School Readiness Act of 2005 - Amends the Head Start Act to revise and reauthorize Head Start programs.
(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide financial assistance to Head Start agencies for five-year periods.
(Sec. 5) Extends the authorization of appropriations for Head Start programs through FY2011.
(Sec. 6) Sets forth allotment provisions, as well as limitations on and authorized uses of Head Start funds. Reserves specified portions of Head Start funds for Indian, migrant and seasonal, training and technical assistance, and Early Head Start programs.
Revises authorized uses of quality improvement funds to include outreach to homeless families, migrant and seasonal farmworker families, and families with children with a limited English proficiency.
Directs the Secretary (who is currently authorized) to award collaboration grants for Head Start and other related-agencies within states.
Includes models that leverage existing capacities and capabilities of the delivery system of early childhood education and child care among locally designed or specialized service delivery models for Head Start programs.
Requires the Secretary, in allotting funds for expansion of Head Start programs, to consider the extent that an applicant: (1) has involved providers of family support services and protective services for children and families in community-wide strategic planning and needs assessments (among other entities); and (2) plans to coordinate its services with a community liaison designated under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001 (homeless education liaison), as well as (under current law) with the education services of the local educational agency (LEA).
Directs the Secretary to require Head Start agencies to: (1) implement policies and procedures to ensure that eligible homeless children are identified and prioritized for enrollment; (2) allow homeless families to apply to, enroll in, and attend Head Start programs while required documents, such as proof of residency, immunization and other medical records, birth certificates and other documents, are obtained within a reasonable time frame; and (3) coordinate individual Head Start centers and programs with efforts to implement homeless children education programs under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Declares that nothing in the Act shall be construed to require: (1) a state to establish a program of early education for children; or (2) require any child to participate in a program of early education, attend school, or participate in any initial screening prior to participation in such program (except as provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).
Requires all curricula and instructional materials funded under the Act to be: (1) scientifically based and age appropriate; and (2) available for parental inspection, upon request.
(Sec. 7) Includes community-based or faith-based organizations among the entities that may be designated as Head Start agencies.
Requires eligible entities, in order to be designated as Head Start agencies and receive financial assistance initially and subsequently, to establish and demonstrate they have met measurable goals for: (1) school readiness of participating children; (2) meeting performance standards; (3) educational instruction in prereading, pre-mathematical, and language skills; and (4) provision of health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services related to school readiness. Requires such entities to align Head Start curricula with state-developed academic content standards and the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework developed by the Secretary.
Directs the Secretary to give priority in designation of Head Start agencies to those that: (1) are receiving Head Start assistance; (2) meet or exceed certain program, financial, and education standards; (3) have no unresolved area of noncompliance and have not been deemed deficient since the most recent designation; (4) employ qualified staff and provide ongoing professional development opportunities; (5) have an independent board of directors to provide direction and actively oversee all program activities; and (6) meet other criteria relating to adequate enrollment, curricula, child development outcomes, classroom environment, partnerships with various entities, fiscal controls, state child care licensing, parental involvement, and outreach to at-risk families.
Requires the Secretary, when no entity in a community has priority, to conduct an open competition among qualified applicants in such community. Directs the Secretary, in selecting from among qualified applicants for designation, to consider the effectiveness of each applicant to provide Head Start services, based on specified factors.
(Sec. 8) Revises the additional educational performance standards included as program quality standards, and performance measures for program monitoring.
Requires Head Start agencies to establish procedures for evaluating and correcting their delegate agencies, including procedures for defunding and for appealing defunding decisions.
Requires Head Start agencies to report to the Secretary on enrollment in their Head Start programs. Directs the Secretary to review such reports and develop plans to reduce or eliminate underenrollment in the case of any agency operating a program with an enrollment that is less than 95% of its funded enrollment. Provides for recapture, reduction, or withholding of a portion of an agency's base grant in cases of programs with chronic underenrollment.
(Sec. 9) Revises requirements for local Head Start agencies, including designation qualifications, coordination and collaboration, and assessment. Requires each agency to establish an independent board of directors. Requires each agency to enroll 100% of its funded enrollment, and to maintain an active waiting list and outreach to the community and underserved populations.
Allows Head Start agencies to develop or maintain partnerships with institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations that recruit, train, place, and support college students to serve as mentors and reading coaches to preschool children in Head Start programs.
(Sec. 10) Requires Head Start alignment with K-12 education to ensure effective transition through: (1) continuity of developmentally appropriate curricula between Head Start and local educational agencies; (2) joint training, including transition-related training for school staff and Head Start staff; (3) family outreach and support, and continuity in parental involvement; (4) linking of the services provided; (5) increased program participation of underserved populations of eligible children; and (6) alignment of Head Start curricula with state early learning standards and the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework.
(Sec. 11) Requires local and state integration of early childhood education through: (1) Head Start agency partnerships with local educational agencies and state-funded preschool and other early childhood programs; (2) early learning collaboration grants for State Early Learning Councils; and (3) a State Director for Head Start Collaboration.
(Sec. 12) Requires Head Start agencies to publish and make available to the public annual reports that disclose specified financial and other program information.
(Sec. 13) Limits to 10% of total enrollment the permissible participation of children in the area served who would benefit from Head Start programs, including children referred by child welfare agencies, but whose families do not meet prescribed low-income criteria.
Exempts military housing from being counted as family income in determining a child's eligibility to enroll in a Head Start program.
(Sec. 14) Revises requirements for Early Head Start programs for families with infants and toddlers.
Directs the Secretary to ensure that, by September 30, 2008, all teachers providing direct services to children and families in programs in Early Head Start centers have a minimum of a child development associate credential or an associate degree, and have been trained or have equivalent course work in early childhood development. Requires professional development to increase program participation for underserved populations of eligible children.
Provides for Early Head Start: (1) services to parents, including training in parenting skills and in basic child development; (2) coordination with home-based services; and (3) linkages with agencies and early intervention providers under the Individuals with Disabilities Act and with agencies under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.
Includes among eligible providers of Early Head Start services: (1) migrant and seasonal Head Start programs; and (2) community- and faith-based organizations.
(Sec. 15) Requires Head Start agencies to obtain informed written parental consent before administration of any health care service, including any screening or any nonemergency intrusive physical examination of a child, in connection with participation in a Head Start program.
(Sec. 16) Prohibits use of Head Start funds to reimburse any Head Start financial assistance recipient for legal fees and other costs incurred in pursuing appeals of terminations, reductions, or suspensions of such assistance or of certain denials of applications for noncompeting continuation awards.
(Sec. 17) Requires Head Start agencies to undergo independent annual audits, within 270 days after the end of each fiscal year, which comply with requirements of the Single Audit Act.
(Sec. 18) Revises training and technical assistance requirements.
Includes technical assistance for: (1) increasing program participation of homeless children; and (2) outreach and services to children with limited English proficiency and their families.
Includes community- and faith-based organizations among entities eligible for grants to train Head Start personnel in using performing and visual arts and interactive electronic media programs to enhance children's learning experiences.
Revises requirements for supporting an organization that administers a centralized child development and national assessment program leading to recognized credentials. Includes among such requirements training for personnel providing services to children who are: (1) abused or neglected; or (2) referred by or receiving child welfare services.
Directs the Secretary to provide funds to train Head Start personnel in addressing the unique needs of migrant and seasonal working families, families with a limited English proficiency, homeless families, and families with children with disabilities.
Requires the use of more than 50% of training and technical assistance funds expenditures to provide classroom-focused training and technical assistance. Requires such funds to be used for activities related to: (1) education and early childhood development; (2) child health, nutrition, and safety; (3) family and community partnerships; or (4) other areas affecting the quality or effectiveness of Head Start programs.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement an outreach program to train and recruit African-American and Latino-American men to become Head Start teachers; and (2) collaborate with specified officials and entities to ensure Head Start program access for children of migrant and seasonal families and for American Indian and Alaska Native children.
(Sec. 19) Revises requirements for staff qualifications and development. Directs the Secretary to ensure that, by September 30, 2011, at least 50% of all Head Start teachers nationwide in center-based programs have a baccalaureate or advanced degree: (1) in early childhood education; or (2) in a field related to early childhood education, with experience in teaching preschool children. Requires all new Head Start teachers to have at least an associate degree or be enrolled in a program working towards that degree within three years of enactment of this Act.
Requires Head Start teachers who have received financial assistance under the Act to teach in a Head Start Center for an amount of time equal to the time period in which they received financial assistance.
Directs every Head Start agency and program to create professional development plans for all full-time employees who provide direct services to children.
(Sec. 20) Revises requirements for research, demonstrations, and evaluation.
Requires the use of Head Start programs to develop, test, and disseminate new ideas and approaches for addressing the needs of low-income abused or neglected children and their families and communities.
Repeals the mandate for a study comparing the educational achievement, social adaptation, and health status of children participating in Head Start programs with that of eligible but non-participating children.
Directs the Secretary to use certain funds to contract with the National Academy of Sciences for the Board on Children, Youth, and Families of the National Research Council to establish an independent panel of experts to: (1) review and synthesize research, theory, and applications in the social, behavioral, and biological sciences; and (2) make recommendations on early childhood pedagogy with regard to specified issues.
Directs the Secretary to study the status of children with limited English proficiency and their families in Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
Requires the Secretary to: (1) temporarily suspend implementation of the National Reporting System pending completion of the panel's recommendations; and (2) integrate such recommendations to develop a national assessment system.
(Sec. 21) Includes homeless children among those Head Start participants whose status the Secretary reports on biennially.
Requires the Secretary to report annually to specified congressional committees on the status of the National Reporting System.
(Sec. 22) Limits the rate of federal funding for compensation in excess of the level II rate of the Executive Schedule to any individual employed by a Head Start agency.
(Sec. 23) Prohibits use of Head Start funds: (1) for publicity or propaganda purposes unauthorized by Congress; or (2) unless authorized by federal law, to produce any prepackaged news story intended for broadcast or distribution unless such story includes a clear notification that it was prepared or funded by the Department of HHS.
(Sec. 26) Directs the Secretary to contract with an intermediary organization for a management reform initiative to evaluate: (1) HHS's monitoring of Head Start grantees, overseeing the Head Start Bureau, and managing specified program aspects, including resource allocation and selection of Head Start agencies; and (2) best practice Head Start models, early warning systems to identify programs that need intervention, and processes to assist such programs in implementing necessary improvements.
(Sec. 27) Allots a specified minimum amount in FY2006-FY2007 for such management initiative reform activities.
(Sec. 28) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on Head Start teacher retention levels, within one year after implementation of Head Start teacher qualifications and development requirements of this Act.
(Sec. 29) Includes consideration of the needs of homeless children, children in foster care, and children referred by child welfare agencies, under specified requirements for Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
(Sec. 30) Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance, guidance, and resources, to assist in providing Head Start services to children affected by Hurricane Katrina, to Head Start agencies that: (1) are in Hurricane Katrina-disaster areas; or (2) receive a significant number of such children from such areas.
