GAO Update on the Number of Prekindergarten Care and Education	 
Programs (02-JUN-05, GAO-05-678R).				 
                                                                 
This letter responds to a Congressional request concerning our	 
April 2000 report, Early Education and Care: Overlap Indicates	 
Need to Assess Crosscutting Programs (GAO/HEHS-00-78). Given the 
historical concern regarding the potential for program overlap	 
among federal early childhood education and care programs,	 
Congress asked that we update the list of programs providing or  
supporting education or care for children under the age of 5. The
2000 list included 69 programs, which were administered by 9	 
different agencies. To respond to the request, we replicated the 
keyword search from our 2000 report using the Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance (CFDA). After assessing the reliability of	 
the CFDA, we determined it was suitable for our purposes. We	 
obtained explanations regarding programs that were deleted from  
the CFDA. Our search yielded 254 programs, and we reviewed their 
descriptions to determine if they met three criteria: (1)	 
directly funded or supported education and/or child care, (2)	 
provided these services to children under age 5, and (3)	 
delivered services in an educational or child care setting. Based
on this review, we selected over 70 programs as potentially	 
meeting these criteria and provided agencies with the opportunity
to comment on this assessment.					 
-------------------------Indexing Terms------------------------- 
REPORTNUM:   GAO-05-678R					        
    ACCNO:   A25639						        
  TITLE:     GAO Update on the Number of Prekindergarten Care and     
Education Programs						 
     DATE:   06/02/2005 
  SUBJECT:   Aid for education					 
	     Child care programs				 
	     Children						 
	     Education program evaluation			 
	     Educational grants 				 
	     Evaluation methods 				 
	     Preschool education				 
	     GSA Catalog of Federal Domestic			 
	     Assistance 					 
                                                                 

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GAO-05-678R

United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548

June 2, 2005

The Honorable Michael B. Enzi
Chairman
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
United States Senate

The Honorable Lamar Alexander
Chairman
Subcommittee on Education and Early Childhood Development
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
United States Senate

The Honorable George V. Voinovich
Chairman
Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management,

the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
United States Senate

Subject: GAO Update on the Number of Prekindergarten Care and Education
Programs

This letter responds to your request concerning our April 2000 report,
Early Education and Care: Overlap Indicates Need to Assess Crosscutting
Programs

(GAO/HEHS-00-78). Given the historical concern regarding the potential for
program overlap among federal early childhood education and care programs,
you asked that we update the list of programs providing or supporting
education or care for children under the age of 5. The 2000 list included
69 programs, which were administered by 9 different agencies.1

To respond to your request, we replicated the keyword search from our 2000
report using the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). After
assessing the reliability of the CFDA, we determined it was suitable for
our purposes. We obtained explanations regarding programs that were
deleted from the CFDA. Our search yielded 254 programs, and we reviewed
their descriptions to determine if they met three criteria: (1) directly
funded or supported education and/or child care, (2) provided these
services to children under age 5, and (3) delivered services in an

1 This report was a follow-up to a 1994 report in which we found that
there were 90 early childhood programs at the federal level: Early
Childhood Programs: Multiple Programs and Overlapping Target Groups
(GAO/HEHS-95-4FS, Oct. 31, 1994).

educational or child care setting. Based on this review, we selected over
70 programs as potentially meeting these criteria and provided agencies
with the opportunity to comment on this assessment.

Generally, we found that the landscape of federal programs offered
remained largely the same as in 2000. We identified 69 programs as meeting
our criteria and found that 10 agencies administer these programs.2 While
the total number of programs remained the same, there were, however, some
changes in the makeup of the list. Specifically, 16 programs were removed3
from the list and 16 were added.4 The Department of Education, the agency
responsible for the most programs on the list, had the biggest change,
dropping 11 programs from the original list and adding 5 programs.

