Violence Prevention Training for Early Childhood Educators Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants for a specified period to enable selected institutions of higher education and other qualified entities to provide violence prevention training as part of the early childhood education training programs they offer.
Prescribes application procedures and selection priorities.
Authorizes appropriations.
[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2673 Introduced in House (IH)]
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2673
To provide training to professionals who work with children affected by
violence, to provide for violence prevention, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 2, 1999
Mr. Gejdenson (for himself, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Hilliard, Ms. Lee, Mrs.
Christensen, Mr. Maloney of Connecticut, Mr. Wu, Mr. Etheridge, Ms.
Jackson-Lee of Texas, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mr. Scott, and Mr.
McGovern) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide training to professionals who work with children affected by
violence, to provide for violence prevention, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Violence Prevention Training for
Early Childhood Educators Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to provide grants to institutions of
higher education and qualified entities that carry out early childhood
education training programs to enable the institutions of higher
education and qualified entities to include violence prevention
training as part of the preparation of individuals pursuing careers in
early childhood development and education.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Aggressive behavior in early childhood is the single
best predictor of aggression in later life.
(2) Aggressive and defiant behavior predictive of later
delinquency is increasing among our Nation's youngest children.
Without prevention efforts, higher percentages of children are
likely to become violent juvenile offenders.
(3) Research has demonstrated that aggression is primarily
a learned behavior that develops through observation,
imitation, and direct experience. Therefore, children who
experience violence as victims or as witnesses are at increased
risk of becoming violent themselves.
(4) In a study at a Boston city hospital, 1 out of every 10
children seen in the primary care clinic had witnessed a
shooting or a stabbing before the age of 6, with 50 percent of
the children witnessing in the home and 50 percent of the
children witnessing in the streets.
(5) A study in New York found that children who had been
victims of violence within their families were 24 percent more
likely to report violent behavior as adolescents, and
adolescents who had grown up in families where partner violence
occurred were 21 percent more likely to experience violent
delinquency than individuals not exposed to violence.
(6) Aggression can become well-learned and difficult to
change by the time a child reaches adolescence. Early childhood
offers a critical period for overcoming risk for violent
behavior and providing support for prosocial behavior.
(7) Violence prevention programs for very young children
yield economic benefits. By providing health and stability to
the individual child and the child's family, the programs may
reduce expenditures for medical care, special education, and
involvement with the judicial system.
(8) Primary prevention can be effective. When preschool
teachers teach young children interpersonal problem-solving
skills and other forms of conflict resolution, children are
less likely to demonstrate problem behaviors.
(9) There is evidence that family support programs in
families with children from birth through 5 years of age are
effective in preventing delinquency.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) At-risk child.--The term ``at-risk child'' means a
child who has been affected by violence through direct exposure
to child abuse, other domestic violence, or violence in the
community.
(2) Early childhood education training program.--The term
``early childhood education training program'' means a program
that--
(A)(i) trains individuals to work with young
children in early child development programs or
elementary schools; or
(ii) provides professional development to
individuals working in early child development programs
or elementary schools;
(B) provides training to become an early childhood
education teacher, an elementary school teacher, a
school counselor, or a child care provider; and
(C) leads to a bachelor's degree or an associate's
degree, a certificate for working with young children
(such as a Child Development Associate's degree or an
equivalent credential), or, in the case of an
individual with such a degree, certificate, or
credential, provides professional development.
(3) Elementary school.--The term ``elementary school'' has
the meaning given the term in section 14101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(5) Qualified entity.--The term ``qualified entity'' means
a public or nonprofit private organization which has--
(A) experience in administering a program
consistent with the requirements of this Act; and
(B) demonstrated the ability to coordinate, manage,
and provide technical assistance to programs that
receive grants under this Act.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(7) Violence prevention.--The term ``violence prevention''
means--
(A) preventing violent behavior in children;
(B) identifying and preventing violent behavior in
at-risk children; or
(C) identifying and ameliorating violent behavior
in children who act out violently.
SEC. 5. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
(a) Grant Authority.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants
to institutions of higher education and qualified entities that carry
out early childhood education training programs to enable selected
institutions of higher education and qualified entities to provide
violence prevention training as part of the early childhood education
training program.
(b) Amount.--The Secretary shall award a grant under this Act in an
amount that is not less than $500,000 and not more than $1,000,000.
(c) Duration.--The Secretary shall award a grant under this Act for
a period of not less than 3 years and not more than 5 years.
SEC. 6. APPLICATION.
(a) Application Required.--Each institution of higher education and
qualified entity desiring a grant under this Act shall submit to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied
by such information as the Secretary may require.
(b) Contents.--Each application shall--
(1) describe the violence prevention training activities
and services for which assistance is sought;
(2) contain a comprehensive plan for the activities and
services, including a description of--
(A) the goals of the violence prevention training
program;
(B) the curriculum and training that will prepare
students for careers which are described in the plan;
(C) the recruitment, retention, and training of
students;
(D) the methods used to help students find
employment in their fields;
(E) the methods for assessing the success of the
violence prevention training program; and
(F) the sources of financial aid for qualified
students;
(3) contain an assurance that the instructors running the
program are qualified and will use proven methods of violence
prevention;
(4) contain an assurance that the institution has the
capacity to implement the plan; and
(5) contain an assurance that the plan was developed in
consultation with agencies and organizations that will assist
the institution of higher education or qualified entity in
carrying out the plan.
SEC. 7. SELECTION PRIORITIES.
The Secretary shall give priority to awarding grants to
institutions of higher education and qualified entities carrying out
violence prevention programs that include 1 or more of the following
components:
(1) Preparation to engage in family support (such as parent
education, service referral, and literacy training).
(2) Preparation to engage in community outreach or
collaboration with other services in the community.
(3) Preparation to use conflict resolution training with
children.
(4) Preparation to work in economically disadvantaged
communities.
(5) Recruitment of economically disadvantaged students.
(6) Carrying out programs of demonstrated effectiveness in
the type of training for which assistance is sought, including
programs funded under section 596 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (as such section was in effect prior to October 7,
1998).
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$35,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2004.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1711)
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training and Life-Long Learning.
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