Provides that the Secretary, for the period up to March 31, 2006, and so far as the Secretary considers appropriate: (1) may waive Head Start Act requirements limiting the federal share of funding; and (2) shall waive documentation requirements for affected children who participate in Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
(Sec. 31) Exempts religious corporations, associations, educational institutions, and societies from certain Head Start program nondiscrimination requirements, with respect to employment of individuals of a particular religion.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2123 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2123
To reauthorize the Head Start Act to improve the school readiness of
disadvantaged children, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 5, 2005
Mr. Castle (for himself, Mr. Boehner, Mr. McKeon, Mr. Wilson of South
Carolina, Mr. Regula, Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Putnam, and Mr. Sullivan)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the Head Start Act to improve the school readiness of
disadvantaged children, 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 ``School Readiness Act of 2005''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
Section 636 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 636. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
``It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote school readiness
by enhancing the development of low-income children, through
educational instruction in prereading skills, premathematics skills,
and language, and through the provision to low-income children and
their families of health, educational, nutritional, social and other
services that are determined, based on family needs assessments, to be
necessary.''.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Section 637 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9832) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (17) by striking ``, but for fiscal
years'' and all that follows down to the period;
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (15), (16), and (17) as
paragraphs (19), (20), and (21), respectively;
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (10) through (14) as
paragraphs (13) through (17), respectively;
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (9) as
paragraphs (5) through (11), respectively;
(5) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
(6) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) The term `deficiency' means--
``(A) failure of a Head Start agency in an area of
performance that the Secretary determines involves--
``(i) a threat to the health, safety, or
civil rights of children or staff;
``(ii) a denial to parents of the exercise
of their full roles and responsibilities
related to program governance;
``(iii) a failure to perform the
requirements of this subchapter, as determined
by the Secretary;
``(iv) the misuse of funds received under
this subchapter;
``(v) loss of legal status (as determined
by the Secretary) or financial viability, loss
of permits, debarment from receiving Federal
grants or contracts, or the improper use of
Federal funds; or
``(vi) failure to meet any other of Federal
or State requirement;
``(B) failure of the board of directors of a Head
Start agency to fully exercise its legal and fiduciary
responsibilities;
``(C) failure of a Head Start agency to meet the
administrative requirements of section 644(b); or
``(D) failure of a Head Start agency to meet the
integration requirements of 642B.'';
(7) by inserting after paragraph (3), as so redesignated,
the following:
``(4) The term `eligible entities' means an institution of
higher education or other agency with expertise in delivering
training in early childhood development, family support, and
other assistance designed to improve the quality of early
childhood educations programs.'';
(8) by inserting after paragraph (11), as so redesignated,
the following:
``(12) The term `homeless children' has the meaning given
such term in subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.).'';
(9) by inserting after paragraph (17), as so redesignated,
the following:
``(18) Professional Development.--The term `professional
development' includes activities that--
``(A) assist teachers in meeting the professional
requirements insection 648A(a)(1);
``(B) improve classroom management skills;
``(C) are high quality, sustained, intensive, and
classroom-focused in order to have a positive and
lasting impact on classroom instruction and the
teacher's performance in the classroom;
``(D) are not 1-day or short-term workshops or
conferences;
``(E) assist teachers and staff in increasing their
knowledge and skills in program administration, program
quality, and the provision of services and instruction
in a manner that improves service delivery to eligible
children and families;
``(F) support the recruiting, hiring, and training
of teachers that meet the requirements of section
648A(a)(2);
``(G) are part of a sustained effort to improve
overall program quality and outcomes for eligible
children and families;
``(H) advance teacher understanding of effective
instructional strategies that are--
``(i) based on scientifically based
research; and
``(ii) strategies for improving school
readiness or substantially increasing the
knowledge and teaching skills of teachers;
``(I) are, where applicable, aligned with and
directly related to--
``(i) State academic content standards,
student academic achievement standards, and
assessments; and
``(ii) the curricula and programs tied to
the standards described in section 641(a)(1);
``(J) are developed with extensive participation of
administrators and teachers from Head Start programs;
``(K) are appropriate for the children being
served;
``(L) are designed to give teachers of non-English
language background children, and other teachers and
instructional staff, the knowledge and skills to
provide instruction and appropriate language and
support services to those children;
``(M) as a whole, are regularly evaluated for their
impact on increased staff effectiveness and improved
ability of teachers to support learning and increase
participating children's school readiness, with the
findings of the evaluations used to improve the quality
of professional development;''.
``(N) provide instruction in methods of teaching
children with special needs; and
``(O) include instruction in ways that Head Start
personnel may work more effectively with parents.'',
and
(10) by adding at the end the following:
``(22) The term `unresolved area of noncompliance' means a
failure to correct a noncompliance item within 90 days, or
within such additional time (if any) authorized by the
Secretary, after receiving from the Secretary notice of such
noncompliance item.''.
SEC. 4. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HEAD START PROGRAMS.
Section 638 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9833) is amended by
inserting ``for a period of 5 years'' after ``provide financial
assistance to such agency''.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION.
Section 639 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9834) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 639. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated for
carrying out the provisions of this subchapter $6,899,000,000 for the
fiscal year 2006 and such sums as may be necessary for the fiscal years
2007 through 2011.
``(b) Specific Programs.--From the amount appropriated under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall make available not more than
$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal years 2007 through 2011 to carry out such other research,
demonstration, and evaluation activities, including longitudinal
studies, under section 649, of which not more than $7,000,000 for each
of the fiscal years 2006 through 2011 to carry out impact studies under
section 649(g).''.
SEC. 6. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS; LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE.
(a) Allotments.--Section 640(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9835(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``1998'' and
inserting ``2005'';
(B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as
follows:
``(B) payments, subject to paragraph (7) to Guam, American
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and
the Virgin Islands of the United States;'';
(C) by amending (C) to read as follows:
``(C) training and technical assistance activities to
foster program quality and management improvement as described
in section 648, in an amount for each fiscal year which is
equal to 2 percent of the amount appropriated for such fiscal
year, of which--
``(i) not less than 50 percent shall be made
available to local Head Start agencies to make program
improvements identified by such agencies and comply
with the standards described in section 641A(a)(1), of
which not less than 50 percent shall be used to comply
with the standards described in section 641A(a)(1)(B)
and for the uses described in clauses (iii), (iv), and
(vii) of subsection (a)(3)(B);
``(ii) not less than 20 percent shall be made
available to support a State system of early childhood
education training and technical assistance, including
the State Early Learning Council described in section
642B;
``(iii) not less than 30 percent shall be made
available to the Secretary to assist local programs in
meeting the standards described in section 641A(a)(1)
and shall be allocated to address program weaknesses
identified by monitoring activities conducted by the
Secretary under section 641A(c); and
``(iv) not less than $3,000,000 of the amount in
clause (iii) appropriated for such fiscal year shall be
made available to carry out activities described in
section 648(c)(4);''; and
(D) by striking the last sentence.
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (i)(I) by striking ``1999''
and all that follows down to the semicolon and
inserting ``2006 through 2011''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) After the reservation of amounts under paragraph (2) and
the 60 percent amount referred to in subparagraph (A) of this
paragraph, a portion of the remaining funds shall be made available for
quality--
``(I) to expand services to underserved populations, such
as children receiving services under the Early Head Start and
migrant and seasonal Head Start programs; and
``(II) to increase funding to grantees with full enrollment
and whose aggregate amount of financial assistance provides
funding per child that is below the national average.'';
(B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as
follows:
``(B) Funds reserved under this paragraph (in this paragraph
referred to as `quality improvement funds') shall be used to accomplish
any or all of the following goals:
``(i) Ensuring that Head Start programs meet or exceed
standards pursuant to section 641A(a)(1).
``(ii) Ensuring that such programs have adequate numbers of
qualified staff, and that such staff is furnished adequate
training, including developing skills to promote the
development of language skills, premathematic skills, and
prereading in young children and in working with children with
non-English language background, children referred by child
welfare services, and children with disabilities, when
appropriate.
``(iii) Developing and financing the salary scales
described under section 644(a) and section 653, in order to
ensure that salary levels and benefits are adequate to attract
and retain qualified staff for such programs.
``(iv) Using salary increases--
``(I) to assist with the implementation of quality
programs and improve staff qualifications;
``(II) to ensure that staff can promote the
language skills and literacy growth of children and can
provide children with a variety of skills that have
been identified, through scientifically based early
reading research, as predictive of later reading
achievement; and
``(III) to encourage the staff to continually
improve their skills and expertise by informing the
staff of the availability of Federal and State
incentive and loan forgiveness programs for
professional development.
``(v) Improving community-wide strategic planning and needs
assessments for such programs and collaboration efforts for
such programs, including collaborations to increase program
participation by underserved populations of eligible children.
``(vi) Ensuring that the physical environments of Head
Start programs are conducive to providing effective program
services to children and families, and are accessible to
children with disabilities and their parents.
``(vii) Ensuring that such programs have qualified staff
that can promote language skills and literacy growth of
children and that can provide children with a variety of skills
that have been identified, through scientifically based reading
research, as predictive of later reading achievement.
``(viii) Providing assistance to complete postsecondary
coursework including scholarships or other financial
incentives, such as differential and merit pay, to enable Head
Start teachers to improve competencies and the resulting child
outcomes.
``(ix) Making such other improvements in the quality of
such programs as the Secretary may designate.
``(x) Promoting the regular attendance and stability of all
Head Start children with particular attention to highly mobile
children, including children from migrant and seasonal
farmworker families (if appropriate), homeless children, and
children in foster care.''; and
(C) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as
follows:
``(C) Quality improvement funds shall be used to carry out the
activities in any or all of the following clauses:
``(i)(I) Not less than one-half of the amount reserved
under this paragraph, to improve the compensation (including
benefits) of classroom teachers and other staff of Head Start
agencies providing instructional services and thereby enhancing
recruitment and retention of qualified staff, including
recruitment and retention pursuant to achieving the
requirements set forth in section 648A(a). The expenditure of
funds under this clause shall be subject to section 653. Salary
increases, in excess of cost-of-living allowance, provided with
such funds shall be subject to the specific standards governing
salaries and salary increases established pursuant to section
644(a).
``(II) If a Head Start agency certifies to the Secretary
for such fiscal year that part of the funds set aside under
subclause (I) to improve wages cannot be expended by such
agency to improve wages because of the operation of section
653, then such agency may expend such part for any of the uses
specified in this subparagraph (other than wages).
``(III) From the remainder of the amount reserved under
this paragraph (after the Secretary carries out subclause (I)),
the Secretary may carry out the activities described in clauses
(ii) through (vii).
``(ii) To train classroom teachers and other staff to meet
the education standards described in section 641A(a)(1)(B),
through activities--
``(I) to promote children's language and prereading
growth, through techniques identified through
scientifically based reading research;
``(II) to promote the acquisition of the English
language for non-English background children and
families;
``(III) to foster children's school readiness
skills through activities described in section
648A(a)(1); and
``(IV) to provide education and training necessary
to improve the qualifications of Head Start staff,
particularly assistance to enable more instructors to
be fully competent and to meet the degree requirements
under section 648A(a)(2)(A), and to support staff
training, child counseling, and other services
necessary to address the challenges of children
participating in Head Start programs, including
children from immigrant, refugee, and asylee families,
children from families in crisis, children who
experience chronic violence in their communities, and
children who experience substance abuse in their
families.
``(iii) To employ additional Head Start staff, including
staff necessary to reduce the child-staff ratio, lead
instructors who meet the qualifications of section 648A(a) and
staff necessary to coordinate a Head Start program with other
services available to children participating in such program
and to their families.
``(iv) To pay costs incurred by Head Start agencies to
purchase insurance (other than employee benefits) and thereby
maintain or expand Head Start services.
``(v) To supplement amounts provided under paragraph (2)(C)
to provide training necessary to improve the qualifications of
the staff of the Head Start agencies, and to support staff
training, child counseling, and other services necessary to
address the problems of children participating in Head Start
programs, including children from dysfunctional families,
children who experience chronic violence in their communities,
and children who experience substance abuse in their families.
``(vi) To conduct outreach to homeless families in an
effort to increase the program participation of homeless
children.
``(vii) Such other activities as the Secretary may
designate.