For 13 programs in our 2000 report, agencies questioned in their comments
whether the program should be included based on our criteria. For purposes
of our report, we have interpreted our criteria broadly. Based on our
review of the relevant legal and program documents and discussions with
agency officials, we found that our criteria warrants including all but 2
of these 13 programs as providing or supporting care and education
programs for children under 5 in an educational or child care setting.

There are several caveats associated with this current work. This analysis
does not provide information on the types of services provided by these
programs, their budget outlays, or the number of children they serve. In
addition, it is important to note that providing child care or education
is the sole focus for some programs while for others it is only an
allowable service. For these programs, some agencies noted that the
utilization of these services was minimal or nonexistent. Finally, we did
not examine the role that tax expenditures such as the Child and Dependent
Care Tax Credit or Employer Provided Child Care Tax Credit play in
supporting child care or early education.

The results of our analysis are provided in two enclosures. The first
enclosure is a table updating the list of programs that we included in our
2000 report. The second enclosure shows additional programs that meet our
criteria and merit inclusion in the list of education and child care
programs.

As agreed with your offices, unless you publicly announce its content
earlier, we plan no further distribution of this letter until 30 days
after its date. At that time, we will send copies of this letter to the
Departments of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Interior,
Justice, Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, and Homeland
Security, along with the Appalachian Regional Commission and General

2 The one additional agency that is now part of our list is the Department
of Homeland Security, which absorbed a program that had previously been
included under the Department of Justice in our 2000 report.

3 Of the programs removed, 13 were no longer in the CFDA because they had
been ended, consolidated, or transferred since 2000, 1 was consolidated
into another, and we determined that 2 should not be in the 2005 list
based on agency comments and our review of relevant legal and program
documents.

4 Of the programs added, 12 were additional programs that warranted
inclusion and 4 stem from the CFDA making further distinctions among WIA
programs than it did in 2000.

    Page 2 GAO-05-678R Update on Prekindergarten Care and Education Programs

Services Administration and other interested parties. The letter will also
be available on GAO's home page at http://www.gao.gov.

If you have any questions about this letter, please contact me at (202)
512-7215. You may also reach me by e-mail at [email protected]. Patrick
diBattista served as assistant director on this engagement. Scott Heacock
was the analyst-in-charge. Sara Schibanoff and Linda Stokes were also key
contributors to this letter.

Marnie Shaul Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security Issues

Enclosures

Enclosure I Enclosure I

Table 1: Update of 2000 Report List

                                 Removed Remains on                           
                              from CFDAa       list                     Notes
                  Agriculture                       
     10.550 Food Distribution                       Program name is currently 
                      Program                    Xb Food Donation             
      10.553 School Breakfast                    Xb 
                      Program                       
       10.555 National School                       
                Lunch Program                    Xb 
          10.556 Special Milk                    Xb 
         Program for Children                       
       10.558 Child and Adult                       
            Care Food Program                     X 
10.559 Summer Food Service                       
Program for Children                           X 
            10.564 Nutrition,                       Agency reported that this 
       Education and Training                            program is no longer 
                      Program          X                              funded. 
             10.565 Commodity                       
    Supplemental Food Program                    Xb 
            Housing and Urban                       
                  Development                       
             14.218 Community                       
            Development Block                       
    Grants/Entitlement Grants                     X 
             14.219 Community                       
            Development Block                       
          Grants/Small Cities                       
                      Program                     X 
     14.231 Emergency Shelter                       
               Grants Program                     X 
    14.235 Supportive Housing                       
        Program (transitional                       
                     housing)                     X 
              14.870 Resident                       
Opportunity and Supportive                       
                     Services                     X 
                     Interior                       
15.043 Indian Child and                          
Family Education (FACE)                        X 
                      Justice                       
                                                       Program transferred to 
                                                        97.009 (Cuban/Haitian 
     16.201 Cuban and Haitian                        Entrant Program) in 2003 
         Entrant Resettlement                         under the Department of 
                      Program                    Xb        Homeland Security. 
         16.730 Reduction and                       
     Prevention of Children's                       
Exposure to Violence (Safe                       
                       Start)                     X 
                        Labor                       
                                                    Despite being deleted     
                                                    from the CFDA, this       
                                                    program still exists and  
                                                    warrants inclusion        
             17.211 Job Corps                     X according to agency.      

