S. Amdt. 1714 - In the Nature of a Substitute.

110th Congress (2007-2008) View amendment details
Sponsor:
This is an amendment to H.R. 1429 - Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007
Senate Vote: Amendment SA 1714 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

PASSED by voice vote on June 19, 2007.

To Reauthorize the Head Start Act, to Improve Program Quality, to Expand Access, and for Other Purposes.

H.R. 1429 — 110th Congress (2007–2008)

Summary
To reauthorize the Head Start Act, to improve program quality, to expand access, and for other purposes. (by CRS)
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Title
To reauthorize the Head Start Act, to improve program quality, to expand access, and for other purposes.
Other Titles
  • Improving Head Start Act of 2007
  • Improving Head Start Act of 2007
  • Improving Head Start Act of 2007
  • Head Start for School Readiness Act
  • Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007
Sponsor
Dale Kildee
Co-Sponsors
Subjects
  • Elementary and secondary education
  • Academic performance
  • Accounting
  • Administrative remedies
  • Air pollution
  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Architecture and the disabled
  • Armed forces
  • Arts
  • Auditing
  • Authorization
  • Black colleges
  • Budgets
  • Business
  • Child abuse
  • Child development
  • Child health
  • Child nutrition
  • Child welfare
  • Children
  • Church and education
  • Class size
  • Commemorations
  • Communications
  • Community and school
  • Conflict of interests
  • Congressional tributes
  • Continuing education
  • Cost effectiveness
  • Criminal justice
  • Criminal justice information
  • Curricula
  • Decision making
  • Defense policy
  • Dental care
  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • Disabled
  • Disasters
  • Distance education
  • Education
  • Education of the disadvantaged
  • Educational accountability
  • Educational planning
  • Educational research
  • Educational statistics
  • Educational surveys
  • Educational tests
  • Elementary education
  • Emergency management
  • Employee selection
  • English language
  • Environmental protection
  • Executive departments
  • Executive reorganization
  • Exercise
  • Eye care
  • Families
  • Family services
  • Federal aid to education
  • Federal officials
  • Federal-territorial relations
  • Financial statements
  • Floods
  • Foster home care
  • Government and the press
  • Government employees
  • Government information
  • Government paperwork
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  • Graduate education
  • Grandparents
  • Health policy
  • Higher education
  • Hispanic Americans
  • Homeless
  • Housing
  • Humanities
  • Hurricanes
  • Identification of criminals
  • Illiteracy
  • Indian children
  • Indian education
  • Indians
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  • Indoor air pollution
  • Infants
  • Informed consent (Medical law)
  • Job training
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  • Legal fees
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  • Louisiana
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  • Minorities
  • Minority education
  • Mississippi
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  • Museums
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  • Obesity
  • Oceania
  • Palau Islands
  • Parent and child
  • Parent-school relationships
  • Parents
  • Physical education and training
  • Physical examinations
  • Politics and government
  • Pregnant women
  • Preschool education
  • Preventive medicine
  • Public contracts
  • Recruiting of employees
  • Religion
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  • Rural education
  • Salaries
  • Scholarships
  • School buildings
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  • Science policy
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  • Secondary education
  • Social services
  • Special education
  • Sports
  • Standards
  • State and local government
  • State politics and government
  • Stress (Psychology)
  • Student enrollment
  • Student loan funds
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  • Teacher education
  • Teacher salaries
  • Teacher supply and demand
  • Teachers
  • Teaching
  • Telecommunication
  • Texas
  • Transportation
  • Transportation safety
  • Travel costs
  • Welfare
  • Welfare eligibility
  • Women
Related Bills
Major Actions
Introduced3/09/2007
Referred to Committee
Amendments (13 proposed)
Passed House5/02/2007
Passed Senate6/19/2007
Signed by President12/12/2007
Bill History
Chamber/CommitteeMotionDateResult
select this voteHouseOn agreeing to the Johnson, E. B. amendment (A001) Agreed to by voice vote.5/02/2007PASSED by voice vote
select this voteHouseOn agreeing to the Kennedy amendment (A006) Agreed to by voice vote.5/02/2007PASSED by voice vote
select this voteHouseOn agreeing to the Porter amendment (A008) Agreed to by voice vote.5/02/2007PASSED by voice vote
select this voteHouseOn agreeing to the Cuellar amendment (A010) Agreed to by voice vote.5/02/2007PASSED by voice vote
select this voteHouseOn agreeing to the Space amendment (A012) Agreed to by voice vote.5/02/2007PASSED by voice vote
select this voteHouseAmendment 2 to H.R. 14295/02/2007This amendment DID NOT PASS the House
165 voted YES 254 voted NO 18 voted present/not voting
select this voteHouseAmendment 3 to H.R. 14295/02/2007This amendment PASSED the House
312 voted YES 107 voted NO 18 voted present/not voting
select this voteHouseAmendment 4 to H.R. 14295/02/2007This amendment PASSED the House
372 voted YES 50 voted NO 15 voted present/not voting
select this voteHouseAmendment 5 to H.R. 14295/02/2007This amendment DID NOT PASS the House
137 voted YES 286 voted NO 14 voted present/not voting
select this voteHouseAmendment 7 to H.R. 14295/02/2007This amendment DID NOT PASS the House
161 voted YES 262 voted NO 14 voted present/not voting
select this voteHouseAmendment 9 to H.R. 14295/02/2007This amendment PASSED the House
253 voted YES 171 voted NO 13 voted present/not voting
select this voteHouseAmendment 11 to H.R. 14295/02/2007This amendment PASSED the House
229 voted YES 195 voted NO 13 voted present/not voting
select this voteHouseOn Motion to Recommit with Instructions: H.R. 1429 Improving Head Start Act5/02/2007This motion DID NOT PASS the House
195 voted YES 222 voted NO 16 voted present/not voting
select this voteHouseOn Passage - House - H.R. 1429 Improving Head Start Act5/02/2007This bill PASSED the House
365 voted YES 48 voted NO 19 voted present/not voting
select this voteSenatePassed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.6/19/2007PASSED by voice vote
currently selectedSenateAmendment SA 1714 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.6/19/2007PASSED by voice vote
select this voteHouseOn Motion to Instruct Conferees: H.R. 1429 Improving Head Start Act11/07/2007This motion PASSED the House
400 voted YES 0 voted NO 32 voted present/not voting
select this voteHouseOn the Conference Report - House - H.R. 1429 Improving Head Start Act11/14/2007This motion PASSED the House
381 voted YES 36 voted NO 15 voted present/not voting
select this voteSenateOn the Conference Report - Senate - H.R.1429 Conference Report11/14/2007This motion PASSED the Senate
95 voted YES 0 voted NO 5 voted present/not voting
ActionDateDescription
Introduced3/09/2007
3/09/2007Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
3/14/2007Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Put on a legislative calendar3/14/2007Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 42 - 1.
3/23/2007Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 110-67.
Put on a legislative calendar3/23/2007Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 38.
5/01/2007Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 348 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1429 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and Labor now printed in the bill.
5/02/2007Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 348.
5/02/2007House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 348 and Rule XVIII.
5/02/2007Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1429 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and Labor now printed in the bill.
5/02/2007The Speaker designated the Honorable Adam B. Schiff to act as Chairman of the Committee.
5/02/2007GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1429.
5/02/2007Amendment (A001) offered by Ms. Johnson, E. B..
5/02/2007DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 348, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the E.B. Johnson amendment.
select this voteVote5/02/2007On agreeing to the Johnson, E. B. amendment (A001) Agreed to by voice vote.
5/02/2007Amendment (A002) offered by Mr. Price (GA).
5/02/2007DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 348, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Price (GA) amendment.
5/02/2007POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Price (GA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Price (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
5/02/2007Amendment (A003) offered by Mr. Sestak.
5/02/2007DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 348, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Sestak amendment.
5/02/2007POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Sestak amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Garrett demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
5/02/2007Amendment (A004) offered by Ms. Hirono.
5/02/2007DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 348, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hirono amendment.
5/02/2007POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Hirono amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Garrett demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
5/02/2007Amendment (A005) offered by Mr. Mica.
5/02/2007DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 348, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Mica amendment.
5/02/2007POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Mica amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Mica demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
5/02/2007Amendment (A006) offered by Mr. Kennedy.
5/02/2007DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 348, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kennedy amendment.
select this voteVote5/02/2007On agreeing to the Kennedy amendment (A006) Agreed to by voice vote.
5/02/2007Amendment (A007) offered by Mr. Putnam.
5/02/2007DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 348, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Putnam amendment.
5/02/2007POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Putnam amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Putnam demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
5/02/2007Amendment (A008) offered by Mr. Porter.
5/02/2007DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 348, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Porter amendment.
select this voteVote5/02/2007On agreeing to the Porter amendment (A008) Agreed to by voice vote.
5/02/2007Amendment (A009) offered by Mr. Carnahan.
5/02/2007DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 348, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Carnahan amendment.
5/02/2007POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Carnahan amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. McKeon demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
5/02/2007Amendment (A010) offered by Mr. Cuellar.
5/02/2007DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 348, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cuellar amendment.
select this voteVote5/02/2007On agreeing to the Cuellar amendment (A010) Agreed to by voice vote.
5/02/2007DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 348, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Shuler amendment.
5/02/2007Amendment (A011) offered by Mr. Shuler.
5/02/2007POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Shuler amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. McKeon demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
5/02/2007DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 348, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Space amendment.
5/02/2007Amendment (A012) offered by Mr. Space.
select this voteVote5/02/2007On agreeing to the Space amendment (A012) Agreed to by voice vote.
5/02/2007The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1429.
5/02/2007The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
5/02/2007The 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.
5/02/2007Mr. McKeon moved to recommit with instructions to Education and Labor.
5/02/2007DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McKeon motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment inserting a new section providing that religious organizations are included as non-governmental providers.
select this voteVote5/02/2007Amendment 2 to H.R. 1429
5/02/2007The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
select this voteVote5/02/2007Amendment 3 to H.R. 1429
select this voteVote5/02/2007Amendment 4 to H.R. 1429
select this voteVote5/02/2007Amendment 5 to H.R. 1429
select this voteVote5/02/2007Amendment 7 to H.R. 1429
select this voteVote5/02/2007Amendment 9 to H.R. 1429
select this voteVote5/02/2007Amendment 11 to H.R. 1429
select this voteVote5/02/2007On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: H.R. 1429 Improving Head Start Act
select this voteHouse Vote on Passage5/02/2007On Passage - House - H.R. 1429 Improving Head Start Act
5/03/2007Rule H. Res. 348 passed House.
Put on a legislative calendar5/07/2007Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 137.
6/19/2007Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
6/19/2007Senate insists on its amendment, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Kennedy; Dodd; Harkin; Mikulski; Bingaman; Murray; Reed; Clinton; Obama; Sanders; Brown; Enzi; Gregg; Alexander; Burr; Isakson; Murkowski; Hatch; Roberts; Allard; Coburn.
select this voteSenate Vote on Passage6/19/2007Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
6/19/2007Amendment SA 1714 proposed by Senator Schumer for Senator Kennedy.
currently selectedVote6/19/2007Amendment SA 1714 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
6/20/2007Message on Senate action sent to the House.
11/06/2007Mr. Miller, George asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference.
11/06/2007On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference Agreed to without objection.
11/06/2007Mr. Castle moved that the House instruct conferees.
11/06/2007DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the Castle motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1429. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the managers on the part of the House to (1) insist on the provisions restricting the use of Federal funds to pay the salary of any head Start employee at a rate in excess of level II of the Executive Schedule; (2) disagree to the provisions relating to wages and compensation for individuals employed by a Head Start agency compensated at a rate in excess of level II of the Executive Schedule; and (3) insist that the differences between the two Houses on wages and compensation of Head Start employees be open to discussion at any meeting of the conference and, that all meetings thereon be conducted under circumstances in which every manager on the part of the House has notice of the meeting and a reasonable opportunity to attend, pursuant to House
11/06/2007The previous question was ordered without objection.
11/06/2007POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - The Chair put the question on adoption of the motion to instruct conferees and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Bishop of Utah demanded the yeas and nays which were ordered. Further proceedings on the question of adoption of the motion were postponed until later in the legislative day.
select this voteVote11/07/2007On Motion to Instruct Conferees: H.R. 1429 Improving Head Start Act
11/07/2007The Speaker appointed conferees: Miller, George, Kildee, Woolsey, Davis (IL), Grijalva, Sanchez, Linda T., Sarbanes, Sestak, Loebsack, Hirono, Shea-Porter, McKeon, Castle, Fortuno, Bishop (UT), Keller, Wilson (SC), Boustany, and Heller.
11/08/2007Conferees agreed to file conference report.
11/09/2007Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 813 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of the conference report to H.R. 1429. All points of order against the conference report and against its consideration are waived. The conference report shall be considered as read.
11/10/2007Conference report H. Rept. 110-439 filed.
11/14/2007Conference papers: Senate report and manager's statement message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
11/14/2007Conference report considered in Senate.
11/14/2007Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Presented to President11/14/2007Cleared for White House.
11/14/2007Rule H. Res. 813 passed House.
11/14/2007Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
select this voteVote11/14/2007On the Conference Report - House - H.R. 1429 Improving Head Start Act
11/14/2007Pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 258, enrollment corrections on H.R. 1429 have been made.
select this voteVote11/14/2007On the Conference Report - Senate - H.R.1429 Conference Report
11/15/2007Mr. Kildee brought up conference report H. Rept. 110-439 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 813.
11/15/2007The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report to accompany H.R. 1429.
11/15/2007The previous question was ordered without objection.
Presented to President12/05/2007Presented to President.
Signed12/12/2007Signed by President.
Enacted12/12/2007Became Public Law No: 110-134.
NumberSponsorDate OfferedStatus
select this voteH. Amdt. 116Johnson, Eddie [D-TX30]May 2, 2007Passed by voice vote on May 2, 2007.