``(viii) To conduct outreach to migrant and seasonal farm-
working families and families with children with a limited
English proficiency.'';
(3) in paragraph (4) by striking ``1998'' in subparagraph
(A) and inserting ``2005'';
(4) in paragraph (5) by amending subparagraphs (A), (B),
and (C) to read as follows:
``(A) From amounts reserved and allotted pursuant to paragraph (4)
and the amounts reserved in Section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii), the Secretary
shall award the grants described in Section 642B(b).
``(B) From the reserved sums in paragraph (4) the Secretary shall
award a collaboration grant to any State that submits a written request
outlining why it is unable to comply with Section 642B(b). Such grant
shall be equal to the amount the State received under this paragraph
for such activity for fiscal year 2005. Such grant shall be used by the
State to facilitate collaboration regarding activities carried out in
the State under this subchapter, and other activities carried out in
and by the State that are designed to benefit low-income children and
families and to encourage Head Start agencies to collaborate with
entities involved in State and local planning processes (including the
State lead agency administering the financial assistance under the
Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 and the entities
that provide child care resource and referral services in the State) in
order to better meet the needs of low-income children and their
families.
``(C) In order to improve results for children, a State that
receives a grant under subparagraph (B) shall--
``(i) appoint an individual to serve as the State Director
of Collaboration between--
``(I) the appropriate regional office of the
Administration for Children and Families;
``(II) the State educational agency;
``(III) the State Department of Health and Human
Services;
``(IV) the State agency that oversees child care;
``(V) the State agency that assists children with
developmental disabilities;
``(VI) the State Head Start Association;
``(VII) the State network of child care resource
and referral agencies;
``(VIII) local educational agencies;
``(IX) community-based and faith-based
organizations;
``(X) State representatives of migrant and seasonal
Head Start programs;
``(XI) State representatives of Indian Head Start
programs;
``(XII) State and local providers of early
childhood education and child care; and
``(XIII) other entities carrying out programs
serving low-income children and families in the State;
``(ii) ensure that the State Director of Collaboration
holds a position with sufficient authority and access to ensure
that the collaboration described in subparagraph (B) is
effective and involves a range of State agencies;
``(iii) involve the entities described in section clause
(i) to develop a strategic plan for the coordinated outreach to
identify eligible children and implementation strategies based
on a needs assessment conducted by the Office of the State
Director of Collaboration which shall include an assessment of
the availability of high quality prekindergarten services for
low-income children in the State. Such assessment shall be
completed within one year after the date of enactment of the
`School Readiness Act of 2005' and be updated on an annual
basis and shall be made available to the general public within
the State;
``(iv) ensure that the collaboration described in
subparagraph (B) involves coordination of Head Start services
with health care, welfare, child care, child protective
services, education, and community service activities, family
literacy services, activities relating to children with
disabilities (including coordination of services with those
State officials who are responsible for administering part C
and section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act), and services for homeless children (including
coordination of services with the Office of Coordinator for
Education of Homeless Children and Youth designated under
section 722 (g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act of 2001;
``(v) consult with the chief State school officer, local
educational agencies, and representatives of local Head Start
agencies and providers of early childhood education and care in
unified planning regarding early care and education services at
both the State and local levels, including collaborative
efforts to develop school readiness standards; and
``(vi) consult with the chief State school officer, local
educational agencies, State child care administrators, State
human services administrators, representatives of local
resource and referral agencies, local early childhood councils,
providers of early childhood education and care and other
relevant State and local agencies, and representatives of the
State Head Start Associations to plan for the provision of
full-working-day, full calendar year early care and education
services for children.'';
(C) in subparagraph (D)(i) by inserting ``and
providers of services supporting early childhood
education and child care'' after ``Associations''; and
(D) by amending paragraph (6)(A) to read as
follows:
``(A) From amounts reserved and allotted pursuant to paragraphs (2)
and (4), the Secretary shall use, for grants for programs described in
section 645A(a) of this subchapter, a portion of the combined total of
such amounts equal to at least 10 percent for each of the fiscal years
2006 through 2011, of the amount appropriated pursuant to section
639(a), except as provided in subparagraph (B).''.
(b) Service Delivery Models.--Section 640(f) of the Head Start Act
(42 U.S.C. 9835(f)) is amended by inserting before the period at the
end the following: ``, including models that leverage the existing
capacity and capabilities of the delivery system of early childhood
education and child care'';
(c) Maintenance of Service Levels.--Section 640(g)(2) of the Head
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(g)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``For purposes of expanding Head Start
programs, in'' and inserting ``in'';
(2) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
``(C) the extent to which the applicant has undertaken
community-wide strategic planning and needs assessments
involving other community organizations and Federal, State, and
local public agencies serving children and families (including
organizations and agencies providing family support services
and protective services to children and families and
organizations serving families in whose homes English is not
the language customarily spoken), and individuals,
organizations, and public entities serving children with
disabilities and homeless children including the local
educational agency liaison designated under section
722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii));'';
(3) in subparagraph (D) by striking ``other local'' and
inserting ``the State and local'';
(4) in subparagraph (E) by inserting ``would like to
participate but'' after ``community who'';
(5) in subparagraph (G)--
(A) by inserting ``leverage the existing delivery
systems of such services and'' after ``manner that
will''; and
(B) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(6) in subparagraph (H)--
(A) by inserting ``, including the local
educational agency liaison designated under section
722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)),'' after
``community involved'';
(B) by striking ``plans to coordinate'' and
inserting ``successfully coordinated its activities'';
and
(C) by striking the period at the end and inserting
``; and''; and
(7) by adding at the end the following:
``(I) the amount of funds used by such agency to pay
administrative expenses and the amount of available funds
received by such agency under this section to serve each
enrolled child.''.
(d) Vehicle Safety Requirements.--Section 640(i) of the Head Start
Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(i)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(i) The'' and inserting the following:
``(i) Transportation Safety.--
``(1) Regulations.--The''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Waiver authority.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may waive for a
period of up to one year the requirements of
regulations promulgated under paragraph (1) for one or
more vehicles used by the agency or its designee in
transporting children enrolled in a Head Start program
or an Early Head Start program if--
``(i) such requirements pertain to child
restraint systems and bus monitors;
``(ii) the agency demonstrates that
compliance with such requirements will result
in a significant disruption to the Head Start
or Early Head Start program; and
``(iii) is in the best interest of the
child.
``(B) Renewal.--The Secretary may renew a waiver
under subparagraph (A)''.
(e) Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs.--Section 640(l) of
the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(l)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3) by adding at the end the following:
``In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall continue the
administrative arrangement at the National level for meeting the needs
of Indian children and children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers to
ensure that appropriate funding is provided to meet such needs.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(4)(A) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the Secretary shall
conduct an annual consultation in each affected Head Start region, with
tribal governments operating Head Start programs and Early Head Start
programs.
``(B) The consultations shall be for the purpose of better meeting
the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native children and families
pertinent to subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 641, taking into
consideration funding allocations, distribution formulas, and other
issues affecting the delivery of Head Start services within tribal
communities.
``(C) The Secretary shall publish a notification of the
consultations in the Federal Register prior to conducting the
consultations.
``(D) A detailed report of each consultation shall be prepared and
made available, on a timely basis, to all tribal governments receiving
funds under this subchapter.''.
(f) Enrollment of Homeless Children.--Section 640 of the Head Start
Act (42 U.S.C. 9835) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(m) Enrollment of Homeless Children.--The Secretary shall by
regulation prescribe policies and procedures to remove barriers to the
enrollment and participation of homeless children in Head Start
programs. Such regulations shall require Head Start agencies--
``(1) to implement policies and procedures to ensure that
homeless children are identified and prioritized for
enrollment;
``(2) to allow homeless families to apply to, enroll in and
attend Head Start programs while required documents, such as
proof of residency, immunization and other medical records,
birth certificates and other documents, are obtained within a
reasonable time frame; and
``(3) coordinate individual Head Start centers and programs
with efforts to implement Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act.
``(n) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this subchapter shall be
construed to require a State to establish a program of early education
for children in the State, to require any child to participate in a
program of early education, to attend school, or to participate in any
initial screening prior to participation in such program, except as
provided under section 612(a)(3), (consistent with section
614(a)(1)(C)), of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
``(o) Materials.--All curricula and instructional materials funded
under this subchapter shall be scientifically based and age
appropriate. Parents shall have the ability to inspect, upon request,
any curricula or instructional materials.''.
SEC. 7. DESIGNATION OF AGENCIES.
(a) Authority To Designate.-- Section 641(a) of the Head Start Act
(42 U.S.C. 9836(a)) is amended to read as follows:
``(a) Authority To Designate.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to designate
as a Head Start agency any local public or private nonprofit or
for-profit agency within a State, including a community-based
or faith-based organization that--
``(A) has power and authority to carry out the
purpose of this subchapter and perform the functions
set forth in section 642 within a State; and
``(B) is determined to be capable of planning,
conducting, administering, and evaluating, either
directly or by other arrangements, a Head Start
program.
``(2) Designation requirements.--In order to be designated
as a Head Start agency and to receive a financial assistance
under this subchapter, an entity described in paragraph (1)
shall establish measurable objectives for improving the school
readiness of children participating in a program under this
subchapter, including measurable objectives for meeting the
performance standards described in section 641A and for--
``(A) educational instruction in prereading,
premathematical, and language skills;
``(B) the provision of health, educational,
nutritional, social, and other services related to
school readiness standards; and
``(C) school readiness standards that are aligned
with State-developed K-12 academic content standards.
``(3) Eligibility for subsequent financial assistance.--In
order to receive a financial assistance under this subchapter-
subsequent to the initial financial assistance provided
following the effective date of this subsection, an entity
described in paragraph (1) shall demonstrate that the entity
has met the measurable objectives described in paragraph (2);
``(4) Measuring Progress.--Progress in meeting such
measurable objectives shall not be measured primarily or solely
by the results of assessments.''
(b) Priority in Designation.--Section 641(c) of the Head Start Act
(42 U.S.C. 9836(c)) is amended to read as follows:
``(c) Consultation.--In the administration of this section, the
Secretary shall, in consultation with the chief executive officer of
the State involved, give priority in the designation of Head Start
agencies to Head Start agencies that--
``(1) are receiving assistance under this subchapter on the
effective date of this subsection;
``(2) meet or exceeds program and financial management
requirements, standards described in section 641A(a)(1);
``(3) meet or exceed the results-based performance measures
developed by the Secretary under section 641A(b)(4);
``(4) have no unresolved areas of noncompliance;
``(5) have not been deemed deficient;
``(6) employ qualified staff (including, in center-based
programs, a teaching staff of whom at least 50 percent have a
associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree in early child
education or a related field);
``(7) were not deemed by the Secretary as chronically
under-enrolled at any time during the term for which financial
assistance was provided;
``(8) utilize research-based curricula that are aligned
with State-developed K-12 academic content standards;
``(9) demonstrate active partnerships with local
educational agencies serving the same communities to facilitate
smooth transitions to kindergarten;
``(10) actively implement a memorandum of understanding
with any local educational agency within the service area and
additional partnership agreements with organizations that
enhance the delivery of services to children;
``(11) demonstrate success in improving child outcomes
across all domains of development, including measurable
progress in language skills, prereading knowledge, and
premathematics knowledge;
``(12) maintain classroom environments constructive to
early learning and future school success;
``(13) demonstrate strong parental involvement and
activities to develop parent skills to support their children's
educational development and ability to participate effectively
in decisions relating to the education of their children;
``(14) are overseen by a local governance board that
provides direction and actively oversees all program
activities;
``(15) document strong fiscal controls, including--
``(A) the employment of well-qualified fiscal staff
with a history of successful management of a public or
private organization;
``(B) having no reportable noncompliance with
applicable laws and regulations on all annual financial
audits performed since the most recent designation;
``(C) meeting or exceeding annual requirements for
financial support under section 640(b); and
``(D) maintaining total administrative costs at or
below 15 percent of total program costs;
``(16) are licensed to operate in accordance with all
applicable State child care regulations;
``(17) conduct outreach activities to ensure that services
are provided to the most at-risk families in the community;
``(18) have developed strong community partnerships with
public and private organizations, such as businesses, health,
and social service providers; and
``(19) provide opportunities for ongoing professional
development.''.