    Page 4 GAO-05-678R Update on Prekindergarten Care and Education Programs

Enclosure I Enclosure I

                                Labor       
                                             Program consolidated into 17.264 
          17.247 Migrant and Seasonal                   (Migrant and Seasonal 
                          Farmworkers   X b             Farmworkers) in 2002. 
                                             Program consolidated into 17.265 
17.251 Native American Employment          (Native American Employment and 
and Training Program                   X                Training) in 2002. 
                                            Program consolidated into 17.258  
                                            (WIA Adult Program), 17.259 (WIA  
                                            Youth Activities) in 2001. WIA    
                                            also includes 17.260 (WIA         
                                            Dislocated Workers), 17.263       
                                            (Youth Opportunity Grants), and   
                                            17.266 (Work Incentives Grant).   
      17.255 Workforce Investment Act       All five programs are counted on  
                                (WIA)     X this list.                        
      Appalachian Regional Commission       
     23.002 Appalachia-Supplements to                                         
           Federal Grant-in-Aid (area       Name changed to Appalachian Area  
                         development)     X Development in 1999.
      General Services Administration       
39.003 Donation of Federal Surplus       
                    Personal Property     X 
                            Education       
       84.010 Title I Grants to Local       
         Educational Agencies (basic,       
          concentration, and targeted       
                              grants)     X 
       84.011 Migrant Education-Basic       
                  State Grant Program     X 
84.027 Special Education-Grants to       
                               States     X 
                    84.041 Impact Aid     X 
84.060 Indian Education-Grants to        
Local Educational Agencies             X 
                                            According to agency, this program 
           84.162 Immigrant Education X                     no longer exists. 
84.173 Special Education-Preschool       
                        Grants (IDEA)     X 
      84.181 Special Education-Grants       
        for Infants and Families with       
                         Disabilities     X 
    84.186 Safe and Drug-Free Schools       
         and Communities-State Grants     X 
        84.196 Education for Homeless       
                   Children and Youth     X 
                                            According to agency, the No Child 
                                             Left Behind Act consolidated the 
        84.209 Native Hawaiian Family                program into one broader 
              Based Education Centers X                            authority. 
              84.213 Even Start-State       
                 Educational Agencies     X 
            84.214 Even Start-Migrant       
                            Education     X 
      84.258 Even Start-Indian Tribes       
             and Tribal Organizations     X 

Enclosure I Enclosure I

                              Education       
      84.276 Goals 2000-State and Local                                       
         Education Systemic Improvement       According to agency, this       
                                 Grants X     program was repealed in 2000.
                 84.282 Charter Schools     X 
            84.287 Twenty-First Century       
             Community Learning Centers     X 
     84.288 Bilingual Education-Program                                       
         Development and Implementation                                       
                                 Grants X     According to agency, these      
     84.289 Bilingual Education-Program       programs no longer are          
                     Enhancement Grants X     authorized. All four bilingual  
            84.290 Bilingual Education-       programs were consolidated      
            Comprehensive School Grants X     under the No Child Left Behind
                       84.291 Bilingual       Act.
       Education-Systemwide Improvement       
                                 Grants X     
       84.295 Ready-to-Learn Television     X 
                                                  According to agency, the No 
84.296 Native Hawaiian                               Child Left Behind Act 
Community-Based Education Learning           consolidated the program into 
Centers                              X              one broader authority. 
    84.298 Innovative Education Program       
                             Strategies     X 
                                              Despite not being listed in the 
                                              CFDA, this program still exists 
        84.299 Demonstration Grants for                and warrants inclusion 
                        Indian Children     X            according to agency. 
           84.303 Technology Innovation             According to agency, this 
                       Challenge Grants X           program no longer exists. 
            84.310 Goals 2000: Parental              Name changed to Parental 
                     Assistance Program     X     Assistance Centers in 2002. 
                                                    Name changed to Education 
84.318 Technology Literacy Challenge            Technology State Grants in 
                            Fund Grants   X b                           2003. 
                                              According to agency, this       
        84.321 Alaska Native Home-Based       program was not reauthorized by 
       Education for Preschool Children X     the No Child Left Behind Act.   
84.323 Special Education-State             
Program Improvement Grants for             
Children With Disabilities             X b 
    84.327 Special Education-Technology       
     and Media Services for Individuals       
                      With Disabilities   X b 
     84.332 Comprehensive School Reform       
                          Demonstration   X b 
84.335 Child Care Access Means             
Parents in School                        X 
                                                    According to agency, this 
                                              program was replaced by Reading 
                                                 First, a program focusing on 
                                                  children in kindergarten to 
              84.338 Reading Excellence X                        third grade. 