Amendment encourages partnerships betwen Head Start and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

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select this voteH. Amdt. 117Price, Tom [R-GA6]May 2, 2007Failed by roll call vote on May 2, 2007.

Amendment sought to allow eight States to coordinate Head Start with state-run early childhood development programs through a demonstration program.

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select this voteH. Amdt. 118Sestak, Joe [D-PA7]May 2, 2007Passed by roll call vote on May 2, 2007.

Amendment permits loan forgiveness of up to $10,000 for Head Start and Early Head Start teachers upon completion of a bachelor's degree, who will commit to working in a Head Start or Early Head Start program for at least 3 consecutive years.

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select this voteH. Amdt. 119Hirono, Mazie [D-HI2]May 2, 2007Passed by roll call vote on May 2, 2007.

Amendment revises the training and technical assistance system by ensuring that these services are provided by entities with specific expertise in infant and toddler development; and directs at least 50 percent of training and technical assistance funds directly to the grantees.

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select this voteH. Amdt. 120Mica, John [R-FL7]May 2, 2007Failed by roll call vote on May 2, 2007.

Amendment sought to amend section 18 of the bill to require a certification that at least 50 percent of all Head Start teachers nationwide meet certain degree requirements by September 30, 2011, two years earlier than required by the bill.

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select this voteH. Amdt. 121Kennedy, Patrick [D-RI1]May 2, 2007Passed by voice vote on May 2, 2007.

Amendment provides more support for inclusive education which is the practice of teaching children with disabilities in the same classrooms as those without disabilities.

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select this voteH. Amdt. 122Putnam, Adam [R-FL12]May 2, 2007Failed by roll call vote on May 2, 2007.

Amendment sought to strike the development and implementation of the application review system, including the expert panel provision contained in the bill; and would have required all Head Start providers to face open competition at renewal time.

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select this voteH. Amdt. 123Porter, Jon [R-NV3]May 2, 2007Passed by voice vote on May 2, 2007.

Amendment requires Head Start agencies to conduct criminal background checks on prospective employees.

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select this voteH. Amdt. 124Carnahan, Russ [D-MO3]May 2, 2007Passed by roll call vote on May 2, 2007.

Amendment allows Head Start grantees to negotiate a funded enrollment level with the HHS Secretary if funding for the program does not keep pace with inflation.

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select this voteH. Amdt. 125Cuellar, Henry [D-TX28]May 2, 2007Passed by voice vote on May 2, 2007.

Amendment requires the State or agency that administers the Head Start program to describe the type of assessment used to determine the rate of progress made by students with limited English proficiency.

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select this voteH. Amdt. 126Shuler, Heath [D-NC11]May 2, 2007Passed by roll call vote on May 2, 2007.

Amendment adds language stating that faith-based and community-based organizations will continue to be eligible to participate in the Head Start program on the same basis as other organizations.

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select this voteH. Amdt. 127Space, Zachary [D-OH18]May 2, 2007Passed by voice vote on May 2, 2007.

Amendment provides additional training and support to rural Head Start programs.

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currently selectedS. Amdt. 1714Kennedy, Edward [D-MA]June 19, 2007Passed by voice vote on June 19, 2007.

In the nature of a substitute.

Actions

June 19, 2007, 12:00 am ET - Amendment SA 1714 proposed by Senator Schumer for Senator Kennedy.
June 19, 2007, 12:00 am ET - Amendment SA 1714 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Full Text of this Amendment

SA 1714. Mr. SCHUMER (for Mr. Kennedy) proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 1429, to reauthorize the Head Start Act, to improve program quality, to expand access, and for other purposes; as follows:


Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Head Start for School Readiness Act''.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF 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 the school readiness of low-income children by enhancing their cognitive and social development--
``(1) with a learning environment that supports cognitive development (including the growth of language, pre-literacy, and premathematics skills) and the growth of social, emotional, and physical skills; and
``(2) 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 (2), by inserting ``(including a community-based organization, as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801))'' after ``nonprofit'';
(2) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ``, including financial literacy,'' after ``Parent literacy'';
(3) in paragraph (17), by striking ``Mariana Islands,'' and all that follows and inserting ``Mariana Islands.''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(18) The term `deficiency' means--
``(A) a systemic or substantial material failure of an agency in an area of performance that the Secretary determines involves--
``(i) a threat to the health, safety, or civil rights of children or staff;
``(ii) a denial to parents of the exercise of their full roles and responsibilities related to program operations;
``(iii) a failure to comply with standards related to early childhood development and health services, family and community partnerships, or program design and management;
``(iv) the misuse of funds under this subchapter;
``(v) loss of legal status or financial viability, loss of permits, debarment from receiving Federal grants or contracts, or the improper use of Federal funds; or
``(vi) failure to meet any other Federal or State requirement that the agency has shown an unwillingness or inability to correct, after notice from the Secretary, within the period specified;
``(B) systemic failure of the board of directors of an agency to fully exercise its legal and fiduciary responsibilities;
``(C) substantial failure of an agency to meet the administrative requirements of section 644(b);
``(D) failure of an agency to demonstrate that the agency attempted to meet the coordination and collaboration requirements with entities described in section 640(a)(5)(D)(ii)(I); or
``(E) having an unresolved area of noncompliance.
``(19) The term `homeless child' means a child described in section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2)).
``(20) The term `institution of higher education' has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
``(21) The term `interrater reliability' means the extent to which 2 or more independent raters or observers consistently obtain the same result when using the same assessment tool.
``(22) The term `limited English proficient', used with respect to a child, means a child--
``(A) who is enrolled or preparing to enroll in a Head Start program (which may include an Early Head Start program), or other early care and education program;
``(B)(i) who was not born in the United States or whose native language is a language other than English;
``(ii)(I) who is a Native American, Alaska Native, or a native resident of an outlying area (as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)); and
``(II) who comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the child's level of English language proficiency; or
``(iii) who is migratory, whose native language is a language other than English, and who comes from an environment where a language other than English is dominant; and
``(C) whose difficulties in speaking or understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny such child--
``(i) the ability to successfully achieve in a classroom in which the language of instruction is English; or
``(ii) the opportunity to participate fully in society.
``(23) The term `unresolved area of noncompliance' means failure to correct a noncompliance item within 120 days, or within such additional time (if any) authorized by the Secretary, after receiving from the Secretary notice of such noncompliance item, pursuant to section 641A(d).''.
SEC. 4. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HEAD START PROGRAMS.
Section 638 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9833) is amended by inserting ``for a period of 5 years'' after ``provide financial assistance to such agency''.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 639 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9834) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 639. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out the provisions of this subchapter $7,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $7,650,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $7,995,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012.
``(b) Specific Programs.--From the amount appropriated under subsection (a), the Secretary shall make available to carry out research, demonstration, and evaluation activities, including longitudinal studies under section 649, not more than $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012, of which not more than $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 shall be available to carry out impact studies under section
649(g).''.
SEC. 6. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS.
(a) Allotment.--Section 640(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:
``(A) Indian Head Start programs, services for children with disabilities, and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs, except that the Secretary shall reserve for each fiscal year for use by Indian Head Start and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs (referred to in this paragraph as `covered programs'), on a nationwide basis, a sum that is the total of a percentage specified by the Secretary that is not less than 4 percent of the amount appropriated under section 639 for that fiscal year
(for Indian Head Start programs) and a percentage specified by the Secretary that is not less than 5 percent of that appropriated amount (for migrant and seasonal Head Start programs) (referred to in this paragraph as the `specified percentages'), except that--
``(i) if reserving the specified percentages would reduce the number of children served by Head Start programs, relative to the number of children served on the date of enactment of the Head Start for School Readiness Act, taking into consideration an appropriate adjustment for inflation, the Secretary shall reserve percentages that approach, as closely as practicable, the specified percentages and that do not cause such a reduction; and
``(ii) notwithstanding any other provision of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall reserve for each fiscal year for use by Indian Head Start programs and by migrant and seasonal Head Start programs, on a nationwide basis, not less than the amount that was obligated for use by Indian Head Start programs and by migrant and seasonal Head Start programs for the previous fiscal year;'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
``(C) training and technical assistance activities that are sufficient to meet the needs associated with program expansion and to foster program and management improvement activities as described in any of paragraphs (1) through (18) of section 648(d), in an amount for each fiscal year that is not less than 2 percent of the amount appropriated under section 639 for such fiscal year, of which--
``(i) 50 percent shall be made available to Head Start agencies to use directly, or by establishing local or regional agreements with community experts, institutions of higher education, or private consultants, for any of the following training and technical assistance activities, including--
``(I) activities that ensure that Head Start programs meet or exceed the performance standards described in section 641A(a)(1);
``(II) activities that ensure that Head Start programs have adequate numbers of trained, qualified staff who have skills in working with children and families, including children who are limited English proficient and their families and children with disabilities;
``(III) activities to pay expenses, including direct training for expert consultants working with any staff, to improve the management and implementation of Head Start services and systems;
``(IV) activities that help ensure that Head Start programs have qualified staff who can promote language skills and literacy growth of children and who can provide children with a variety of skills that have been identified as predictive of later reading achievement, school success, and the skills, knowledge, abilities, development, and progress described in section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii);
``(V) activities to improve staff qualifications and to assist with the implementation of career development programs and to encourage the staff to continually improve their skills and expertise, including developing partnerships with programs that recruit, train, place, and support college students in Head Start centers to deliver an innovative early childhood development program to preschool children;
``(VI) activities that help local programs ensure that the arrangement, condition, and implementation of the learning environments in Head Start programs are conducive to providing effective program services to children and families;
``(VII) activities to provide training necessary to improve the qualifications of Head Start staff and to support staff training, child counseling, health services, and other services necessary to address the needs of children enrolled in Head Start programs, including children from families in crises, children who experience chronic violence or homelessness, children who experience substance abuse in their families, and children under 3 years of age, where applicable;
``(VIII) activities to provide classes or in-service-type programs to improve or enhance parenting skills, job skills, adult and family literacy, including financial literacy, or training to become a classroom aide or bus driver in a Head Start program;
``(IX) additional activities determined appropriate for the improvement of Head Start agencies' programs, as determined in the agencies' technical assistance and training plans; or
``(X) any other activities regarding the use of funds as determined by the Secretary;
``(ii) 50 percent shall be made available to the Secretary--
``(I) to provide directly training and technical assistance on early childhood education and care or to support, through grants or other arrangements, a State system of training and technical assistance (which may include such a system for a consortium of States within a region); and
``(II) to assist local programs (including Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs) in meeting the performance standards described in section 641A(a)(1); and
``(iii) not less than $3,000,000 of the amount in clause (ii) appropriated for such fiscal year shall be made available to carry out activities described in section 648(d)(4);'';
(C) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``agencies;'' and inserting ``agencies);''; and
(D) by adding at the end of the flush matter at the end the following: ``In no case shall the Secretary use funds appropriated under this subchapter to expand or create additional slots or services in non-Indian and non-migrant and seasonal Head Start programs until the amounts based on the specified percentages for Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs pursuant to subparagraph (A) are reached. The Secretary shall require each Head Start agency to report at
the end of each budget year on how funds provided to carry out subparagraph (C)(i) were used.'';
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)(i)(I)--
(i) by striking ``60 percent of such excess amount for fiscal year 1999'' and all that follows through ``2003;''; and
(ii) by inserting the following: ``30 percent of such excess amount for fiscal year 2008, and 40 percent of such excess amount for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012;'';
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``performance standards'' and all that follows and inserting ``performance standards pursuant to section 641A(a)(1).'';
(ii) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following:
``(ii) Ensuring that such programs have adequate numbers of qualified staff, and that such staff is furnished adequate training, including training to promote the development of language, premathematics, and pre-literacy skills in young children and in working with limited English proficient children, children in foster care, children referred by child welfare services, and children with disabilities, when appropriate.'';
(iii) by striking clause (iii) and inserting the following:
``(iii) Developing and financing the salary scales and benefits standards under section 644(a) and section 653, in order to ensure that salary levels and benefits are adequate to attract and retain qualified staff for such programs.'';
(iv) by striking clause (iv) and inserting the following:
``(iv) Using salary increases to--
``(I) assist with the implementation of quality programs and improve staff qualifications;
``(II) ensure that staff can promote the language skills and literacy growth of children and can provide children with a variety of skills that have been identified, through scientifically based early reading research, as predictive of later reading achievement, as well as the skills, knowledge, abilities, development, and progress described in section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii); and
``(III) encourage the staff to continually improve their skills and expertise--
``(aa) through the implementation of career development programs; and
``(bb) through the completion of postsecondary coursework in early childhood education.'';
(v) in clause (v)--
(I) by striking ``community-wide'' and inserting ``communitywide''; and
(II) by inserting ``, including collaborations to increase program participation by underserved populations of eligible children'' before the period; and
(vi) by striking clauses (vii) and (viii) and inserting the following:
``(vii) Providing assistance to complete postsecondary coursework, to enable Head Start teachers to improve competencies and the resulting child outcomes, including informing the teachers of the availability of Federal and State incentive and loan forgiveness programs.
``(viii) Promoting the regular attendance and stability of all Head Start children with particular attention to highly mobile children, including children of migrant or seasonal farmworkers (where appropriate), homeless children, and children in foster care.
``(ix) Making such other improvements in the quality of such programs as the Secretary may designate.'';
(C) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) in clause (i)(I), by striking the last sentence and inserting ``Salary increases, in excess of cost-of-living allowances, provided with such funds shall be subject to the specific standards governing salaries and salary increases established pursuant to section 644(a).'';
(ii) in clause (ii)--
(I) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking ``education performance'' and all that follows through ``641A(a)(1)(B)''and inserting ``standards and measures described in section 641A'';
(II) in subclause (I), by inserting ``, pre-literacy,'' after ``language'';
(III) by striking subclause (II) and inserting the following:
``(II) to help limited English proficient children attain the knowledge, skills, abilities, and development specified in section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii) and to promote the acquisition of the English language by such children and their families;''; and
(IV) by striking subclause (IV) and inserting the following:
``(IV) to provide education and training necessary to improve the qualifications of Head Start staff, particularly assistance to enable more instructors to be fully competent and to meet the degree requirements under section 648A(a)(2)(A), and to support staff training, child counseling, and other services necessary to address the challenges of children participating in Head Start programs, including children from immigrant, refugee, and asylee families, children from families in crisis, homeless
children, children in foster care, children referred to Head Start programs by child welfare agencies, and children who are exposed to chronic violence or substance abuse.'';
(iii) in clause (iii), by inserting ``, educational staff who have the qualifications described in section 648A(a),'' after ``ratio'';