(c) Designation When No Entity Has Priority.--Section 641(d) of the
Head Start Act (43 U.S.C. 9836(d)) is amended to read as follows:
``(d) Designation When No Entity Has Priority.--
``(1) In general.--If no entity in a community is entitled
to the priority specified in subsection (c), the Secretary
shall, after conducting an open competition, designate a Head
Start agency from among qualified applicants in such
community.''.
``(2) Considerations in designation.--In selecting from
among qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start
agency, the Secretary shall consider the effectiveness of each
such applicant to provide Head Start services, based on--
``(A) any past performance of such applicant in
providing services comparable to Head Start services,
including how effectively such applicant provided such
comparable services;
``(B) the plan of such applicant to provide
comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, social,
and other services needed to prepare children to
succeed in school;
``(C) the capacity of such applicant to serve
eligible children with scientifically based programs
that promote the school readiness of children
participating in the program;
``(D) the plan of such applicant to meet standards
set forth in section 641A(a)(1), with particular
attention to the standards set forth in subparagraphs
(A) and (B) of such section;
``(E) the proposed budget and plan of such
applicant to maintain strong fiscal controls and cost
effective fiscal management;
``(F) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the
Head Start program the applicant proposes to carry out
with other educational programs for young children,
including--
``(i) the Early Reading First and Even
Start programs under subparts 2 and 3 of part B
of title I of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6371 et seq.,
6381 et seq.);
``(ii) programs under section 619 and part
C of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
``(iii) State prekindergarten programs;
``(iv) child care programs;
``(v) the educational programs that the
children participating in the Head Start
program involved will enter at the age of
compulsory school attendance; and
``(vi) reading readiness programs such as
those conducted by public and school libraries;
``(G) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the
Head Start program that the applicant proposes to carry
out, with public and private entities that are willing
to commit resources to assist the Head Start -program
in meeting its program needs;
``(H) the plan of such applicant--
``(i) to seek the involvement of parents of
children participating in the proposed Head
Start program, in activities (at home and, if
practicable, at the location of the Head Start
program) designed to help such parents become
full partners in the education of their
children;
``(ii) to afford such parents the
opportunity to participate in the development
and overall conduct of the program at the local
level;
``(iii) to offer (directly or through
referral to local entities, such as entities
carrying out Even Start programs under subpart
3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381
et seq.), public and school libraries, and
entities carrying out family support programs)
to such parents--
``(I) family literacy services; and
``(II) parenting skills training;
``(iv) to offer to parents of participating
children, substance abuse counseling (either
directly or through referral to local
entities), including information on the effect
of drug exposure on infants and fetal alcohol
syndrome;
``(v) at the option of such applicant, to
offer (directly or through referral to local
entities) to such parents--
``(I) training in basic child
development (including cognitive
development);
``(II) assistance in developing
literacy and communication skills;
``(III) opportunities to share
experiences with other parents
(including parent mentor
relationships);
``(IV) regular in-home visitation;
or
``(V) any other activity designed
to help such parents become full
partners in the education of their
children;
``(vi) to provide, with respect to each
participating family, a family needs assessment
that includes consultation with such parents
about the benefits of parent involvement and
about the activities described in subparagraphs
(C), (D), and (E) in which such parents may
choose to become involved (taking into
consideration their specific family needs, work
schedules, and other responsibilities); and
``(vii) to extend outreach to fathers, in
appropriate cases, in order to strengthen the
role of fathers in families, in the education
of their young children, and in the Head Start
program, by working directly with fathers and
father figures through activities such as--
``(I) in appropriate cases,
including fathers in home visits and
providing opportunities for direct
father-child interactions; and
``(II) targeting increased male
participation in the conduct of the
program;
``(I) the ability of such applicant to carry out
the plans described in paragraphs (2), (4), and (5);
``(J) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs
of non-English background children and their families,
including procedures to identify such children, plans
to provide trained personnel, and plans to provide
services to assist the children in making progress
toward the acquisition of the English language;
``(K) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs
of children with disabilities;
``(L) the plan of such applicant who chooses to
assist younger siblings of children who will
participate in the Head Start program, to obtain health
services from other sources;
``(M) the plan of such applicant to collaborate
with other entities carrying out early childhood
education and child care programs in the community;
``(N) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs
of homeless children, including transportation needs,
and children in foster care;
``(O) the plan of such applicant to maintain a
qualified staff, including a teaching staff qualified
to implement research-based educational curricula
aligned with State-developed K-12 academic content
standards;
``(P) the plan of such applicant to enter into
memoranda of understanding with local educational
agencies, child care providers, and other entities
within the service area; and
``(Q) other factors related to the requirements of
this subchapter.''.
SEC. 8. QUALITY STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD START AGENCIES AND
PROGRAMS.
(a) Quality Standards.--Section 641A(a) of the Head Start Act (42
U.S.C. 9836a(a)) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (1)(B)--
(A) in clause (i)--
(i) by inserting ``based on sound
scientific evidence'' after ``standards''; and
(ii) by inserting ``and sustained academic
gains'' after ``readiness''; and
(B) by amending clause (ii) to read as follows:
``(ii) additional scientifically-based education
standards to ensure that the children participating in
the program, at a minimum develop and demonstrate--
``(I) language knowledge and skills,
including language and listening comprehension;
``(II) prereading knowledge and skills that
prepare children for early literacy in schools,
including phonological awareness, print
awareness, and alphabetic knowledge;
``(III) premathematics knowledge and
skills, including aspects of classification,
seriation, number, spatial relations, and time;
``(IV) cognitive abilities related to
academic achievement and child development;
``(V) social and emotional development
related to constructive child development,
early learning, and school success and
sustained academic gains; and
``(VI) in the case of limited-English
proficient children, progress toward
acquisition of the English language while
making meaningful progress in attaining the
knowledge, skills, abilities, and development
described in subclauses (I) through (IV);'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as
follows:
``(B) take into consideration--
``(i) past experience with use of the
standards in effect under this subchapter on
October 27, 1998;
``(ii) changes over the period since
October 27, 1998, in the circumstances and
problems typically facing children and families
served by Head Start agencies;
``(iii) developments concerning research
based practices with respect to early childhood
education and development, children with
disabilities, family services, program
administration, and financial management;
``(iv) projected needs of an expanding Head
Start program;
``(v) guidelines and standards currently in
effect or under consideration that promote
child health services, and projected needs of
expanding Head Start programs;
``(vi) changes in the population of
children who are eligible to participate in
Head Start programs, including the language
background and family structure of such
children;
``(vii) the need for, and state-of-the-art
developments relating to, local policies and
activities designed to ensure that children
participating in Head Start programs make a
successful transition to schools that the
children will be attending; and
``(viii) the unique challenges faced by
individual programs, including those that are
seasonal or short term, and those that serve
rural populations; and''; and
(B) in subparagraph (C)(ii) by striking ``the
date'' and all that follows through ``Act of'', and
inserting ``October 27, 1998''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Evaluations and corrective actions for delegate
agencies.--
``(A) Procedures.--The Head Start agency shall
establish procedures relating to its delegate agencies,
including--
``(i) procedures for evaluating delegate
agencies;
``(ii) procedures for defunding delegate
agencies; and
``(iii) procedures for appealing a
defunding decision relating to a delegate
agency.
``(B) Evaluations.--Each Head Start agency--
``(i) shall evaluate its delegate agencies
using the procedures established pursuant to
this section, including subparagraph (A); and
``(ii) shall inform the delegate agencies
of the deficiencies identified through the
evaluation that shall be corrected.
``(C) Remedies to ensure corrective actions.--In
the event that the Head Start agency identifies a
deficiency for a delegate agency through the
evaluation, the Head Start agency may--
``(i) initiate procedures to terminate the
designation of the agency unless the agency
corrects the deficiency;
``(ii) conduct monthly monitoring visits to
such delegate agency until all deficiencies are
corrected or the Head Start agency decides to
defund such delegate agency; and
``(iii) release funds to such delegate
agency only as reimbursements until all
deficiencies are corrected or the Head Start
agency decides to defund such delegate agency.
``(D) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed to impact or obviate the
responsibilities of the Secretary with respect to Head
Start agencies or delegate agencies receiving funding
under this subchapter.''.
(b) Results-Based Performance Measures.--Section 641A(b) of the
Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836a(b)) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Characteristics of measures.--The performance
measures developed under this subsection shall--
``(A) be used to assess the impact of the various
services provided by Head Start programs and, to the
extent the Secretary finds appropriate, administrative
and financial management practices of such programs;
``(B) be adaptable for use in self-assessment, peer
review, and program evaluation of individual Head Start
agencies and programs;
``(C) be developed for other program purposes as
determined by the Secretary;
``(D) be appropriate for the population served; and
``(E) be reviewed no less than every 4 years, based
on advances in the science of early childhood
development.
The performance measures shall include the performance
standards described in subsection (a)(1)(A) and (B).''; and
(2) by amending subsection (b)(4) to read as follows:
``(4) Educational measures.--Results based measures shall
be designed for the purpose of promoting the competencies of
children participating in Head Start programs specified in
subsection (a)(1)(B)(ii), with an emphasis on measuring those
competencies that have a strong scientifically-based
predictability of a child's school readiness and later
performance in school.''.
(c) Monitoring of Local Agencies and Programs.--Section 641A(c) of
the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836a(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by
inserting ``develop and utilize a risk-based assessment
system to'' after ``shall'';
(B) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as
follows:
``(C) Unannounced site inspections of Head Start
centers, as appropriate.'';
(C) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as
subparagraph (E); and
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the
following:
``(D) Followup reviews including a review of
programs with citations that include 1 or more findings
of deficiencies not later than 6 months after the date
of such citation.''; and
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Conduct of reviews.--The Secretary shall ensure that
reviews described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph
(1)--
``(A) that incorporate a monitoring visit, do so
without prior notice of the visit to the local agency
or program;
``(B) are conducted by review teams composed of
individuals who are knowledgeable about the program
areas they are reviewing and, to the maximum extent
practicable, the diverse (including linguistic and
cultural) needs of eligible children (including
children with disabilities) and limited-English
proficient children and their families;
``(C) include as part of the reviews of the
programs, a review and assessment of program
effectiveness, including strengths and areas for
improvement, as measured in accordance with the
results-based performance measures developed by the
Secretary pursuant to subsection (b) and with the
standards established pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and
(B) of subsection (a)(1);
``(D) seek information from the communities and the
States involved about the performance of the programs
and the efforts of the Head Start agencies to
collaborate with other entities carrying out early
childhood education and child care programs in the
community;
``(E) seek information from the communities where
Head Start programs exist about innovative or effective
collaborative efforts, barriers to collaboration, and
the efforts of the Head Start agencies and programs to
collaborate with the entities carrying out early
childhood education and child care programs in the
community;
``(F) include as part of the reviews of the
programs, a review and assessment of whether a program
is in conformity with the income eligibility
requirements, as defined in section 645 and regulations
promulgated thereunder;
``(G) include as part of the reviews of the
programs, a review and assessment of whether programs
have adequately addressed the population and community
needs (including populations of children with a limited
English proficiency and children of migrant and
seasonal farm-working families);
``(H) include as part of the review the extent to
which the program addresses the community needs and
strategic plan identified in section 640(g)(2)(C); and
``(I) are conducted in a manner that evaluates
program performance, quality, and overall operations
with consistency and objectivity, and based on a
transparent and reliable system of review.''.