    Page 6 GAO-05-678R Update on Prekindergarten Care and Education Programs

Enclosure I Enclosure I

                                HHS     
      93.101 Grants for Residential     According to agency, these two        
    Treatment Programs for Pregnant     programs were consolidated into       
               and Postpartum Women   X 93.243 (Substance Abuse and Mental    
    93.102 Demonstration Grants for     Health Services - Projects of         
    Residential Treatment for Women     Regional and National Significance),  
                 and Their Children   X which meets our criteria.             
      93.125 Mental Health Planning      According to agency, this program no 
         and Demonstration Projects X                          longer exists. 
    93.558 Temporary Assistance for     
              Needy Families (TANF)   X 
93.566 Refugee and Entrant           
Assistance- State-Administered       
Programs                           X 
    93.571 Community Services Block     Agency reported that this program did 
                Grant Discretionary         not meet our criteria; our review 
          Awards-Community Food and                           confirmed this. 
                        Nutrition c     
      93.575 Child Care Development            Name changed to Child Care and 
                               Fund   X      Development Block Grant in 1995. 
93.576 Refugee and Entrant           
Assistance- Discretionary Grants   X 
93.583 Refugee and Entrant               Agency reported that this program 
Assistance- Wilson/Fish Programs           does not meet our criteria; our 
c                                                   review confirmed this. 
93.584 Refugee and Entrant           
Assistance- Targeted Assistance    X 
                  93.600 Head Start   X 
               93.645 Child Welfare     
              Services-State Grants   X 
       93.667 Social Services Block     
                              Grant   X 

aIn some cases, programs were deleted from the CFDA. In other instances,
they were transferred or consolidated.

bThe agency questioned whether its program meets our criteria. For
purposes of our report, we have interpreted out criteria
broadly and have determined that each of the programs listed meets the
criteria. For example, we determined that grants to
state agencies and nutrition programs in school settings are forms of
support and that some of the children who benefit will
meet our age criteria.
cThis program is not included in the 2005 list.

Enclosure II Enclosure II

Table 2: Additional Programs

                                                                     Interior 
                                15.130 Indian Education-Assistance to Schools 
                              15.144 Indian Child Welfare Act-Title II Grants 
                                                                      Justice 
                                               16.575 Crime Victim Assistance 
     16.736 Transitional Housing Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence, 
                                                 Stalking, or Sexual Assaulta 
                                                                    Education 
            84.245 Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Vocational and Technical 
                                                                 Institutions 
                                  84.356 Alaska Native Educational Programs a 
                                                  84.359 Early Reading Firsta 
                                            84.362 Native Hawaiian Educationa 
                                 84.365 English Language Acquisition Grants a 
                                                                          HHS 
                                        93.569 Community Services Block Grant 
                                                  93.577 Early Learning Funda 
         93.596 Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and 
                                                             Development Fund 

                   aProgram added to CFDA since 2000 report.

(130468)

    Page 8 GAO-05-678R Update on Prekindergarten Care and Education Programs
*** End of document. ***