(iv) in clause (v), by striking ``programs, including'' and all that follows and inserting ``programs.'';
(v) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (x); and
(vi) by inserting after clause (v) the following:
``(vi) To conduct outreach to homeless families in an effort to increase the program participation of homeless children.
``(vii) To conduct outreach to migrant and seasonal farmworker families and families with limited English proficient children.
``(viii) To partner with institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations, including community-based organizations, that recruit, train, place, and support college students, to serve as mentors and reading partners to preschool children in Head Start programs.
``(ix) To upgrade the qualifications and skills of educational personnel to meet the professional standards described in section 648A(a)(1), including certification and licensure as bilingual education teachers, as teachers of English as a second language, and for other educational personnel who serve limited English proficient children.'';
(3) in paragraph (4), in the first sentence--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``1998'' and inserting ``2007''; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
``(B) any amount available after all allotments are made under subparagraph (A) for such fiscal year shall be distributed as follows:
``(i) Each State shall receive an amount sufficient to serve the same number of children in Head Start programs in each State as were served on the date of enactment of the Head Start for School Readiness Act, taking into consideration an appropriate adjustment for inflation.
``(ii) After ensuring that each State has received the amount described in clause (i), the Secretary shall distribute the remaining balance, by--
``(I) distributing 65 percent of the balance among the States serving less than 60 percent (as determined by the Secretary) of children who are 3 or 4 years of age from families whose income is below the poverty line, by allotting to each of those States an amount that bears the same relationship to that 65 percent as the number of children who are less than 5 years of age from families whose income is below the poverty line (referred to in this clause as `young low-income children') in that
State bears to the number of young low-income children in all those States; and
``(II) distributing 35 percent of the balance among the States, by allotting to each State an amount that bears the same relationship to that 35 percent as the number of young low-income children in that State bears to the number of young low-income children in all the States.'';
(4) in paragraph (5)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting after ``paragraph (4)'' the following: ``(and amounts reserved, before such allotments, for national administrative offices)'';
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively;
(C) by striking subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) and inserting the following:
``(B)(i) From the reserved sums, the Secretary shall award a collaboration grant to each State and to each national administrative office serving Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs to facilitate collaboration between Head Start agencies and entities (including the State or national administrative office) that carry out other activities designed to benefit low-income families and children from birth to school entry. The national administrative offices shall
use the funds made available through the grants to carry out the authorities and responsibilities described in subparagraphs (B) and (C).
``(ii) Grants described in clause (i) shall be used to--
``(I) assist Head Start agencies to collaborate with entities involved in State and local planning processes to better meet the needs of low-income families and children from birth to school entry;
``(II) assist Head Start agencies to coordinate activities with the State agency responsible for administering the State program carried out under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) and entities providing resource and referral services in the State, to make full-working-day and full calendar year services available to children;
``(III) promote alignment of Head Start services with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate, State early learning standards;
``(IV) promote better linkages between Head Start agencies and other child and family agencies, including agencies that provide health, mental health, or family services, or other child or family supportive services, such as services provided under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.); and
``(V) carry out the activities of the State Director of Head Start Collaboration authorized in subparagraph (D).
``(C) In order to improve coordination and delivery of early childhood education and care to children in the State, a State that receives a collaboration grant under subparagraph (B) shall--
``(i) appoint or designate an individual to serve as, or carry out the responsibilities of, the State Director of Head Start Collaboration;
``(ii) ensure that the State Director of Head Start Collaboration holds a position with sufficient authority and access to ensure that the collaboration described in subparagraph (B) is effective and involves a range of State agencies; and
``(iii) involve the State Head Start Association in the selection of the Director and involve the Association in determinations relating to the ongoing direction of the collaboration office involved.
``(D) The State Director of Head Start Collaboration, shall--
``(i) not later than 1 year after the State receives a collaboration grant under subparagraph (B), conduct an assessment that--
``(I) addresses the needs of Head Start agencies in the State with respect to collaboration, coordination of services, and alignment of services with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate, State early learning standards;
``(II) shall be updated on an annual basis; and
``(III) shall be made available to the general public within the State;
``(ii) develop a strategic plan that is based on the assessment described in clause (i) that will--
``(I) enhance collaboration and coordination of Head Start services with other entities providing early childhood education and care (such as child care or services offered by museums), health care, mental health care, welfare, child protective services, education and community service activities, family literacy services, reading readiness programs (including such programs offered by public and school libraries), services relating to children with disabilities, other early childhood education
and care for limited English proficient children and homeless children, and services provided for children in foster care and children referred to Head Start programs by child welfare agencies, including agencies and State officials responsible for such services;
``(II) assist Head Start agencies to develop a plan for the provision of full-working-day, full calendar year services for children enrolled in Head Start programs who need such care;
``(III) assist Head Start agencies to align services with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate, State early learning standards; and
``(IV) enable Head Start agencies in the State to better access professional development opportunities for Head Start staff, such as by--
``(aa) working with local Head Start agencies to meet the degree requirements described in section 648A(a)(2)(A), including providing distance learning opportunities for Head Start staff, where needed to make higher education more accessible to Head Start staff; and
``(bb) enabling the State Head Start agencies to better conduct outreach to eligible families;
``(iii) promote partnerships between Head Start agencies, State and local governments, and the private sector to help ensure that children from low-income families, who are in Head Start programs or are preschool age, are receiving comprehensive services to prepare the children to enter school ready to learn;
``(iv) consult with the chief State school officer, local educational agencies, and providers of early childhood education and care, regarding early childhood education and care at both the State and local levels;
``(v) promote partnerships (such as the partnerships involved with the Free to Grow initiative) between Head Start agencies, schools, law enforcement, relevant community-based organizations, and substance abuse and mental health treatment agencies to strengthen family and community environments and to reduce the impact on child development of substance abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, and other high risk behaviors that compromise healthy development;
``(vi) promote partnerships between Head Start agencies and other organizations in order to enhance the Head Start curriculum, including partnerships to promote inclusion of more books in Head Start classrooms and partnerships to promote coordination of activities with the Ready-to-Learn Television program carried out under subpart 3 of part D of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6775 et seq.); and
``(vii) identify other resources and organizations (both public and private) for the provision of in-kind services to Head Start agencies in the State.
``(E)(i) The Governor of the State shall--
``(I) designate or establish a council to serve as the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care, for children from birth to school entry (in this subchapter referred to as the `State Advisory Council'); and
``(II) designate an individual to coordinate activities of the State Advisory Council, as described in clause (iv)(I).
``(ii) The Governor may designate an existing entity to serve as the State Advisory Council, if the entity includes representatives consistent with clause (iii).
``(iii) Members of the State Advisory Council shall include, to the maximum extent possible--
``(I) the State Director of Head Start Collaboration;
``(II) a representative of the State educational agency and local educational agencies;
``(III) a representative of institutions of higher education;
``(IV) a representative (or representatives) of the State agency (or agencies) responsible for health or mental health care;
``(V) a representative of the State agency responsible for professional standards, certification, and licensing for early childhood educators;
``(VI) a representative of the State agency responsible for child care;
``(VII) early childhood educators, including professionals with expertise in second language acquisition and instructional strategies in teaching limited English proficient children;
``(VIII) kindergarten teachers and teachers in grades 1 through 3;
``(IX) health care professionals;
``(X) child development specialists, including specialists in prenatal, infant, and toddler development;
``(XI) a representative of the State agency responsible for assisting children with developmental disabilities;
``(XII) a representative of the State agency responsible for programs under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
``(XIII) a representative of the State interagency coordinating councils established under section 641 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1441);
``(XIV) a representative of the State Head Start Association (where appropriate), and other representatives of Head Start programs in the State;
``(XV) a representative of the State network of child care resource and referral agencies;
``(XVI) a representative of community-based organizations;
``(XVII) a representative of State and local providers of early childhood education and care;
``(XVIII) a representative of Indian Head Start programs (where appropriate) and a representative of migrant and seasonal Head Start programs (where appropriate);
``(XIX) parents;
``(XX) religious and business leaders;
``(XXI) the head of the State library administrative agency;
``(XXII) representatives of State and local organizations and other entities providing professional development to early childhood educators and child care providers;
``(XXIII) a representative from the Office of Coordinator for Education of Homeless Children and Youths in the State;
``(XXIV) a State legislator; and
``(XXV) a representative of other entities determined to be relevant by the Governor of the State.
``(iv)(I) The State Advisory Council shall be responsible for, in addition to responsibilities assigned to the council by the Governor of the State--
``(aa) conducting a periodic statewide needs assessment concerning early childhood education and care for children from birth to school entry and assessing the availability of high quality prekindergarten services for low-income children in the State;
``(bb) identifying barriers to, and opportunities for, collaboration and coordination among entities carrying out federally-funded and State-funded child development, child care, and early childhood education programs;
``(cc) developing recommendations regarding means of establishing a unified data collection system for early childhood education and care throughout the State;
``(dd) developing a statewide professional development and career ladder plan for early childhood education and care in the State;
``(ee) assisting 2-year and 4-year public and private institutions of higher education, which may include assisting the institutions with development of articulation agreements or model programs of early childhood education and care, including practica or internships for students to spend time in a Head Start or prekindergarten program; and
``(ff) undertaking collaborative efforts to develop, and make recommendations for improvements in, State early learning standards.
``(II) The State Advisory Council shall hold public hearings and provide an opportunity for public comment on the activities described in subclause (I). The State Advisory Council shall submit a statewide strategic report addressing the activities described in subclause (I) to the State Director of Head Start Collaboration and the Governor of the State.
``(III) After submission of a statewide strategic report under subclause (II), the State Advisory Council shall meet periodically to review any implementation of the recommendations in such report and any changes in State and local needs.
``(F)(i)(I) Prior to carrying out paragraph (4), the Secretary shall reserve a portion to carry out this subparagraph for a fiscal year. The Secretary shall reserve the portion from the amount (if any) by which the funds appropriated under section 639(a) for the fiscal year exceed the adjusted prior year appropriation (as defined in paragraph (3)(A)(ii)), without reducing the share available for quality improvement funds described in paragraph (3)(B).
``(II) To the extent consistent with subclause (I), the Secretary shall reserve $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. Funds reserved under this subclause shall remain available for obligation through fiscal year 2012.
``(ii) The Secretary shall use the portion reserved under clause (i) to award, on a competitive basis, one-time startup grants of not less than $500,000 to eligible States to enable such States to pay for the Federal share of the cost of further developing and implementing the recommendations and plans for which the State's State Advisory Council is responsible under subparagraph (E)(iv)(I). Such grants shall--
``(I) facilitate the development of high-quality systems of early childhood education and care designed to improve school preparedness;
``(II) increase and make effective use of existing and new delivery systems and funds for early childhood education and care; and
``(III) enhance existing early childhood education and care (in existence on the date on which the grant involved is awarded).
``(iii) To be eligible to receive a grant under this subparagraph, a State shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application, for a 3-year period, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require, including--
``(I) a description of the State's State Advisory Council's responsibilities under subparagraph (E)(iv)(I);
``(II) a description, for each fiscal year, of how the State will make effective use of funds available under this subparagraph, with funds described in clause (iv), to create an early childhood education and care system, by developing or enhancing programs and activities described in subparagraph (E)(iv)(I);
``(III) a description of the State early learning standards and the State's goals for increasing the number of children entering kindergarten ready to learn;