(d) Corrective Action; Termination.--Section 641A(d) of the Head
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836a(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by amending the matter preceding
subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
``(1) Determination.--If the Secretary determines, on the
basis of a review pursuant to subsection (c), that a Head Start
agency designated pursuant to section 641 fails to meet the
standards described in subsection (a) or results-based
performance measures developed by the Secretary under
subsection (b), or fails to adequately address the community
needs and strategic plan identified in 640(g)(2)(C), the
Secretary shall--'';
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Quality improvement plan.--
``(A) Agency and program responsibilities.--In
order to retain a designation as a Head Start agency
under this subchapter, or in the case of a Head Start
Program, in order to continue to receive funds from
such agency, a Head Start agency, or Head Start program
that is the subject of a determination described in
paragraph (1) (other than an agency or program required
to correct a deficiency immediately or during a 90-day
period under clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (1)(B))
shall--
``(i) develop in a timely manner, a quality
improvement plan which shall be subject to the
approval of the Secretary, or in the case of a
program, the sponsoring agency, and which shall
specify--
``(I) the deficiencies to be
corrected;
``(II) the actions to be taken to
correct such deficiencies; and
``(III) the timetable for
accomplishment of the corrective
actions specified; and
``(ii) eliminate each deficiency
identified, not later than the date for
elimination of such deficiency specified in
such plan (which shall not be later than 1 year
after the date the agency or program received
notice of the determination and of the specific
deficiency to be corrected).
``(B) Secretarial responsibility.--Not later than
30 days after receiving from a Head Start agency a
proposed quality improvement plan pursuant to
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall either approve
such proposed plan or specify the reasons why the
proposed plan cannot be approved.
``(C) Agency responsibility for program
improvement.--Not later than 30 days after receiving
from a Head Start program, a proposed quality
improvement plan pursuant to subparagraph (A), the
sponsoring agency shall either approve such proposed
plan or specify the reasons why the proposed plan
cannot be approved.'';
(3) in paragraph (3) by inserting ``and programs'' after
``agencies'';
(4) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
``(e) Summaries of Monitoring Outcomes.--Not later than 120 days
after the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall publish a
summary report on the findings of reviews conducted under subsection
(c) and on the outcomes of quality improvement plans implemented under
subsection (d), during such fiscal year. Such information shall be made
available to all parents with children receiving assistance under this
subchapter in a understandable and uniform format, and to the extent
practicable, provided in a language that the parents can understand,
and in addition, make the information widely available through public
means such as distribution through public agencies, and at a minimum
posting such information on the Internet immediately upon
publication.''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Reduction of Grants and Redistribution of Funds in Cases of
Under-Enrollment.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Actual enrollment.--The term `actual
enrollment' means, with respect to the program of a
Head Start agency, the actual number of children
enrolled in such program and reported by the agency (as
required in paragraph (2)) in a given month.
``(B) Base grant.--The term `base grant' means,
with respect to a Head Start agency for a fiscal year,
that portion of the grant derived--
``(i) from amounts reserved for use in
accordance with section 640(a)(2)(A), for a
Head Start agency administering an Indian Head
Start program or migrant and seasonal Head
Start program;
``(ii) from amounts reserved for payments
under section 640(a)(2)(B); or
``(iii) from amounts available under
section 640(a)(2)(D) or allotted among States
under section 640(a)(4).
``(C) Funded enrollment.--The term `funded
enrollment' means, with respect to the program of a
Head Start agency in a fiscal year, the number of
children that the agency is funded to serve through a
grant for the program during such fiscal year, as
indicated in the grant agreement.
``(2) Enrollment reporting requirement for current fiscal
year.--Each entity carrying out a Head Start program shall
report on a monthly basis to the Secretary and the relevant
Head Start agency--
``(A) the actual enrollment in such program; and
``(B) if such actual enrollment is less than the
funded enrollment, any apparent reason for such
enrollment shortfall.
``(3) Secretarial review and plan.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) on a semiannual basis, determine which Head
Start agencies are operating with an actual enrollment
that is less than the funded enrollment based on not
less than 4 consecutive months of data;
``(B) for each such Head Start agency operating a
program with an actual enrollment that is less than 98
percent of its funded enrollment, as determined under
subparagraph (A), develop, in collaboration with such
agency, a plan and timetable for reducing or
eliminating under-enrollment taking into
consideration--
``(i) the quality and extent of the
outreach, recruitment, and community needs
assessment conducted by such agency;
``(ii) changing demographics, mobility of
populations, and the identification of new
underserved low-income populations;
``(iii) facilities-related issues that may
impact enrollment;
``(iv) the ability to provide full-day
programs, where needed, through Head Start
funds or through collaboration with entities
carrying out other preschool or child care
programs, or programs with other funding
sources (where available);
``(v) the availability and use by families
of other preschool and child care options
(including parental care) in the local
catchment area; and
``(vi) agency management procedures that
may impact enrollment; and
``(C) provide timely and ongoing technical
assistance to each agency described in subparagraph (B)
for the purpose of implementing the plan described in
such subparagraph.
``(4) Implementation.--Upon receipt of the technical
assistance described in paragraph (3)(C), a Head Start agency
shall immediately implement the plan described in paragraph
(3)(B).
``(5) Secretarial action for continued under-enrollment.--
If, 1 year after the date of implementation of the plan
described in paragraph (3)(B), the Head Start agency continues
to operate a program at less than full enrollment, the
Secretary shall, where determined appropriate, continue to
provide technical assistance to such agency.
``(6) Secretarial review and adjustment for chronic under-
enrollment.--
``(A) In general.--If, after receiving technical
assistance and developing and implementing a plan to
the extent described in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5)
for 6 months, a Head Start agency is still operating a
program with an actual enrollment that is less than 98
percent of its funded enrollment, the Secretary may--
``(i) designate such agency as chronically
under-enrolled; and
``(ii) recapture, withhold, or reduce the
base grant for the program by, a percentage
equal to the percentage difference between
funded enrollment and actual enrollment for the
program for the most recent year in which the
agency is determined to be under-enrolled under
paragraph (2)(B).
``(B) Waiver or limitation of reductions.--If the
Secretary, after the implementation of the plan
described in paragraph (3)(B), finds that--
``(i) the shortfall can reasonably be
expected to be temporary; or
``(ii) the number of slots allotted to the
agency is small enough that under-enrollment
does not constitute a significant shortfall,
the Secretary may, as appropriate, waive or reduce the
percentage recapturing, withholding, or reduction
otherwise required by subparagraph (A).
``(C) Procedural requirements; effective date.--The
actions taken by the Secretary under this paragraph
with respect to a Head Start agency shall take effect 1
day after the date on which--
``(i) the time allowed for appeal under
section 646(a) expires without an appeal by the
agency; or
``(ii) the action is upheld in an
administrative hearing under section 646.
``(7) Redistribution of funds.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall use amounts
recovered from a Head Start agency through recapturing,
withholding, or reduction under paragraph (6) in a
fiscal year--
``(i) in the case of a Head Start agency
administering an Indian Head Start program or a
migrant and seasonal Head Start program, whose
base grant is derived from amounts specified in
paragraph (1)(C)(i), to redirect funds to 1 or
more agencies that--
``(I) are administering Head Start
programs serving the same special
population; and
``(II) demonstrate that the
agencies will use such redirected funds
to increase enrollment in their Head
Start programs in such fiscal year; or
``(ii) in the case of a Head Start agency
in a State, whose base grant is derived from
amounts specified in clause (ii) or (iii) of
paragraph (1)(C), to redirect funds to 1 or
more agencies that--
``(I) are administering Head Start
programs in the same State; and
``(II) make the demonstration
described in clause (i)(II).
``(B) Special rule.--If there is no agency located
in a State that meets the requirements of subclauses
(I) and (II) of subparagraph (A)(ii), the Secretary
shall use amounts described in subparagraph (A) to
redirect funds to Head Start agencies located in other
States that make the demonstration described in
subparagraph (A)(i)(II).
``(C) Adjustment to funded enrollment.--The
Secretary shall adjust as necessary the requirements
relating to funded enrollment indicated in the grant
agreement of a Head Start agency receiving
redistributed amounts under this paragraph.''.
SEC. 9. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES.
(a) Qualifications for Designation.--Section 642(b) of the Head
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837(b)) is amended to read as follows:
``(b) In order to be so designated, a Head Start agency shall do
all of the following:--
``(1) Establish a program with standards set forth in
section 641A(a)(1), with particular attention to the standards
set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section.
``(2) Demonstrate capacity to serve eligible children with
scientifically-based curricula and other interventions that
help promote the school readiness of children participating in
the program.
``(3) Establish effective procedures by which parents and
area residents concerned will be enabled to directly
participate in decisions that influence the character of
programs affecting their interests.
``(4) Establish an independent board of directors selected
from among eligible individuals who shall serve on the board
without compensation. An individual who has a conflict of
interest is ineligible to serve as a member of the board.
Members of the board shall include parents of children
participating in the Head Start program and representatives of
the local community (including at least 1 member with
significant financial management or accounting experience).
Additional members shall be selected for their expertise in
education, business administration, community affairs,
government, legal affairs, and such other areas of expertise as
may contribute to effective governance of the Head Start
agency. All members of the board shall receive training in the
management responsibilities and obligations, ethics, and
financial literacy and management, and shall adopt practices
that assure active, independent and informed governance of the
Head Start agency, including independent oversight of the
financial and management practices of such agency. The board
shall operate as an entity independent of staff employed by the
Head start agency, entity, or applicant and have the following
duties and responsibilities:
``(A) To provide independent oversight to ensure
that the Head Start agency is delivering high quality
services to children and families in compliance with
all applicable standards in effect under this
subchapter and with the applicable performance measures
established by the Secretary under section 644.
``(B) To establish 2 or more standing committees to
facilitate governance of the Head Start agency which
shall include both of the following:
``(i) A finance committee whose primary
responsibility shall be--
``(I) to develop and recommend
annually the operating budget of the
Head Start agency;
``(II) to review and recommend to
the board the selection or termination
of independent auditors (or the
extension of existing audit firm) at
least once every 4 years;
``(III) to review and advise the
board of the audit management letter
provided pursuant to the chapter 75 of
title 31 of the United States Code, and
of any audit findings; and
``(IV) to monitor agency actions to
correct any such audit findings or
other actions necessary to comply with
applicable laws (including regulations)
governing financial statements and
accounting practices.
``(ii) A policy committee, a majority of
whose representatives shall be parents of
children participating in a Head Start program
or in an Early Head Start program, or of
children who participated in a Head Start
program or in an Early Head Start program in
the then most recent 5-year period preceding
the selection of the particular representative
involved, and whose primary responsibility
shall be to serve as a link between parents and
the Board of Directors and to make
recommendations on--
``(I) the strategic direction of
the program, including long and short-
term planning goals and objectives;
``(II) program operation policies,
including standards of conduct for
program staff and volunteers; and
``(III) activities to support the
active involvement of parents in
supporting program operations.
``(C) To approve the selection and dismissal of the
Head Start director, and to review annually the human
resources available to ensure the effective operation
of the Head Start agency.
``(D) To review and approve the major operational
policies of the Head Start agency, including policies
addressing accounting, financial management,
procurement, record confidentiality, and personnel
(including specific standards governing salaries,
salary adjustments, travel and per diem allowances, and
other employee benefits).
