eligible.''.
  Page 120, at the end of line 15, add the following:
Faith-based and community-based organizations continue to be 
eligible, on the same basis as other organizations, to 
participate in any program under this section for which they 
are otherwise eligible.
                              ----------                              


12. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Space of Ohio, or His 
                   Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 136, strike lines 21 through 25, and insert the 
following (and make such technical and conforming changes as 
may be appropriate):
          ``(16) provide assistance to address the unique needs 
        of programs located in rural communities, including--
                  ``(A) removing barriers related to the 
                recruitment and retention of Head Start 
                teachers in rural communities;
                  ``(B) developing innovative and effective 
                models of professional development for 
                improving staff qualifications and skills for 
                staff living in rural communities;
                  ``(C) removing barriers related to outreach 
                efforts to eligible families in rural 
                communities;
                  ``(D) removing barriers to parent involvement 
                in Head Start programs in rural communities;
                  ``(E) removing barriers to providing home 
                visiting services in rural communities; and
                  ``(F) removing barriers to obtaining health 
                screenings for Head Start participants in rural 
                communities.''.
  Page 148, after line 25, insert the following (and make such 
technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate):
          ``(5) ensure that in entering into such contracts as 
        described in paragraph (1), such entities will address 
        the needs of grantees in both urban and rural 
        communities.''.

                                  
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