``(IV) information identifying the agency or joint interagency office and individual designated to carry out the activities under this subparagraph, which may be the individual designated under subparagraph (E)(i)(II); and
``(V) a description of how the State plans to sustain activities under this subparagraph beyond the grant period.
``(iv) The Federal share of the cost described in clause (ii) shall be 30 percent, and the State shall provide the non-Federal share.
``(v) Funds made available under this subparagraph shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds expended to carry out activities related to early childhood education and care in the State.
``(vi) Not later than 18 months after the date a State receives a grant under this subparagraph, the State shall submit an interim report to the Secretary. A State that receives a grant under this subparagraph shall submit a final report to the Secretary at the end of the grant period.''; and
(D) in subparagraph (G), as redesignated by subparagraph (B) of this paragraph--
(i) in clause (i)(I), by striking ``child care and early childhood education programs and resources'' and inserting ``early childhood education and care programs and resources''; and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``Federal child care or early childhood education'' and inserting ``Federal early childhood education or child care''; and
(5) in paragraph (6)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``7.5 percent'' and all that follows and inserting ``not less than 12 percent for fiscal year 2008, not less than 14 percent for fiscal year 2009, not less than 16 percent for fiscal year 2010, not less than 18 percent for fiscal year 2011, and not less than 20 percent for fiscal year 2012, of the amount appropriated pursuant to section 639(a).'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (B);
(C) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``required to be'' each place it appears; and
(D) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B).
(b) Minimum Enrollment Requirement for Children With Disabilities.--The first sentence of section 640(d) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(d)) is amended to read as follows: ``The Secretary shall establish policies and procedures to assure that, for fiscal year 2008 and thereafter, not less than 10 percent of the total number of children actually enrolled by each Head Start agency and each delegate agency will be children with disabilities who are eligible for special education
or early intervention services, as appropriate, as determined under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), and that the Head Start agency or delegate agency involved will collaborate with the State or local agency providing services under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.) to ensure the provision of services to meet the special needs of such children.''.
(c) Service Delivery Models.--Section 640(f) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(f)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(f) The'' and inserting ``(f)(1) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Head Start for School Readiness Act, the'';
(2) by striking ``needs.'' and inserting ``needs, including models that leverage the capacity and capabilities of the delivery system of early childhood education and care.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) In establishing the procedures the Secretary shall establish procedures to provide for--
``(A) the conversion of part-day programs to full-day programs or part-day slots to full-day slots; and
``(B) serving additional infants and toddlers pursuant to section 645(a)(5).''.
(d) Additional Funds.--Section 640(g)(2) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(g)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
``(C) the extent to which the applicant has undertaken communitywide strategic planning and needs assessments involving other community organizations and Federal, State, and local public agencies serving children and families (including organizations and agencies providing family support services and protective services to children and families and organizations serving families in whose homes English is not the language customarily spoken), and individuals, organizations, and public entities
serving children with disabilities, children in foster care, and homeless children including the local educational agency liaison designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii));'';
(2) in subparagraph (D)--
(A) by striking ``community'' the first place it appears and inserting ``communitywide''; and
(B) by striking ``other local'' and inserting ``the State and local'';
(3) in subparagraph (E)--
(A) by inserting ``would like to participate but'' after ``community who''; and
(B) by striking ``early childhood program'' and inserting ``early childhood education and care program'';
(4) in subparagraph (G), by inserting ``leverage the existing delivery systems of such services (existing as of the date of the allocation decision) and'' after ``manner that will''; and
(5) in subparagraph (H), by inserting ``, including the local educational agency liaison designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)),'' after ``community involved''.
(e) Vehicle Safety Requirements.--Section 640(i) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(i)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(i)'' and inserting ``(i)(1)'';
(2) in paragraph (1), as so designated, by adding at the end the following: ``The regulations shall also establish requirements to ensure the appropriate supervision of, and appropriate background checks for, individuals with whom the agencies contract to transport those children.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2)(A) Section 1310.12(a) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, shall take effect 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
``(B)(i) Not later than 60 days after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the Department of Transportation submits its study on occupant protection on Head Start transit vehicles (related to Government Accountability Office report GAO-06-767R), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall review and shall revise as necessary the allowable alternate vehicle standards described in part 1310 of that title (or any corresponding similar regulation or ruling) relating to allowable
alternate vehicles used to transport children for a Head Start program. In making any such revision, the Secretary shall revise the standards to be consistent with the findings contained in such study, including making a determination on the exemption of such a vehicle from Federal seat spacing requirements, and Federal supporting seating
requirements related to compartmentalization, if such vehicle meets all other applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards, including standards for seating systems, occupant crash protection, seat belt assemblies, and child restraint anchorage systems consistent with that part 1310 (or any corresponding similar regulation or ruling).
``(ii) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), until such date as the Secretary of Health and Human Services completes the review and any necessary revision specified in clause (i), the provisions of section 1310.12(a) of that title relating to Federal seat spacing requirements, and Federal supporting seating requirements related to compartmentalization, for allowable alternate vehicles used to transport children for a Head Start program, shall not apply to such a vehicle if such vehicle meets all
other applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards, as described in clause (i).''.
(f) 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 (1), by striking ``and seasonal farmworker families'' and inserting ``or seasonal farmworkers''; and
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
``(3) 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 or seasonal farmworkers and shall ensure--
``(A) that appropriate funding is provided to meet such needs, including training and technical assistance provided by staff with knowledge of and experience in working with such populations; and
``(B) the appointment of a national Indian Head Start collaboration director and a national migrant and seasonal Head Start program collaboration director.
``(4)(A) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the Secretary shall conduct an annual consultation in each affected Head Start region, with tribal governments operating Head Start (including 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 subsection (a)(2)(A), 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.
``(5)(A) In order to increase access to Head Start services for children of migrant or seasonal farmworkers, the Secretary shall work in collaboration with providers of migrant and seasonal Head Start programs, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Education to--
``(i) collect, report, and share data on farmworkers and their families in order to adequately account for the number of children of migrant or seasonal farmworkers who are eligible for Head Start services and determine how many of such children receive the services; and
``(ii) identify barriers that prevent children of migrant or seasonal farmworkers who are eligible for Head Start services from accessing Head Start services, and develop a plan for eliminating such barriers, including certain requirements relating to tracking, health records, and educational documents.
``(B) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Head Start for School Readiness Act, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice about how the Secretary plans to carry out the activities identified in subparagraph (A) and shall provide a period for public comment. To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider comments received before implementing any of the activities identified in subparagraph (A).
``(C) Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Head Start for School Readiness Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate detailing how the Secretary plans to carry out the activities identified in subparagraph (A).
``(D) The Secretary shall take appropriate caution to ensure the protection of the confidentiality of any personally identifiable data, information, and records collected or maintained regarding children and families served by migrant and seasonal Head Start programs.
``(E) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to authorize the development of a nationwide database of personally identifiable data, information, or records on individuals involved in studies or other collections of data under this paragraph.''.
(g) Homeless Children.--Section 640 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(m) Enrollment of Homeless Children.--The Secretary shall issue regulations to remove barriers to the enrollment and participation of homeless children in Head Start programs. Such regulations shall require Head Start agencies to--
``(1) implement policies and procedures to ensure that homeless children are identified and receive priority for enrollment;
``(2) allow homeless children to apply to, enroll in, and attend Head Start programs while required documents, such as proof of residency, proof of immunization, and other medical records, birth certificates, and other documents, are obtained within a reasonable timeframe; and
``(3) coordinate individual Head Start programs with efforts to implement subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.).
``(n) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to require a State to establish a program of early childhood education and care for children in the State, to require any child to participate in a program in order to attend preschool, or to participate in any initial screening prior to participation in a program of early childhood education and care, except as provided under section 612(a)(3) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(3))
and consistent with section 635(a)(5) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1435(a)(5)).
``(o) Curricula.--All curricula funded under this subchapter shall be scientifically based, developmentally and linguistically based (to the extent practicable), and age appropriate. The curricula shall reflect all areas of child development and learning. Parents shall have the opportunity to examine any such curricula or instructional materials funded under this subchapter.''.
SEC. 7. DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES.
Section 641 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 641. DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES.
``(a) Designation.--
``(1) IN GENERAL.--The Secretary is authorized to designate as a Head Start agency any local public or private nonprofit or for-profit agency, within a community, including a community-based organization that--
``(A) has power and authority to carry out the purpose of this subchapter and perform the functions set forth in section 642 within a community; and
``(B) is determined to have the capacity to plan, conduct, administer, and evaluate, either directly or by other arrangements, a Head Start program.
``(2) REQUIRED GOALS FOR DESIGNATION.--In order to be designated as a Head Start agency, an entity described in paragraph (1) shall--
``(A) establish program goals for improving the school readiness of children participating in a program under this subchapter, including goals for meeting the performance standards described in section 641A(a)(1) and shall establish results-based school readiness goals that are aligned with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework, State early learning standards (as appropriate), and requirements and expectations for local public schools; and
``(B) have a governing body--
``(i) with legal and fiscal responsibility for administering and overseeing programs under this subchapter;
``(ii) that fully participates in the development, planning, and evaluation of the programs to ensure the operation of programs of high quality;
``(iii) that is responsible for ensuring compliance with Federal laws and regulations, including the performance standards described in section 641A(a)(1), as well as applicable State, tribal, and local laws and regulations, including laws defining the nature and operations of the governing body; and
``(iv) that has procedures to facilitate meaningful consultation and collaboration about decisions of the governing body and the policy council established under paragraph (3).
``(3) ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICY COUNCIL UPON DESIGNATION.--Upon receiving designation as a Head Start agency, the agency shall establish a policy council that--
``(A) in accordance with paragraph (5)(C), shall make decisions that influence the character of programs consistent with paragraph (5)(F); and
``(B) with the governing body, shall establish processes to resolve internal disputes.
``(4) ELIGIBILITY FOR SUBSEQUENT GRANTS.--In order to receive a grant under this subchapter subsequent to the initial grant provided following the date of enactment of the Head Start for School Readiness Act, an entity described in paragraph (1) shall demonstrate that the entity has met or is making progress toward meeting the goals described in paragraph (2)(A).
``(5) GOVERNING BODY AND POLICY COUNCIL.--
``(A) ESTABLISHMENT OF GOVERNING BODY.--Each Head Start agency shall establish a governing body in accordance with paragraph (2)(B).
``(B) COMPOSITION OF GOVERNING BODY.--
``(i) IN GENERAL.--The governing body shall be composed as follows:
``(I) Not less than 1 member of the governing body shall have a background in fiscal management.
``(II) Not less than 1 member of the governing body shall have a background in early childhood education and care.
``(III) Not less than 1 member of the governing body shall be a licensed attorney familiar with issues that come before the governing body.
``(IV) Additional members shall reflect the community to be served, and include parents of children who are currently, or were formerly, enrolled in Head Start programs.
``(V) In the case in which the governing body is a part of a Head Start agency that is a public agency, members of the governing body shall include elected or appointed public officials.
``(ii) CONSULTANTS.--In the case that persons described in clause (i) are not available to serve as members of the governingbody, the governing body shall make use of consultants in the areas described in clause (i) to work directly with the governing body.