``(E) To ensure that the Head Start agency is
operated in compliance with applicable Federal, State,
and local laws (including regulations), and to monitor
agency implementation of any corrective action
necessary to comply with applicable laws (including
regulations);
``(F) To oversee the program planning of the Head
Start agency, including adoption of the Head Start
agency philosophy and mission statement, adoption of
policies for determining community needs, setting long-
and short-range goals and objectives, establishment of
criteria for selecting families in Head Start or Early
Head Start programs, and to oversee and approve the
agency's applications to receive funds made available
under this subchapter; and
``(G) To establish, adopt, and periodically update
a written `Standards of Conduct' that establishes
standards and procedures for disclosing and addressing
conflicts of interest, and the appearance of conflicts
of interest, by board members, officers, employees,
consultants, and agents who provide services or furnish
goods to the Head Start agency.
``(5) Seek the involvement of parents, area residents, and
local business in the design and implementation of the program.
``(6) Provide technical and other support needed to enable
parents and area residents to secure on their own behalf
available assistance from public and private sources.
``(7) Establish effective procedures to facilitate the
involvement of parents of participating children in activities
designed to help such parents become full partners in the
education of their children, and to afford such parents the
opportunity to participate in the development and overall
conduct of the program at the local level.
``(8) Conduct outreach to schools in which Head Start
children enroll, local educational agencies, the local business
community, community-based organizations, faith-based
organizations, museums, and libraries to generate support and
leverage the resources of the entire local community in order
to improve school readiness.
``(9) Offer (directly or through referral to local
entities, such as entities carrying out Even Start programs
under subpart 3 of part B of chapter 1 of title I of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2741
et seq.)), to parents of participating children, family
literacy services and parenting skills training.
``(10) Offer to parents of participating children substance
abuse counseling (either directly or through referral to local
entities), including information on drug-exposed infants and
fetal alcohol syndrome.
``(11) At the option of such agency, offer (directly or
through referral to local entities), to such parents--
``(A) training in basic child development
(including cognitive development);
``(B) assistance in developing literacy and
communication skills;
``(C) opportunities to share experiences with other
parents (including parent-mentor relationships);
``(D) regular in-home visitation; or
``(E) any other activity designed to help such
parents become full partners in the education of their
children.
``(12) Provide, with respect to each participating family,
a family needs assessment that includes consultation with such
parents about the benefits of parent involvement and about the
activities described in paragraphs (5) through (8) in which
such parents may choose to be involved (taking into
consideration their specific family needs, work schedules, and
other responsibilities).
``(13) Consider providing services to assist younger
siblings of children participating in its Head Start program to
obtain health services from other sources.
``(14) Perform community outreach to encourage individuals
previously unaffiliated with Head Start programs to participate
in its Head Start program as volunteers.
``(15)(A) Inform custodial parents in single-parent
families that participate in programs, activities, or services
carried out or provided under this subchapter about the
availability of child support services for purposes of
establishing paternity and acquiring child support; and
``(B) refer eligible parents to the child support offices
of State and local governments.'';
(b) Coordination and Collaboration.--Section 642(c) of the Head
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837(c)) is amended to read as follows:
``(c) The head of each Head Start agency shall coordinate and
collaborate with the State agency responsible for administering the
State program carried out under the Child Care and Development Block
Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), and other early childhood
education and development programs, including programs under subtitle
VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431-
11435), Even Start programs under subpart 3 of part B of chapter 1 of
title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 2741 et seq.), and programs under Part C and section 619 of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431-1445,
1419), and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C.
5106a), serving the children and families served by the Head Start
agency to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.''.
(c) Other Coordination.--Section 642(d) of the Head Start Act (42
U.S.C. 9837(d)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as
paragraph (5) through (7), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Coordination.--
``(A) Local educational agency.--In communities
where both public prekindergarten programs and Head
Start programs operate, a Head Start agency shall
collaborate and coordinate activities with the local
educational agency or other public agency responsible
for the operation of the prekindergarten program and
providers of prekindergarten, including outreach
activities to identify eligible children.
``(B) Elementary schools.--Head Start staff shall,
with the permission of the parents of children enrolled
in Head Start programs, regularly communicate with the
elementary schools such children will be attending--
``(i) to share information about such
children;
``(ii) to get advice and support from the
teachers in such elementary schools
participating in programs funded under title I
of subpart 1 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 regarding scientifically
based teaching strategies and options; and
``(iii) to ensure a smooth transition to
elementary school for such children.
``(C) Other programs.--The head of each Head Start
agency shall coordinate activities and collaborate with
the State agency responsible for administering the
State program carried out under the Child Care and
Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et
seq.), and other entities carrying out early childhood
education and development programs, programs under
subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.), Even Start
programs under subpart 3 of part B of title I of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6381 et seq.), and programs under section 619
and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (20 U.S.C 1419, 1431 et seq.), serving
the children and families served by the Head Start
agency.
``(3) Collaboration.--A Head Start agency shall take steps
to coordinate activities with the local educational agency
serving the community involved and with schools in which
children participating in a Head Start program operated by such
agency will enroll following such program, including--
``(A) collaborating on the shared use of
transportation and facilities;
``(B) collaborating to enhance the efficiency of
services while increasing the program participation of
underserved populations of eligible children; and
``(C) exchanging information on the provision of
noneducational services to such children.
``(4) Parental involvement.--In order to promote the
continued involvement of the parents of children that
participate in Head Start programs in the education of their
children upon transition to school, the Head Start agency
shall--
``(A) provide training to the parents--
``(i) to inform the parents about their
rights and responsibilities concerning the
education of their children; and
``(ii) to enable the parents--
``(I) to understand and work with
schools in order to communicate with
teachers and other school personnel;
``(II) to support the schoolwork of
their children; and
``(III) to participate as
appropriate in decisions relating to
the education of their children; and
``(B) take other actions, as appropriate and
feasible, to support the active involvement of the
parents with schools, school personnel, and school-
related organizations.'';
(3) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated--
(A) by striking ``A'' and inserting ``Each'';
(B) by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall'';
(C) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph
(A); and
(D) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
subparagraph (C); and
(E) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following:
``(B) collaborating to increase the program participation
of underserved populations of eligible children; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Head Start agencies shall implement a research-based early
childhood curricula that promotes young children's school readiness in
the areas of language and cognitive development, early reading and
premathematics skills, socio-emotional skills, physical development,
and approaches to learning. Such curricula should be--
``(A) based on scientifically based research and have
standardized training procedures and published curriculum
materials to support implementation; and
``(B) comprehensive, balance child and teacher-initiated
activities, be outcomes based, and be linked to ongoing
assessment with concrete instructional goals and objectives.
``(7) Head Start agencies shall use ongoing, research-based
assessment methods that are developmentally appropriate, culturally and
linguistically responsive, and tied to children's daily activities in
order to support the educational instruction of children in the
program, including language skills, prereading knowledge and
premathematics knowledge. Assessment instruments shall be those
designed and validated for making decisions about teaching and learning
and aligned with the program's curricula and Section 641A(a)(1).
``(8) For the purpose of meeting the performance standards, Head
Start agencies shall use high-quality research-based developmental
screening tools that have been demonstrated to be standardized,
reliable, valid, and accurate for children from a range of racial,
ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds.''.
(d) Assessment.--Section 642 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837)
is amended by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
``(e) Assessment.--Each Head Start agency shall adopt, in
consultation with experts in child development and with classroom
teachers, an assessment to be used when hiring or evaluating any
classroom teacher in a center-based Head Start program. Such assessment
shall measure whether such teacher has mastered the functions described
in section 648A(a)(1) and attained a level of literacy appropriate to
implement Head Start curricula.
``(f) Funded Enrollment; Waiting List.--Each Head Start agency
shall enroll 100 percent of its funded enrollment and maintain an
active waiting list at all times with ongoing outreach to the community
and activities to identify underserved populations.''.
SEC. 10. LOCAL AND STATE INTEGRATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et. seq.) is amended by
inserting after section 642A the following:
``SEC. 642B. LOCAL AND STATE INTEGRATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
``(a) Local Integration.--In general, Head Start agencies shall
enter into ongoing partnerships with local educational agencies, State-
funded preschool and other early childhood programs. Head Start
agencies shall operate in a manner consistent with the goal of creating
and expanding an efficient and effective system of early childhood and
school readiness services in each State and community, while
maintaining compliance with Standards under section 641A(a).
``(1) Memoranda of understanding.--Each Head Start agency
shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with any local
educational agencies or local councils, responsible for
managing publicly funded prekindergarten programs in the
service area of the Head Start agency (or if such agencies and
such councils are not applicable in the service area, with the
largest provider of publicly funded prekindergarten in the
service area), that shall include plans to coordinate the
following activities:
``(A) Educational activities, curricula, and
instruction aligned to State developed K-12 academic
standards, as defined by section 1111(b)(1) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
``(B) Public information dissemination and access
to programs for families contacting any of the early
childhood programs.
``(C) Selection priorities for eligible children to
be served by programs.
``(D) Service delivery areas.
``(E) Staff training, including opportunities for
joint staff training on topics such as academic content
standards and instructional methods.
``(F) Program technical assistance.
``(G) Provision of additional services to meet the
child care needs of working parents.
``(H) Planning and parent education for smooth
transitions to kindergarten as required in section
642A(3) and 642A(6).
``(I) Provision and use of facilities,
transportation, and other program elements, and
``(J) Other elements mutually agreed to by the
parties to such memorandum.
``(2) Timing of memoranda--Each Head Start agency shall
enter into a memorandum of understanding under paragraph (1)
not later than 1 year after the effective date of this section.
``(3) Secretarial review.--Each memorandum of understanding
entered into under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the
Secretary not later than 30 days after entering into such
memorandum.
``(A) If a Head Start agency is unable to comply
with the -requirement in (1) the Head Start agency
shall notify the Secretary and the chief executive
officer of the State not later than 30 days after
determining that they are unable to enter into such
memorandum. The Secretary, in cooperation with the
State Early Learning Council and the State Director of
Head Start Collaboration, shall evaluate the causes of
failure to enter into a memorandum of understanding
under paragraph (1). With the assistance of the State
Early Learning Council and the State Director of Head
Start Collaboration, all parties shall again attempt to
enter into a memorandum of understanding under
paragraph (1). Then if no such memorandum of
understanding is entered into, the Secretary shall make
1 of the following determinations:
``(i) The local educational agency, local
council, or other -appropriate entity is unable
or unwilling to enter into such a memorandum
despite reasonable efforts on the part of the
Head Start agency.
``(ii) The Head Start agency has not
engaged in reasonable efforts to successfully
negotiate and enter into a memorandum of -
understanding pursuant to paragraph (1).
``(iii) There is an absence of publicly
funded prekindergarten in the service area of
the Head Start agency.
``(B) If the Secretary determines the Head Start
agency is not --making reasonable efforts to enter into
a memorandum of ---understanding pursuant to paragraph
(1), the Head Start agency shall be found deficient and
shall be considered by the Secretary in the same manner
as other deficiency findings.
``(C) If the Secretary concludes that the local ---
educational agency, local council, or other appropriate
entity is --not making reasonable efforts to reach such
a memorandum of --understanding, the Head Start agency
shall not be found out of compliance with paragraph
(1).
``(4) Revision of memoranda--Each memorandum of
understanding shall be revised and renewed annually by the
parties to such memorandum, in alignment with the beginning of
the school year.
``(5) Absence of prekindergarten.--In the absence of
publicly funded prekindergarten in the service area of a Head
Start agency, the Head Start agency shall submit notice to the
Secretary and the chief executive officer of the State and
shall work with the State Early Learning Council and the State
Director of Head Start Collaboration to improve coordination in
their service area.
``(b) Statewide Integration.--From the amounts reserved and
allotted in section 640(a)(4) and the amounts reserved in section
640(a)(2)(C)(ii), the Secretary shall award an early learning
collaboration grant to each State for the purposes of supporting a
State Early Learning Council responsible for advancing the development
of a coordinated early childhood services delivery system in the State.
A State that receives a grant under this subparagraph shall--
``(1) establish a State Early Learning Council, which shall
include the State Director of Head Start Collaboration,
representatives from the State preschool programs,
representatives of local educational agencies, representatives
of State child care programs, representatives of State
preschool special education programs, and representatives from
Head Start agencies located in the State. The chief executive
officer of the State may designate an existing entity to serve
as the Early Learning Council if such entity includes
representatives described in this paragraph;
``(2) ensure that allotted funds distributed to a State for
a fiscal year to carry out this subsection may be used by the
State to pay not more than 30 percent of the cost of carrying
out this subsection;
``(3) direct the Early Learning Council--
``(A) to increase coordination and collaboration
among State preschool, Head Start programs, child care
programs, early childhood special education, and other
early childhood programs, including in the areas of
outcomes and standards, technical assistance,
coordination of services, cross-sector professional
development and training, outreach, communication, and
better serving the needs of working families through
provision of full-day and full-year early education
services;
``(B) to work with State agencies responsible for
education, child care, and early intervention to
provide leadership and assistance to local Head Start
programs, school districts, and State and locally
funded preschool and child care programs to increase
integration among early childhood programs through
adoption of local memoranda of understanding described
in subparagraph (A) and other means;
``(C) to conduct periodic statewide needs
assessments concerning early care and education
programs for children from birth to school entry;
``(D) to work to identify and address barriers to
and opportunities for integration between entities
carrying out Federal and State child development, child
care, and early childhood education programs;
``(E) to develop recommendations regarding means of
establishing a unified data collection system for early
care and education programs operating throughout the
State;
``(F) to address coordination of early learning
programs with health care, welfare, family literacy and
services for homeless children; and
``(G) to support a State system of early childhood
education, and training and technical assistance that
improves the quality of early learning programs and the
capacity of such programs to deliver services pursuant
to section 648(b).
``(4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
provide the Early Learning Council with authority to alter the
provisions of this Act.
``(5) Funds made available under this section shall be used
to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and
local funds that would otherwise be expended to carry out the
purposes of this section.
``(c) State Director of Head Start Collaboration.--The chief
executive officer of the State shall appoint an individual to serve as
the State Director of Head Start Collaboration and shall ensure that
the Director holds a position with sufficient authority and access to
be capable of facilitating the coordination of programs designed to
benefit low-income children and their families. Such position shall be
located within the State Early Learning Council and shall require the
Director--
``(1) to collaborate with entities involved in State and
local planning processes to better meet the needs of low income
families and children from birth to school entry;
``(2) to assist Head Start agencies in coordinating
activities with the State agency responsible for administering
the State program carried out under the Child Care and
Development Block Grant Act of 1990 and entities that provide
child care resource and referral services in the State to make
full-day and full calendar year services available to children;
``(3) to align Head Start and State prekindergarten
activities to meet shared goals of school readiness; and
``(4) to establish improved linkages between Head Start
agencies and other children and family agencies, including
agencies that provide health, mental health or family services
or other child and family support services.''.
SEC. 11. HEAD START ALIGNMENT WITH K-12 EDUCATION.
Section 642A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837a) is amended--
(1) by amending the heading to read as follows:
``SEC. 642A. HEAD START ALIGNMENT WITH K-12 EDUCATION.'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by inserting ``ongoing'' after
``establishing''; and
(B) after ``social workers,'' by inserting the
following: ``McKinney-Vento liaisons as established
under section 722 (g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act,'';
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7) as
paragraphs (5) through (9), respectively;
(4) by inserting the following after paragraph (2):
``(3) developing continuity of developmentally appropriate
curricula between Head Start and local educational agencies to
ensure an effective transition and appropriate shared
expectations for children's learning and development as they
make such transition to school;
``(4) organizing and participating in joint training,
including transition-related training for school staff and Head
Start staff;'';
(5) by amending paragraph (7), as so redesignated, to read
as follows:
``(7) developing and implementing a family outreach and
support program in cooperation with entities carrying out
parental involvement efforts under title I of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and family outreach and
support efforts under subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act;'';
(6) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated--
(A) by inserting ``and continuity in parental
involvement activities'' after ``developmental
continuity''; and
(B) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph
(8), as so redesignated;
(7) by amending paragraph (9), as so redesignated, to read
as follows:
``(9) linking the services provided in such Head Start
program with the education services, including services
relating to language, literacy, and numeracy, provided by such
local educational agency;''; and
(8) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) helping parents to understand the importance of
parental involvement in a child's academic success while
teaching them strategies for maintaining parental involvement
as their child moves from Head Start to elementary school;
``(11) developing and implementing a system to increase
program participation of underserved populations of eligible
children; and
``(12) coordinating activities and collaborating to ensure
that curricula used in the Head Start program is aligned with
State early learning standards with regard to cognitive,
social, emotional, and physical competencies that children
entering kindergarten are expected to demonstrate.''.
SEC. 12. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS.
Section 644 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9839(f)(2)) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by inserting ``(1) Standards.--'' after
``(a)''; and
(B) by inserting after the 3d sentence the
following:
``(2) Annual report.--Each Head Start agency shall make available
to the public a report published at least once in each fiscal year that
discloses the following information from the then most recently
concluded fiscal year:
``(A) The total amount of public and private funds received
and the amount from each source.
``(B) An explanation of budgetary expenditures and proposed
budget for following fiscal year.
``(C) The Total number of children and families served and
percent of average monthly enrollment, including the percent of
eligible children served.
``(D) The results of the most recent review by the
Secretary and the financial audit.
``(E) The percentage of enrolled children that received
medical and dental exams.
``(F) Information about parent involvement activities.
``(G) The performance of the agency in preparing children
for kindergarten.
``(H) Any other information that describes the activities
of the agency.
``(3) Procedural conduct.--''; and
(2) in subsection (f)(2)
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E)
as subparagraphs (B) through (F), respectively; and
(B) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as so
redesignated, the following:
``(A) a description of the consultation conducted by the
Head Start agency with the providers in the community
demonstrating capacity and capability to provide services under
this subchapter, and of the potential for collaboration with
such providers and the cost effectiveness of such collaboration
as opposed to the cost effectiveness of the purchase of a
facility;''.
SEC. 13. ELIGIBILITY.
Section 645(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (B)(i)--
(i) by striking ``to a reasonable extent''
and inserting ``not to exceed 10 percent of the
total enrollment''; and
(ii) by striking ``benefit from such
programs'' and inserting ``benefit from such
programs, including children referred by child
welfare services,''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``A homeless child shall be deemed to meet the low-income criteria.'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) The amount of a basic allowance provided under section 403 of
title 37, United States Code, on behalf of an individual who is a
member of the uniformed services for housing that is acquired or
constructed under the authority of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of
title 10, United States Code, or any other related provision of law,
shall not be considered to be income for purposes of determining the
eligibility of a child of the individual for programs assisted under
this subchapter.''.
SEC. 14. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--Section 645A(b) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9640a(b)) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraphs (4) and (5) to read as follows:
``(4) provide services to parents to support their role as
parents (including parenting skills training and training in
basic child development) and to help the families move toward
self-sufficiency (including educational and employment services
as appropriate);
``(5) coordinate services with services (including home-
based services) provided by programs in the State and programs
in the community (including programs for infants and toddlers
with disabilities) to ensure a comprehensive array of services
(such as health and mental health services, and family support
services);'';
(2) by amending paragraph (8) to read as follows:
``(8) ensure formal linkages with the agencies and entities
described in section 644(b) of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1444(b)) and providers of
early intervention services for infants and toddlers with
disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) and the agency responsible for
administering the section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a);''.
(3) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (11); and
(4) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
``(9) develop and implement a systematic procedure for
transitioning children and parents from an Early Head Start
program into a Head Start program or another local early
childhood education program;
``(10) establish channels of communication between staff of
Early Head Start programs and staff of Head Start programs or
other local early childhood education programs, to facilitate
the coordination of programs; and''.
(b) Migrant and Seasonal Programs; Community- and Faith-Based
Organizations.--Section 645A(d) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9640a(d)) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) entities operating Head Start programs under this
subpart, including migrant and seasonal Head Start programs;
and''; and
(2) in paragraph (2) of the Head Start Act (42 US.C.
9643(d)(2)) is amended by inserting ``, including community-
and faith-based organizations'' after ``entities'' the 2d place
it appears.
(c) Training and Technical Assistance Account.--Section
645A(g)(2)(B) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9640a(g)(2)(B)) is
amended--
(1) in clause (iii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (iv) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(v) providing professional development
designed to increase program participation for
underserved populations of eligible
children.''.
(d) Center-Based Staff.--Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42
U.S.C. 9640a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Center-Based Staff.--The Secretary shall ensure that, not
later than September 30, 2008, all teachers providing direct services
to Early Head Start children and families in Early Head Start centers
have a minimum of a child development associate credential or an
associate degree, and have been trained (or have equivalent course
work) in early childhood development.''.
SEC. 15. PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR NONEMERGENCY INTRUSIVE
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS.
The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended by inserting
after section 645A the following:
``SEC. 645B. PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR NONEMERGENCY INTRUSIVE
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS.
``(a) Definition.--The term `nonemergency intrusive physical
examination' means, with respect to a child, a physical examination
that--
``(1) is not immediately necessary to protect the health or
safety of such child, or the health or safety of another
individual; and
``(2) includes incision or is otherwise invasive, or
includes exposure of private body parts.
``(b) Requirement.--Before administering any health care service
(including any nonemergency intrusive physical examination) to a child
(or referring such child to obtain such service) in connection with
participation in a program under this subchapter, a Head Start agency
and an entity that receives assistance under section 645A shall obtain
the written consent of a parent of such child.
``(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prohibit a Head Start agency or an entity that receives
assistance under section 645A from using established methods, for
handling cases of suspected or known child abuse and neglect, that are
in compliance with applicable Federal, State, or tribal law.''.
SEC. 16. RIGHT TO APPEAL.
Section 646(a)(3) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9841(a)(3)) is
amended to read as follows:
``(3) if financial assistance under this subchapter is terminated
or reduced, an application for a noncompeting continuation award is
denied based on a previous failure to comply with terms applicable to
financial assistance previously provided this subchapter, or suspension
of financial assistance is continued for more than 30 days, the
recipient with respect to whom such action is taken shall have the
opportunity to appeal such action in accordance with such procedures,
except that no funds made available under this subchapter may be used
to reimburse any such recipient for legal fees and other costs incurred
in pursuing such an appeal;''.
SEC. 17. AUDITS.
Section 647 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9842) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(c)(1) Not later that 60 days after the end of each fiscal year,
each Head Start agency, and each entity that receives assistance under
section 645A, shall submit to the Secretary an independent financial
audit of the Head Start program carried out with financial assistance
provided under this subchapter. Such audit shall be carried out by a
certified public accountant selected through a competitive process from
among qualified certified accountants by the local oversight board
established in accordance with section 641(a) by such agency, except
that no accountant may perform audits of such program for a period
exceeding 2 consecutive fiscal years.
``(2) Not later than 60 days after receiving such audit, the
Secretary shall provide to such agency or such entity, and to the chief
executive officer of the State in which such program is operated, a
notice identifying the actions such agency or such entity is required
to take to correct all deficiencies identified in such audit.