``(iii) CONFLICT OF INTEREST.--Members of the governing body shall--
``(I) not have a conflict of interest with the Head Start agency (including any delegate agency); and
``(II) not receive compensation for the purposes of serving on the governing body or for providing services to the Head Start agency.
``(C) RESPONSIBILITIES OF GOVERNING BODY.--
``(i) IN GENERAL.--The governing body shall be responsible for--
``(I) the selection of delegate agencies and such agencies' service areas;
``(II) establishing procedures and criteria for recruitment, selection, and enrollment;
``(III) all funding applications and amendments to funding applications for programs under this subchapter;
``(IV) establishing procedures and guidelines to access and collect the information described in paragraph (6);
``(V) review and approval of--
``(aa) the annual self-assessment, financial audit, and findings from the Federal monitoring review, of the Head Start agency (including any delegate agency); and
``(bb) such agency's progress in carrying out the programmatic and fiscal intent of such agency's grant application;
``(VI) developing procedures for how members of the policy council of the Head Start agency are selected, consistent with subparagraph (E)(ii);
``(VII) financial audits, accounting, and reporting;
``(VIII) personnel policies and procedures regarding hiring, termination, salary scales (and changes made to the scale), and salaries of the Executive Director, Head Start Director, the Director of Human Resources, the Chief Fiscal Officer, and any equivalent position; and
``(IX) review and approval of the community assessment, including any updates to such assessment.
``(ii) CONDUCT OF RESPONSIBILITIES.--The governing body shall ensure the development and approval of an internal control structure to facilitate those responsibilities in order to--
``(I) safeguard Federal funds;
``(II) comply with laws and regulations that have an impact on financial statements;
``(III) detect or prevent noncompliance with this subchapter; and
``(IV) receive financial audit reports and direct and monitor staff implementation of corrective actions.
``(iii) COMMITTEES.--The governing body shall, to the extent practicable and appropriate, establish--
``(I) advisory committees to oversee responsibilities related to financial auditing and finances of the Head Start agency, as well as compliance with Federal, State, and local laws and regulations; and
``(II) at the discretion of the governing body, additional advisory committees to study and make recommendations on areas related to the improvement of the Head Start program.
``(D) ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICY COUNCIL.--Each Head Start agency shall establish a policy council in accordance with paragraph (3).
``(E) COMPOSITION OF POLICY COUNCIL.--
``(i) IN GENERAL.--The policy council shall consist of--
``(I) parents of children currently enrolled in the programs of the Head Start agency (including any delegate agency), which shall constitute a majority of the membership of the policy council; and
``(II) members at large of the community served by the Head Start agency, which may include parents of children previously enrolled in the programs of the Head Start agency (including any delegate agency).
``(ii) SELECTION.--Parents serving on the policy council shall be elected by parents of children currently enrolled in the programs of the Head Start agency (including any delegate agency) and shall represent, proportionately, all program options and settings operated by the Head Start agency (including any delegate agency).
``(iii) CONFLICT OF INTEREST.--Members of the policy council shall--
``(I) not have a conflict of interest with the Head Start agency (including any delegate agency); and
``(II) not receive compensation for serving on the policy council or for providing services to the Head Start agency.
``(F) RESPONSIBILITIES OF POLICY COUNCIL.--The policy council shall be responsible for--
``(i) program planning, including--
``(I) program design, including long and short term program goals, all funding applications and amendments to funding applications, and objectives based on the annual communitywide assessment and self-assessment;
``(II) program recruitment, selection, and enrollment priorities; and
``(III) budget planning for program expenditures consistent with subparagraph (C)(i)(VII), including polices for reimbursement and participation in policy council activities;
``(ii) program operation consistent with subparagraph (C)(i)(VIII), including implementation of standards of conduct for program staff, contractors, and volunteers and criteria for the employment and dismissal of program staff; and
``(iii) activities to support the active involvement of parents in supporting program operations, including policies to ensure that the Head Start program is responsive to community and parent needs.
``(6) INFORMATION SHARING.--The governing body and the policy council shall share with each other regular and accurate information for use by both entities about program planning, policies, and Head Start agency operations, including--
``(A) monthly financial statements (including detailed credit card account expenditures for any employee with a Head Start agency credit card or who seeks reimbursement for charged expenses);
``(B) monthly program information summaries;
``(C) program enrollment reports, including attendance reports for children whose care is partially subsidized by another public agency;
``(D) monthly reports of meals and snacks provided through programs of the Department of Agriculture;
``(E) the financial audit;
``(F) the annual self-assessment, including any findings related to the annual self-assessment;
``(G) the community assessment of the Head Start agency's service area and any applicable updates;
``(H) communication and guidance from the Secretary; and
``(I) the program information reports.
``(7) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.--Appropriate training and technical assistance shall be provided to the members of the governing body and the policy council to ensure that the members understand the information the members receive and can effectively oversee and participate in the programs of the Head Start agency.
``(b) Communities.--For purposes of this subchapter, a community may be a city, county, or multicity or multicounty unit within a State, an Indian reservation (including Indians in any off-reservation area designated by an appropriate tribal government in consultation with the Secretary), or a neighborhood or other area (irrespective of boundaries or political subdivisions) that provides a suitable organizational base and possesses the commonality of interest needed to operate a Head
Start program.
``(c) Redesignation.--
``(1) IN GENERAL.--In administering the provisions of this section, the Secretary shall, in consultation with the Governor of the State involved, redesignate as a Head Start agency any Head Start agency (including any delegate agency) that is high performing, as determined by meeting each of the following criteria:
``(A) Is receiving assistance under this subchapter.
``(B) Meets or exceeds standards described in section 641A(a)(1) (including program and financial management requirements).
``(C) Has no unresolved deficiencies, including having resolved any deficiencies found during the last triennial review under section 641A(c).
``(D) Can demonstrate, through agreements such as memoranda of understanding, active collaboration with the State or local community in the provision of services for children (such as the provision of extended day services, education, professional development and training for staff, and other types of cooperative endeavors).
``(E) Completes and submits the appropriate reapplication forms as required by the Secretary.
``(2) LIMITATION.--A Head Start agency with a triennial review under section 641A(c) scheduled not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Head Start for School Readiness Act shall not be subject to the criteria described in paragraph (1) for that review in order to be redesignated. The Head Start agency shall be subject to the criteria for any subsequent triennial review.
``(d) Designation When No Entity Is Redesignated.--If no entity in a community is redesignated according to subsection (c), the Secretary shall, after conducting an open competition, designate a Head Start agency from among qualified applicants in such community.
``(e) Effectiveness.--In selecting from among qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall consider the effectiveness of each such applicant to provide Head Start services, based on--
``(1) any past performance of such applicant in providing services comparable to Head Start services, including how effectively such applicant provided such comparable services;
``(2) the plan of such applicant to provide comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services needed to aid participating children in attaining their full potential, and to prepare children to succeed in school;
``(3) the capacity of such applicant to serve eligible children with programs that use scientifically based research that promote school readiness of children participating in the program;
``(4) the plan of such applicant to meet standards set forth in section 641A(a)(1), with particular attention to the standards set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section;
``(5) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the Head Start program the applicant proposes to carry out with other preschool programs, including--
``(A) the Early Reading First and Even Start programs under subparts 2 and 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6371 et seq., 6381 et seq.);
``(B) other preschool program under title I of that Act (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.);
``(C) programs under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
``(D) State prekindergarten programs;
``(E) child care programs;
``(F) the educational programs that the children in the Head Start program involved will enter at the age of compulsory school attendance; and
``(G) reading readiness programs such as those conducted by public and school libraries;
``(6) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the Head Start program that the applicant proposes to carry out with public and private entities who are willing to commit resources to assist the Head Start program in meeting its program needs;
``(7) the plan of such applicant to collaborate with a local library, where available, that is interested in that collaboration, to--
``(A) develop innovative programs to excite children about the world of books, such as programs that involve--
``(i) taking children to the library for a story hour;
``(ii) promoting the use of library cards;
``(iii) developing a lending library or using a mobile library van; and
``(iv) providing fresh books in the Head Start classroom on a regular basis;
``(B) assist in literacy training for Head Start teachers; and
``(C) support parents and other caregivers in literacy efforts;
``(8) the plan of such applicant--
``(A) to facilitate the involvement of parents of participating children in activities (at home and in the center involved where practicable) designed to help such parents become full partners in the education of their children;
``(B) to afford such parents the opportunity to participate in the development and overall conduct of the program at the local level, including through providing transportation costs;
``(C) to offer (directly or through referral to local entities, such as entities carrying out Even Start programs under subpart 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381 et seq.), public and school libraries, and entities carrying out family support programs) to such parents--
``(i) family literacy services; and
``(ii) parenting skills training;
``(D) to offer to parents of participating children substance abuse counseling (either directly or through referral to local entities), if needed, including information on the effect of drug exposure on infants and fetal alcohol syndrome;
``(E) at the option of such applicant, to offer (directly or through referral to local entities) to such parents--
``(i) training in basic child development (including cognitive development);
``(ii) assistance in developing literacy and communication skills;
``(iii) opportunities to share experiences with other parents (including parent mentor relationships);
``(iv) regular in-home visitation; or
``(v) any other activity designed to help such parents become full partners in the education of their children;
``(F) to provide, with respect to each participating family, a family needs assessment that includes consultation with such parents (including foster parents and grandparents, where applicable) about the benefits of parent involvement and about the activities described in subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E) in which such parents may choose to become involved (taking into consideration their specific family needs, work schedules, and other responsibilities); and
``(G) to extend outreach to fathers, in appropriate cases, in order to strengthen the role of fathers in families, in the education of their young children, and in the Head Start program, by working directly with fathers and father figures through activities such as--
``(i) in appropriate cases, including fathers in home visits and providing opportunities for direct father-child interactions; and
``(ii) targeting increased male participation in the conduct of the program;
``(9) the ability of such applicant to carry out the plans described in paragraphs (2), (4), and (5);
``(10) other factors related to the requirements of this subchapter;
``(11) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of limited English proficient children and their families, including procedures to identify such children, plans to provide trained personnel, and plans to provide services to assist the children in making progress toward the acquisition of the English language;
``(12) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of children with disabilities, including procedures to identify such children, procedures for referral of such children for evaluation to State and local agencies providing services under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq), and plans for collaboration with those State and local agencies;
``(13) the plan of such applicant who chooses to assist younger siblings of children who will participate in the Head Start program, to obtain health services from other sources;
``(14) the plan of such applicant to collaborate with other entities providing early childhood education and care in the community;
``(15) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of homeless children and children in foster care, including the transportation needs of such children; and
``(16) the plan of such applicant to recruit and retain qualified staff.
``(f) Involvement of Parents and Area Residents.--The Secretary shall continue the practice of involving parents and area residents who are affected by programs under this subchapter in the selection of qualified applicants for designation as Head Start agencies.
``(g) Priority.--In selecting from among qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that have demonstrated capacity in providing effective, comprehensive, and well-coordinated early childhood education and care to children and their families.
``(h) Interim Basis.--If there is not a qualified applicant in a community for designation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall designate a qualified agency to carry out the Head Start program in the community on an interim basis until a qualified applicant from the community is so designated.
``(i) Prohibition Against Non-Indian Head Start Agency Receiving a Grant for an Indian Head Start Program.--
``(1) IN GENERAL.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law except as provided in paragraph (2), under no condition may a non-Indian Head Start agency receive a grant to carry out an Indian Head Start program.
``(2) EXCEPTION.--In a community in which there is no Indian Head Start agency available for designation to carry out an Indian Head Start program, a non-Indian Head Start agency may receive a grant to carry out an Indian Head Start program but only until such time as an Indian Head Start agency in such community becomes available and is designated pursuant to this section.''.
SEC. 8. QUALITY STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD START AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS.
Section 641A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``642(d)'' and inserting ``642(c)'';
(B) in paragraph (1)(B)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``education performance standards'' and inserting ``educational performance standards''; and
(ii) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following:
``(ii) additional educational standards based on the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences panel described in section 649(h) and other experts in the field, to ensure that the curriculum involved addresses, and that the children participating in the program show appropriate progress toward developing and applying, the recommended educational outcomes, after the panel considers the appropriateness of additional educational standards relating to--
``(I) language skills related to listening, understanding, speaking, and communicating;
``(II) pre-literacy knowledge and skills;
``(III) premathematics knowledge and skills;
``(IV) scientific abilities;
``(V) general cognitive abilities related to academic achievement and child development;
``(VI) social and emotional development related to early learning and school success;
``(VII) physical development; and
``(VIII) in the case of limited English proficient children, progress toward acquisition of the English language (which may include progress made with linguistically appropriate instructional services) while making meaningful progress in attaining the knowledge, skills, abilities, and development described in subclauses (I) through (VII);'';
(C) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking ``projects; and'' and inserting ``projects, including regulations that require that the facilities used by Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies and including any delegate agencies) for regularly scheduled center-based and combination program option classroom activities--
``(i) shall be in compliance with State and local requirements concerning licensing for such facilities; and
``(ii) shall be accessible by State and local authorities for purposes of monitoring and ensuring compliance; and'';
(D) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (i), by striking ``the date of enactment of this section'' and inserting ``the date of enactment of the Head Start for School Readiness Act'';
(II) in clause (ii), by striking ``the date of enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``the date of enactment of the Head Start for School Readiness Act'';
(III) in clause (iii)--
(aa) by striking ``early childhood education and development'' and inserting ``early childhood education and care''; and
(bb) by inserting ``homeless children, children in foster care,'' after ``children with disabilities,'';
(IV) in clause (vi), by striking ``including the language'' and all that follows and inserting ``and the language background and family structure of such children, and changes in the population and number of such children who are in foster care or are homeless children'';
(V) by striking clause (vii) and inserting the following:
``(vii) the need for Head Start agencies to maintain close and frequent communications with parents, including conducting periodic meetings to discuss the progress of individual children in Head Start programs; and
``(viii) the unique challenges faced by individual programs, including those programs that are seasonal or short term and those programs that serve rural populations;'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking ``the date of enactment of the Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998.'' and inserting ``the date of enactment of the Head Start for School Readiness Act; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) consult with Indian tribes, American Indian and Alaska Native experts in early childhood education and care, linguists, and the National Indian Head Start Directors Association on the review and promulgation of standards under this subchapter (including standards for language acquisition and school readiness).'';
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) EVALUATIONS AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS FOR DELEGATE AGENCIES.--
``(A) PROCEDURES.--
``(i) IN GENERAL.--Subject to clause (ii), the Head Start agency shall establish procedures relating to its delegate agencies, including--
``(I) procedures for evaluating delegate agencies;
``(II) procedures for defunding delegate agencies; and
``(III) procedures for appealing a defunding decision relating to a delegate agency.
``(ii) TERMINATION.--The Head Start agency may not terminate a delegate agency's contract or reduce a delegate agency's service area without showing cause or demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of such a decision.
``(B) EVALUATIONS.--Each Head Start agency--
``(i) shall evaluate its delegate agencies using the procedures established pursuant to this section, including subparagraph (A); and
``(ii) shall inform the delegate agencies of the deficiencies identified through the evaluation that shall be corrected.
``(C) REMEDIES TO ENSURE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS.--In the event that the Head Start agency identifies a deficiency for a delegate agency through the evaluation, the Head Start agency shall take action, which may include--
``(i) initiating procedures to terminate the designation of the agency unless the agency corrects the deficiency;
``(ii) conducting 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) releasing funds to such delegate agency--
``(I) only as reimbursements, until all deficiencies are corrected or the Head Start agency decides to defund such delegate agency; and
``(II) only if there is continuity of services for children and families.
``(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 (including any delegate agencies) receiving funding under this subchapter.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking the paragraph heading and inserting the following:
``(2) CHARACTERISTICS AND USE OF MEASURES.--'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``, not later than July 1, 1999; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon;
(iv) by striking the flush matter following subparagraph (C); and
(v) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) measure characteristics that are strongly predictive (as determined on a scientific basis) of a child's school readiness and later performance in school;
``(E) be appropriate for the population served; and
``(F) be reviewed not less than every 4 years, based on advances in the science of early childhood development.
The performance measures shall be issued by regulation and shall include the performance standards and additional educational standards described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(1).'';
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) to enable Head Start agencies to individualize programs of instruction to better meet the needs of the child involved.'';
(C) by striking paragraph (4);
(D) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4); and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.--Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to authorize or permit the Secretary or any employee or contractor of the Department of Health and Human Services to mandate, direct, control, or suggest the selection of a curriculum, a program of instruction, or instructional materials, for a Head Start program.'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
``(C) Unannounced site inspections for health and safety reasons, as appropriate.'';
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
``(D) Followup reviews, including--
``(i) prompt return visits as necessary for failure to meet 1 or more of the performance measures developed by the Secretary under subsection (b);
``(ii) a review of agencies and programs with citations that include findings of deficiencies not later than 6 months after the date of such citation; and
``(iii) followup reviews that incorporate a monitoring visit without prior notice of the visit to the agency or program involved or with such limited prior notice as is necessary to ensure the participation of parents and key staff members.''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
``(2) CONDUCT OF REVIEWS.--
``(A) IN GENERAL.--The Secretary shall ensure that reviews described in paragraph (1)--
``(i) are performed, to the maximum extent practicable, by employees of the Department of Health and Human Services who are knowledgeable about Head Start programs;
``(ii) are conducted by review teams that shall include individuals who are knowledgeable about Head Start programs and other early childhood education and care and, to the maximum extent practicable, the diverse (including linguistic and cultural) needs of eligible children (including children with disabilities, homeless children, and children in foster care) and limited English proficient children and their families, and personnel management, financial accountability, and systems development
and monitoring;
``(iii) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a review and assessment of program effectiveness, including strengths and weaknesses, as measured in accordance with the results-based performance measures developed by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b) and with the performance standards established pursuant to subsection (a)(1);
``(iv) seek information from the communities and States where Head Start programs exist about innovative or effective collaborative efforts, barriers to collaboration, and the efforts of the Head Start agencies to collaborate with the entities providing early childhood education and care in the community;
``(v) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a review and assessment of whether the programs are in conformity with the income eligibility requirements under section 645 and regulations promulgated under such section;
``(vi) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a review and assessment of whether programs have adequately addressed population and community needs (including needs of populations of limited English proficient children and children of migrant or seasonal farmworkers);
``(vii) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a review and assessment of whether programs have adequately addressed the needs of children with disabilities, including whether the agencies involved have met the 10 percent minimum enrollment requirement specified in section 640(d) and whether the agencies have made sufficient efforts to collaborate with State and local agencies providing services under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C.
1419, 1431 et seq.);
``(viii) include as part of the reviews of the programs, data from the results of periodic child assessments, and a review and assessment of child outcomes and performance as they relate to agency-determined school readiness goals described in section 641(a)(2)(A); and
``(ix) in the case of Early Head Start agencies and programs, are conducted by a review team that includes individuals who are knowledgeable about the development of infants and toddlers.
``(B) TRAINING; QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY.--The Secretary, from funds available under section 640(a)(2)(D), shall provide periodic training for supervisors and members of review teams in such topics as program management and financial audit performance. The Secretary shall ensure the quality and consistency across and within regions of reviews and non-compliance and deficiency determinations by conducting periodic interrater reliability checks.'';
(4) in subsection (d)(1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or fails to address the communitywide strategic plan and needs assessment identified in section 640(g)(2)(C),'' after ``subsection (b),''; and
(B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and identify the assistance to be provided consistent with paragraph (3)'' after ``corrected'';
(5) in subsection (e), by striking the last sentence and inserting ``The information contained in such report shall be made available to parents with children receiving assistance under this subchapter in an understandable and uniform format, and to the extent practicable, in a language that the parents can understand. Such information shall be made widely available through public means such as distribution through public agencies, and, at a minimum, by posting such information on the Internet
immediately upon publication.''; and
(6) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Self-Assessments.--
``(1) IN GENERAL.--Not less frequently than once each program year, with the consultation and participation of policy councils, and, as applicable, policy committees, and, as appropriate, other community members, each agency receiving funds under this subchapter shall conduct a comprehensive self-assessment of the agency's effectiveness and progress in meeting program goals and objectives and in implementing and complying with performance standards described in subsection (a)(1).
``(2) REPORT AND IMPROVEMENT PLANS.--
``(A) REPORT.--An agency conducting a self-assessment shall report the findings of the self-assessment to the relevant policy council, policy committee, governing body, and regional office of the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services. Each self-assessment shall identify areas of strength and weakness.
``(B) IMPROVEMENT PLAN.--The agency shall develop an improvement plan approved by the governing body of the agency to strengthen any areas identified in the self-assessment as weaknesses or in need of improvement. The agency shall report the areas to the appropriate regional office of the Administration for Children and Families.
``(3) ONGOING MONITORING.--Each Head Start agency (including each Early Head Start agency and including any delegate agency) shall establish and implement procedures for the ongoing monitoring of their Head Start (including Early Head Start) programs, to ensure that the operations of the programs work toward meeting program goals and objectives and Head Start performance standards.
``(4) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.--Funds may be made available, through section 648(d), for training and technical assistance to assist agencies in conducting self-assessments.
``(g) Reduction of Grants and Redistribution of Funds in Cases of Under-Enrollment.--
``(1) DEFINITIONS.--In this subsection:
``(A) ACTUAL ENROLLMENT.--The term `actual enrollment' means, with respect to the program of a Head Start agency, the actual number of children enrolled in such program and reported by the agency (as required in paragraph (2)) in a given month.
``(B) BASE GRANT.--The term `base grant' means, with respect to a Head Start agency for a fiscal year, that portion of the grant derived--
``(i) from amounts reserved for use in accordance with section 640(a)(2)(A), for a Head Start agency administering an Indian Head Start program or migrant or 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 award.
``(2) ENROLLMENT REPORTING REQUIREMENT FOR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.--Each entity carrying out a Head Start program shall report on a monthly basis to the Secretary and the relevant Head Start agency--
``(A) the actual enrollment in such program; and
``(B) if such actual enrollment is less than the funded enrollment, any apparent reason for such enrollment shortfall.
``(3) SECRETARIAL REVIEW AND PLAN.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) on a semiannual basis, determine which Head Start agencies are operating with an actual enrollment that is less than the funded enrollment based on not less than 4 consecutive months of data;
``(B) for each such Head Start agency operating a program with an actual enrollment that is less than 95 percent of its funded enrollment, as determined under subparagraph (A), develop, in collaboration with such agency, a plan and timetable for reducing or eliminating under-enrollment taking into consideration--
``(i) the quality and extent of the outreach, recruitment, and communitywide 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 funds made available under this subchapter 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 community served; 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 funded enrollment, the Secretary shall, where determined appropriate, continue to provide technical assistance to such agency.
``(6) SECRETARIAL REVIEW AND ADJUSTMENT FOR CHRONIC UNDER-ENROLLMENT.--
``(A) IN GENERAL.--If, after receiving technical assistance and developing and implementing a plan to the extent described in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) for 9 months, a Head Start agency is still operating a program with an actual enrollment that is less than 95 percent of its funded enrollment, the Secretary may--
``(i) designate such agency as chronically under-enrolled; and
``(ii) recapture, withhold, or reduce the base grant for the program by a percentage equal to the percentage difference between funded enrollment and actual enrollment for the program for the most recent year in which the agency is determined to be under-enrolled under paragraph (3)(A).
``(B) WAIVER OR LIMITATION OF REDUCTIONS.--If the Secretary, after the implementation of the plan described in paragraph (3)(B), finds that--
``(i) the causes of the enrollment shortfall, or a portion of the shortfall, are beyond the agency's control (such as serving significant numbers of children of migrant or seasonal farmworkers, homeless children, children in foster care, or other highly mobile children);
``(ii) the shortfall can reasonably be expected to be temporary; or
``(iii) the number of slots allotted to the agency is small enough that under-enrollment does not constitute a significant shortfall, the Secretary may, as appropriate, waive or reduce the percentage recapturing, withholding, or reduction otherwise required by subparagraph (A).
``(C) PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS; EFFECTIVE DATE.--The actions taken by the Secretary under this paragraph with respect to a Head Start agency shall take effect 1 day after the date on which--
``(i) the time allowed for appeal under section 646(a) expires without an appeal by the agency; or
``(ii) the action is upheld in an administrative hearing under section 646.
``(7) REDISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.--
``(A) IN GENERAL.--The Secretary shall use amounts recovered from a Head Start agency through recapturing, withholding, or reduction under paragraph (6) in a fiscal year--
``(i) in the case of a Head Start agency administering an Indian Head Start program or a migrant or seasonal Head Start program, whose base grant is derived from amounts specified in paragraph (1)(B)(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)(B), 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), in the case of a Head Start agency described in 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.
``(h) Contract With Nonprofit Intermediary Organization.--From funds reserved under clause (i) or (ii) of section 640(a)(2)(C) or from whatever other resources the Secretary determines appropriate, in carrying out the provisions of this section, the Secretary or a Head Start agency may contract with a nonprofit intermediary organization that--
``(1) provides evaluations and technical assistance to improve overall performance management; and
``(2) has an exclusive focus of improving the performance management and the use of technology in assessing performance and meeting Head Start regulations and can provide on-site, hands-on guidance with the implementation of Head Start programs.''.
SEC. 9. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.
The Head Start Act is amended by inserting after section 641A (42 U.S.C. 9836a) the following:
``SEC. 641B. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.
``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `center of excellence' means a Center of Excellence in Early Childhood designated under subsection (b).
``(b) Designation and Bonus Grants.--The Secretary shall, subject to the availability of funds under this subchapter, including under subsection (f), establish a program under which the Secretary shall--
``(1) designate not more than 200 exemplary Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies, Indian Head Start agencies, and migrant and seasonal Head Start agencies) as Centers of Excellence in Early Childhood; and
``(2) make bonus grants to the centers of excellence to carry out the activities described in subsection (d).
``(c) Application and Designation.--
``(1) APPLICATION.--
``(A) NOMINATION AND SUBMISSION.--
``(i) IN GENERAL.--To be eligible to receive a designation as a center of excellence under subsection (b), except as provided in clause (ii), a Head Start agency in a State shall be nominated by the Governor of the State and shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
``(ii) INDIAN AND MIGRANT AND SEASONAL HEAD START PROGRAMS.--In the case of an Indian Head Start agency or a migrant or seasonal Head Start agency, to be eligible to receive a designation as a center of excellence under subsection (b), such an agency shall be nominated by the head of the appropriate regional office of the Department of Health and Human Services and shall submit an application to the Secretary in accordance with clause (i).
``(B) CONTENTS.--At a minimum, the application shall include--
``(i) evidence that the Head Start program carried out by the agency has significantly improved the school readiness of, and enhanced academic outcomes for, children who have participated in the program;
``(ii) evidence that the program meets or exceeds performance standards described in section 641A(a)(1), as evidenced by successful completion of programmatic and monitoring reviews, and has no findings of deficiencies with respect to such standards;
``(iii) evidence that the program is making progress toward meeting the requirements described in section 648A;
``(iv) evidence demonstrating the existence of a collaborative partnership among the Head Start agency, the State (or a State agency), and other providers of early childhood education and care in the local community involved;
``(v) a nomination letter from the Governor, or appropriate regional office, demonstrating the agency's ability to provide the coordination, transition, and training services of the program to be carried out under the bonus grant involved, including coordination of activities with State and local agencies that provide early childhood education and care to children and families in the community served by the agency;
``(vi) information demonstrating the existence of a local council for excellence in early childhood, which shall include representatives of all the institutions, agencies, and groups involved in the work of the center for, and the local provision of services to, eligible children and other at-risk children, and their families; and
``(vii) a description of how the Center, in order to expand accessibility and continuity of quality early childhood education and care, will coordinate activities assisted under this section with--
``(I) programs carried out under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.);
``(II) other programs carried out under this subchapter, including the Early Head Start programs carried out under section 645A;
``(III)(aa) Early Reading First and Even Start programs carried out under subparts 2 and 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6371 et seq., 6381 et seq.);
``(bb) other preschool programs carried out under title I of that Act (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.); and
``(cc) the Ready-to-Learn Television program carried out under subpart 3 of part D of title II of that Act (20 U.S.C. 6775 et seq.);
``(IV) programs carried out under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
``(V) State prekindergarten programs; and
``(VI) other programs of early childhood education and care.
``(2) SELECTION.--In selecting agencies to designate as centers of excellence under subsection (b), the Secretary shall designate not less than 1 from each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, an Indian Head Start program, a migrant or seasonal Head Start program, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
``(3) PRIORITY.--In making bonus grant determinations under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to programs that, through their applications, demonstrate that they are of exceptional quality and would serve as exemplary models for programs in the same geographic region. The Secretary may also consider the populations served by the applicants, such as programs that serve large proportions of families of limited English proficient children or other underserved populations, and
may make bonus grants to programs that do an exceptional job meeting the needs of children in such populations.
``(4) TERM OF DESIGNATION.--
``(A) IN GENERAL.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall designate a Head Start agency as a center of excellence for a 5-year term. During the period of that designation, subject to the availability of appropriations, the agency shall be eligible to receive a bonus grant under subsection (b).
``(B) REVOCATION.--The Secretary may revoke an agency's designation under subsection (b) if the Secretary determines that the agency is not demonstrating adequate performance or has had findings of deficiencies described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii).
``(5) AMOUNT OF BONUS GRANT.--The Secretary shall base the amount of funding provided through a bonus grant made under subsection (b) to a center of excellence on the number of children eligible for Head Start services in the community involved. The Secretary shall, subject to the availability of funding, make such a bonus grant in an amount of not less than $200,000 per year.
``(d) Use of Funds.--
``(1) ACTIVITIES.--A center of excellence that receives a bonus grant under subsection (b)--
``(A) shall use the funds made available through the bonus grant to model and disseminate, to other Head Start centers in the State involved, best practices for achieving early academic success, including--
``(i) best practices for achieving school readiness and developing pre-literacy and premathematics skills for at-risk children and achieving the acquisition of the English language for limited English proficient children; and
``(ii) best practices for providing seamless service delivery for eligible children and their families;
``(B) may use the funds made available through the bonus grant--
``(i) to provide Head Start services to additional eligible children;
``(ii) to better meet the needs of working families in the community served by the center by serving more children in existing Early Head Start programs (existing as of the date the center is designated under this section) or in full-working-day, full calendar year Head Start programs;
``(iii) to further coordinate early childhood education and care and social services available in the community served by the center for at-risk children (birth through age 8), their families, and pregnant women;
``(iv) to provide training and cross training for Head Start teachers and staff, child care providers, public and private preschool and elementary school teachers, and other providers of early childhood education and care, and training and cross training to develop agency leaders;