``(d) Each recipient of financial assistance under this subchapter
shall--
``(1) maintain, and annually submit to the Secretary, a
complete accounting of its administrative expenses (including a
detailed statement identifying the amount of financial
assistance provided under this subchapter used to pay expenses
for salaries and compensation and the amount (if any) of other
funds used to pay such expenses); and
``(2) provide such additional documentation as the
Secretary may require.''.
SEC. 18. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.
(a) State-Based System.--Section 648 of the Head Start Act (42
U.S.C. 9843) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as
subsections (c) through (f), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) The Secretary shall make available to each State the money
reserved in section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) to support a State-based system
delivering training and technical assistance that improves the capacity
of Head Start programs within a State to deliver services in accordance
with the Head Start standards in section 641A(a)(1), with particular
attention to the standards set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of
such section. The Secretary shall--
``(1) ensure eligible entities within a State are chosen by
the Secretary, in consultation with the State Collaboration
Board described in section 640(a)(5)(C)(i), through a
competitive bid process;
``(2) ensure that existing agencies with demonstrated
expertise in providing high quality training and technical
assistance to improve the delivery of Head Start services,
including the State Head Start Association, State agencies,
migrant and seasonal Head Start programs operating in the
State, and other entities currently providing training and
technical assistance in early education, be included in the
planning and coordination of the State system of training and
technical assistance; and
``(3) encourage States to supplement the funds authorized
in section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) with State, Federal, or local funds
other than Head Start funds, to expand activities beyond Head
Start agencies to include other providers of other early
childhood services within a State.''.
(b) Allocation of Resources.--Section 648(d) of the Head Start Act
(42 U.S.C. 9843(d)), as so redesignated, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2) by inserting ``and for activities
described in section 1221(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965'' after ``disabilities'' ; and
(2) in paragraph (5) by inserting ``, including the needs
of homeless children and their families'' after ``assessment'';
(3) in paragraph (10) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(4) in paragraph (11) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(5) by adding the following at the end:
``(12) assist Head Start agencies and programs in
increasing program participation of homeless children.''.
(c) Training in Use of Media.--Section 648(e) of the Head Start Act
(42 U.S.C. 9843(e)), as so redesignated, is amended by inserting ``,
including community- and faith-based organizations'' after
``entities''.
(d) Child Development and National Assessment Program.--Section
648(f) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843(f)), as so redesignated,
is amended to read as follows:
``(f) The Secretary shall provide, either directly or through
grants or other arrangements, funds from programs authorized under this
subchapter to support an organization to administer a centralized child
development and national assessment program leading to recognized
credentials for personnel working in early childhood development and
child care programs, training for personnel providing services to non-
English language background children (including services to promote the
acquisition of the English language), training for personnel providing
services to children determined to be abused or neglected, training for
personnel providing services to children referred by or receiving child
welfare services, training for personnel in helping children cope with
community violence, and resource access projects for personnel working
with disabled children.''.
(e) Addressing Unique Needs.--Section 648 of the Head Start Act (42
U.S.C. 9843) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Helping Personnel Better Serve Migrant and Seasonal Farm-
Working Communities and Homeless Families.--The Secretary shall
provide, either directly or through grants, or other arrangements,
funds for training of Head Start personnel in addressing the unique
needs of migrant and seasonal working families, families with a limited
English proficiency, and homeless families.
``(h) Authorized Activities.--More than 50 percent of funds
expended under this section shall be used to provide high quality,
sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused training and technical
assistance in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom
instruction. Funds shall be used to carry out activities related to any
or all of the following:
``(1) Education and early childhood development.
``(2) Child health, nutrition, and safety.
``(3) Family and community partnerships.
``(4) Other areas that impact the quality or overall
effectiveness of Head Start programs.
``(i) Prohibition on Use of Funds.--Funds under this subchapter
used for training shall be used for needs identified annually by a
grant applicant or delegate agency in their program improvement plan,
except that funds shall not be used for long-distance travel expenses
for training activities available locally or regionally or for training
activities substantially similar to locally or regionally available
training activities.
``(j)(1) The Secretary shall work in collaboration with the Head
Start agencies that carry out migrant and seasonal Head Start programs,
State Collaboration Directors, the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker
Collaboration Project Director, and other appropriate entities--
``(A) to accurately determine the number of children
nationwide who are eligible to participate in migrant and
seasonal Head Start programs each year; and
``(B) to document how many of these children are receiving
Head Start services each year; and
``(C) to the extent practicable, to ensure that access to
migrant and seasonal Head Start programs for eligible children
is comparable to access to other Head Start programs for other
eligible children;
``(2) In carrying out paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall consult
with the Secretary of Education about the Department of Education's
systems for collecting and reporting data about, and maintaining
records on, students from migrant and seasonal farmworker families.
``(3) Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this
subsection, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress
detailing how the Department of Health and Human Services plans to
carry out paragraph (1).''.
``(k) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term `eligible
entities' means an institution of higher education or other entity with
expertise in delivering training in early childhood development, family
support, and other assistance designed to improve the delivery of Head
Start services.''.
SEC. 19. STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Classroom Teachers.--Section 648A(a)(2) of the Head Start Act
(42 U.S.C. 9843a(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
``(2) Degree requirements.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that
not later than September 30, 2010, at least 50 percent
of all Head Start teachers nationwide in center-based
programs have--
``(i) a baccalaureate or advanced degree in
early childhood education; or
``(ii) a baccalaureate or advanced degree
in a field related to early childhood
education, with experience in teaching
preschool children.
``(B) Progress.--Each Head State agency shall
provide to the Secretary a report indicating the number
and percentage of classroom instructors with child
development associate credentials and associate,
baccalaureate, or advanced degrees. The Secretary shall
compile all program reports and make them available to
the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the
United States House of Representatives and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the United States Senate.
``(C) Requirement for new head start teachers.--
Within 3 years after the effective date of this
subparagraph, the Secretary shall require that all Head
Start teachers nationwide in center-based programs
hired following the effective date of this
subparagraph--
``(i) have an associate, baccalaureate, or
advanced degree in early childhood education;
``(ii) have an associate, baccalaureate, or
advanced degree in a field related to early
childhood education, with experience in
teaching preschool children; or
``(iii) be currently enrolled in a program
of study leading to an associate degree in
early childhood education and agree to complete
degree requirements within 3 years from the
date of hire.
``(D) Service requirements.--The Secretary shall
establish requirements to ensure that individuals who
receive financial assistance under this subchapter in
order to comply with the requirements under section
648A(a)(2) shall subsequently teach in a Head Start
center for a period of time equivalent to the period
for which they received assistance or repay the amount
of the funds.
``(E) Limitation.--The Secretary shall require that
any Federal funds provided directly or indirectly to
comply with subparagraph (A) shall be used toward
degrees awarded by an institution of higher education,
as defined by sections 101 or 102 of the Higher
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1001-1002).''.
(b) Classroom Teachers.--Section 648A of the Head Start Act (42
U.S.C. 9843a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Professional Development Plans.--Each Head Start agency and
program shall create, in consultation with an employee, a professional
development plan for all full-time employees who provide direct
services to children.''.
SEC. 20. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUATION.
(a) New Ideas and Approaches.--Section 649(a)(1)(B) of the Head
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844(a)(1)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
``(B) use the Head Start programs to develop, test,
and disseminate new ideas and approaches based on
existing scientifically based research, for addressing
the needs of low-income preschool children (including
children with disabilities and children determined to
be abused or neglected) and their families and
communities (including demonstrations of innovative
non-center based program models such as home-based and
mobile programs), and otherwise to further the purposes
of this subchapter.''.
(b) Study.--Section 649(d) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844(d)
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7) by adding ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (8) by striking the semicolon and
inserting a period;
(3) by striking paragraph (9); and
(4) by striking the last sentence.
(c) Expert Panel.--Section 649(g) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9844(g)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking clause (i); and
(B) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as
clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; and
(2) in paragraph (7)(C)(i) is amended to read as follows:
``(i) Not later than September 30, 2007,
the Secretary shall transmit to the committees
specified in clause (ii) the final report.''.
(d) NAS Study.--Section 649(h) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9844(h)) is amended to read as follows:
``(h) NAS Study.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use funds allocated
in section 640(a)(2)(C)(iii) to contract with the National
Academy of Sciences for the Board on Children, Youth, and
Families of the National Research Council to establish an
independent panel of experts which shall review and synthesize
research, theory and applications in the social, behavioral and
biological sciences and shall make recommendations on early
childhood pedagogy with regard to each of the following:
``(A) Age and developmentally appropriate Head
Start academic requirements and outcomes, including the
domains in 641A(a)(B).
``(B) Differences in the type, length, mix and
intensity of services necessary to ensure that children
from challenging family and social backgrounds
including: low-income children, children of color,
children with special needs, and children with limited
English proficiency enter kindergarten ready to
succeed.
``(C) Appropriate assessments of young children
(including systematic observation assessment in a
child's natural environment, and parent and provider
interviews) for purposes of improving instruction,
services, and program quality , and accommodations for
children with disabilities and appropriate assessments
for children with special needs (including needs
related to the acquisition of the English language).
``(2) Composition.--The panel shall consist of multiple
experts in each of the following areas:
``(A) Child development and education, including
cognitive, social, emotional, physical, approaches to
learning, and other domains of child development and
learning.
``(B) Professional development, including teacher
preparation, to individuals who teach young children in
programs.
``(C) Assessment of young children, including
screening, diagnostic and classroom-based instructional
assessment; children with special needs, including
children with disabilities and limited English
proficient children.
``(3) Timing.--The National Academy of Sciences and the
Board shall establish the panel not later than 90 days after
the date of enactment of the date of the enactment of the
School Readiness Act of 2005. The panel shall complete its
recommendations within 18 months of its convening.
``(4) Application of panel report recommendations.--The
recommendations of the panel shall be used as guidelines by the
Secretary to develop, inform and revise, where appropriate, the
Head Start education performance measures and standards and the
assessments utilized in the Head Start program.''.
SEC. 21. REPORTS.
Section 650(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9845) is amended--
(1) by amending the first sentence to read as follows:
``At least once during every 2-year period, the Secretary shall prepare
and submit, to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor
and Pensions of the Senate, a report concerning the status of children
(including disabled, homeless, and non-English language background
children) in Head Start programs, including the number of children and
the services being provided to such children.''; and
(2) in paragraph (8) by inserting ``, homelessness'' after
``background''.
SEC. 22. LIMITATION ON RATE OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR COMPENSATION.
Section 653 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9848) is amended--
(1) by striking the heading;
(2) by striking ``Sec. 653. The'' and inserting the
following:
``SEC. 653. WAGES AND COMPENSATION.
``(a) Comparability of Wages.--The''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Federal Rate Limitation.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, no Federal funds shall be used to pay all or any part of the
compensation of an individual employed by a Head Start agency in
carrying out programs under this subchapter, either as direct or
indirect costs or any proration thereof, at a rate in excess of the
rate then payable for level II of the Executive Schedule under section
5316 of title 5, United State Code.''.
SEC. 23. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.
(a) General Effective Date.--Except as provided in subsection (b),
this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Application of Amendments.--The amendments made by this Act
shall not apply with respect to any fiscal year that begins before the
date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Davis (IL) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Davis (IL) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 455, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kind amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 455, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Mica amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 455, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Filner amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 455, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Millender-McDonald amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 455, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Musgrave amendment.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Musgrave amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Woolsey demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 455, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Woolsey amendment.
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DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 455, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Boehner amendment.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Boehner amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Woolsey demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2123.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H8323)
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 231 - 184 (Roll no. 493).
Roll Call #493 (House)On passage Passed by recorded vote: 231 - 184 (Roll no. 493).
Roll Call #493 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 2123.
Received in the Senate.
Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 258.