``(v) to provide effective transitions between Head Start programs and elementary school, to facilitate ongoing communication between Head Start and elementary school teachers concerning children receiving Head Start services, and to provide training and technical assistance to providers who are public elementary school teachers and other staff of local educational agencies, child care providers, family service providers, and other providers of early childhood education and care, to help the
providers described in this clause increase their ability to work with low-income, at-risk children and their families;
``(vi) to develop or maintain partnerships with institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations, including community-based organizations, that recruit, train, place, and support college students to serve as mentors and reading partners to preschool children in Head Start programs; and
``(vii) to carry out other activities determined by the center to improve the overall quality of the Head Start program carried out by the agency and the program carried out under the bonus grant involved.
``(2) INVOLVEMENT OF OTHER HEAD START AGENCIES AND PROVIDERS.--A center that receives a bonus grant under subsection (b), in carrying out activities under this subsection, shall work with the center's delegate agencies and several additional Head Start agencies (especially agencies that are low-performing on the performance standards described in section 641A(a)(1)), and other providers of early childhood education and care in the community involved, to encourage the agencies and providers
described in this paragraph to carry out model programs.
``(e) Research and Reports.--
``(1) RESEARCH.--The Secretary shall, subject to the availability of funds to carry out this subsection, award a grant or contract to an independent organization to conduct research on the ability of the centers of excellence to improve the school readiness of children receiving Head Start services, and to positively impact school results in the earliest grades. The organization shall also conduct research to measure the success of the centers of excellence at encouraging the center's
delegate agencies, additional Head Start agencies, and other providers of early childhood education and care in the communities involved to meet measurable improvement goals, particularly in the area of school readiness.
``(2) REPORT.--Not later than 48 months after the date of enactment of the Head Start for School Readiness Act, the organization shall prepare and submit to the Secretary and Congress a report containing the results of the research described in paragraph (1).
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012--
``(1) $90,000,000 to make bonus grants to centers of excellence under subsection (b) to carry out activities described in subsection (d);
``(2) $500,000 to pay for the administrative costs of the Secretary in carrying out this section; and
``(3) $2,000,000 for research activities described in subsection (e).''.
SEC. 10. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES.
Section 642 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837) is amended--
(1) by striking all that precedes ``In order'' the first place it appears and inserting the following:
``SEC. 642. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES.
``(a) In General.--''; and
(2) by striking subsections (b) through (e) and inserting the following:
``(b) Additional Requirements.--In order to be designated as a Head Start agency under this subchapter, a Head Start agency shall also--
``(1) establish a program with all standards set forth in section 641A(a)(1), with particular attention to the standards set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section;
``(2) demonstrate the capacity to serve eligible children with scientifically based curricula and other interventions and support services that help promote the school readiness of children participating in the program;
``(3) establish effective procedures and provide for the regular assessment of Head Start children, including observational and direct formal assessment, where appropriate;
``(4) establish effective procedures, for determining the needs of children, that include high quality research based developmental screening tools that have been demonstrated to be valid, reliable, and accurate for children from a range of backgrounds;
``(5) establish effective procedures for timely referral of children with disabilities to State and local agencies providing services under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.), and collaboration with those agencies;
``(6) establish effective procedures for providing necessary services to children with disabilities prior to an eligibility determination by the State or local agency responsible for providing services under section 619 or part C of such Act;
``(7) require each delegate agency to create a policy committee, which shall--
``(A) be comprised of members of the community to be served, including parents of children who are currently enrolled in the Head Start programs of the Head Start agency; and
``(B) serve in an advisory capacity to the delegate agency, to make decisions and recommendations regarding program planning and operation and parental involvement.
``(8) seek the involvement of parents, area residents, and local business in the design and implementation of the program;
``(9) provide for the regular participation of parents and area residents in the implementation of the program;
``(10) provide technical and other support needed to enable such parents and area residents to secure, on their own behalf, available assistance from public and private sources;
``(11) establish effective procedures to carry out subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 641(f)(8);
``(12) conduct outreach to schools in which Head Start children will enroll, local educational agencies, the local business community, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, museums, and libraries to generate support and leverage the resources of the entire local community in order to improve school readiness;
``(13) establish effective procedures to carry out section 641(f)(8)(C);
``(14) establish effective procedures to carry out section 641(f)(8)(D);
``(15) establish effective procedures to carry out section 641(f)(8)(E);
``(16) establish effective procedures to carry out section 641(f)(8)(F);
``(17) consider providing services to assist younger siblings of children participating in its Head Start program, to obtain health services from other sources;
``(18) perform community outreach to encourage individuals previously unaffiliated with Head Start programs to participate in its Head Start program as volunteers;
``(19)(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;
``(20) provide parents of limited English proficient children outreach and information in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, in a language that the parents can understand; and
``(21) at the option of such agency, partner with an institution of higher education and a nonprofit organization to provide college students with the opportunity to serve as mentors or reading partners to Head Start participants.
``(c) Transition Activities To Facilitate Continued Progress.--
``(1) IN GENERAL.--Each Head Start agency shall collaborate with the entities listed in this subsection, to the maximum extent possible, to ensure the successful transition of Head Start children to school, so that such children are able to build upon the developmental and educational gains achieved in Head Start programs in further schooling.
``(2) COORDINATION.--
``(A) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.--In communities where both public prekindergarten programs and Head Start programs operate, a Head Start agency shall collaborate and coordinate activities with the local educational agency or other public agency responsible for the operation of the prekindergarten program and providers of prekindergarten, including outreach activities to identify eligible children.
``(B) ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.--Head Start staff shall, with the permission of the parents of children enrolled in Head Start programs, regularly communicate with the elementary schools such children will be attending to--
``(i) share information about such children;
``(ii) collaborate with the teachers in such elementary schools regarding teaching strategies and options; and
``(iii) ensure a smooth transition to elementary school for such children.
``(C) OTHER PROGRAMS.--The head of each Head Start agency shall coordinate activities and collaborate with the State agency responsible for administering the State program carried out under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), other entities providing early childhood education and care, and the agencies responsible for administering section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a), parts B and E of title IV of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq. and 670 et seq.), programs under subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.), Even Start programs under subpart 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381 et seq.), and programs under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.), serving the children and families served by the Head Start agency.
``(3) COLLABORATION.--A Head Start agency shall take steps to coordinate activities with the local educational agency serving the community involved and with schools in which children participating in a Head Start program operated by such agency will enroll following such program, including--
``(A) collaborating on the shared use of transportation and facilities, in appropriate cases;
``(B) collaborating to reduce the duplication of services while increasing the program participation of underserved populations of eligible children; and
``(C) exchanging information on the provision of noneducational services to such children.
``(4) PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.--In order to promote the continued involvement of the parents of children that participate in Head Start programs in the education of their children, 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, upon the transition of their children to school--
``(I) to understand and work with schools in order to communicate with teachers and other school personnel;
``(II) to support the schoolwork of their children; and
``(III) to participate as appropriate in decisions relating to the education of their children; and
``(B) take other actions, as appropriate and feasible, to support the active involvement of the parents with schools, school personnel, and school-related organizations.
``(d) Assessment or Evaluation.--Each Head Start agency shall adopt, in consultation with experts in child development and with classroom teachers, an assessment or evaluation to measure whether classroom teachers have mastered the functions described in section 648A(a)(1) and have attained a level of literacy appropriate to implement Head Start curricula.
``(e) Funded Enrollment; Waiting List.--Each Head Start agency shall enroll 100 percent of its funded enrollment and maintain an active waiting list at all times with ongoing outreach to the community and activities to identify underserved populations.
``(f) Technical Assistance and Training Plan.--In order to receive funds under this subchapter, a Head Start agency shall develop an annual technical assistance and training plan. Such plan shall be based on the agency's self-assessment, the communitywide needs assessment, and the needs of parents to be served by such agency.''.
SEC. 11. HEAD START TRANSITION.
Section 642A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837a) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 642A. HEAD START TRANSITION AND ALIGNMENT WITH K-12 EDUCATION.
``(a) In General.--Each Head Start agency shall take steps to coordinate activities with the local educational agency serving the community involved and with schools in which children participating in a Head Start program operated by such agency will enroll following such program, which may include--
``(1) developing and implementing a systematic procedure for transferring, with parental consent, Head Start program records for each participating child to the school in which such child will enroll;
``(2) establishing ongoing channels of communication between Head Start staff and their counterparts in the schools (including, as appropriate, teachers, social workers, health staff, and local educational agency liaisons designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii))) to--
``(A) facilitate coordination of programs;
``(B) develop continuity of developmentally appropriate curricular objectives and practices, in order to ensure an effective transition to school and appropriate shared expectations for the learning and development of children as they make the transition to school; and
``(C) provide appropriate linkages between the Head Start program and educational services, including services related to language, literacy, and numeracy, provided by such local educational agency;
``(3) establishing comprehensive transition policies and procedures that support children transitioning to school, including by engaging the local education agency in the establishment of such policies;
``(4) conducting outreach to parents, elementary school (such as kindergarten) teachers, and Head Start teachers to discuss the educational, developmental, and other needs of individual children;
``(5) organizing and participating in joint training, including transition-related training of school staff and Head Start staff;
``(6) developing and implementing a family outreach and support program, in cooperation with entities carrying out parental involvement efforts under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), and family outreach and support efforts under subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.), taking into consideration the language needs of parents of limited English proficient children;
``(7) assisting families, administrators, and teachers in enhancing educational and developmental continuity and continuity of parental involvement in activities between Head Start services and elementary school classes;
``(8) helping parents understand the importance of parental involvement in a child's academic success while teaching the parents strategies for maintaining parental involvement as their child moves from the Head Start program to elementary school;
``(9) helping parents understand the instructional and other services provided by the school in which their child will enroll after participation in the Head Start program; and
``(10) coordinating activities and collaborating to ensure that curricula used in the Head Start program are aligned with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate, State early learning standards, with regard to cognitive development (including language, pre-literacy, and premathematics competencies), and social, emotional, and physical competencies that children entering kindergarten are expected to demonstrate.
``(b) Construction.--In this section, a reference to a Head Start agency, or its program, services, facility, or personnel, shall not be construed to be a reference to an Early Head Start agency, or its program, services, facility, or personnel.''.
SEC. 12. SUBMISSION OF PLANS TO GOVERNORS.
Section 643 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9838) is amended--
(1) in the first sentence--
(A) by striking ``chief executive officer'' and inserting ``Governor''; and
(B) by striking ``45'' and inserting ``30'';
(2) in the last sentence, by striking ``, however,''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following: ``This section shall not apply to contracts, agreements, grants, loans, or other assistance for Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs.''.
SEC. 13. COSTS OF DEVELOPING AND ADMINISTERING A PROGRAM.
Section 644(b) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9839(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Except'' and inserting ``(1) Except''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2)(A) The limitation prescribed by paragraph (1) shall not prohibit a Head Start agency from expending an amount in excess of allowable direct costs associated with developing and administering a program assisted under this subchapter, if--
``(i) the agency submits an application for a grant year containing an assurance that--
``(I) the agency will serve a greater percentage of children in the community involved than were served in the preceding grant year; and
``(II) the agency will not diminish services provided to currently enrolled children (as of the date of the application), including the number of hours and days such services are provided;
``(ii) any such excess amount does not exceed 5 percent of the total costs, including the required non-Federal contributions to such costs, of such program; and
``(iii) in the event that the applicant applies to expend any such excess amount in a subsequent grant year, the applicant continues to serve the same number of children as proposed in the initial application submitted under this paragraph and accomplishes, relative to the prior Head Start agency, at least 3 of the 5 improved outcomes.
``(B) In subparagraph (A), the term `improved outcome' means--
``(i) an increase in average teacher salary;
``(ii) an increase in the number of qualified teachers;
``(iii) a significant increase in the number of children who receive full-day Head Start services;
``(iv) a decrease in the caseload for family workers; or
``(v) an increase in transportation options for families.
``(C) The Secretary shall approve not more than 10 applications described in subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, and to the extent practicable shall ensure participation under this paragraph of a diverse group of Head Start agencies, including public, private nonprofit, and for-profit agencies operating Head Start programs.''.
SEC. 14. PARTICIPATION IN HEAD START PROGRAMS.
Section 645 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by inserting ``130 percent of'' after ``below''; and
(II) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) that the Head Start agencies involved make efforts to ensure that the programs serve children from families with incomes below the poverty line prior to serving other income-eligible children; and''; and
(iv) in the flush matter at the end, by adding at the end the following: ``A homeless child shall be deemed eligible for Head Start services.''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(3)(A) In this paragraph:
``(i) The term `dependent' has the meaning given the term in paragraphs (2)(A) and (4)(A)(i) of section 401(a) of title 37, United States Code.
``(ii) The terms `member' and `uniformed services' have the meanings given the terms in paragraphs (23) and (3), respectively, of section 101 of title 37, United States Code.
``(B) The following amounts of pay and allowance of a member of the uniformed services shall not be considered to be income for purposes of determining the eligibility of a dependent of such member for programs funded under this subchapter:
``(i) The amount of any special pay payable under section 310 of title 37, United States Code, relating to duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger.
``(ii) The amount of basic allowance payable under section 403 of such title, including any such amount that is provided on behalf of the member for housing that is acquired or constructed under the alternative authority for the acquisition and improvement of military housing under subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code, or any other related provision of law.
``(4) After demonstrating a need through a communitywide needs assessment, a Head Start agency may apply to the Secretary to convert part-day sessions, particularly consecutive part-day sessions, into full-day sessions.
``(5)(A) Consistent with a communitywide needs assessment, a Head Start agency may apply to the Secretary to serve additional infants and toddlers if the agency submits an application to the Secretary containing--
``(i) a description of how the needs of pregnant women, infants, and toddlers will be addressed in accordance with section 645A(b), and with regulations prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to section 641A in areas including the agency's approach to child development and provision of health services, approach to family and community partnerships, and approach to program design and management;
``(ii) a description of how the needs of eligible Head Start children are being and will be served;
``(iii) assurances that the agency will participate in technical assistance activities (including a planning period, start-up site visits, and national training activities) in the same manner as recipients of grants under section 645A; and
``(iv) evidence that the agency meets the same eligibility criteria as recipients of grants under section 645A.
``(B) In approving such applications, the Secretary shall take into account the costs of serving persons under section 645A.
``(C) Any Head Start agency designated under this section and permitted to use grant funds under subparagraph (A) to serve additional infants and toddlers shall be considered to be an Early Head Start agency and shall be subject to the same rules, regulations, and conditions as apply to recipients of grants under section 645A for those grant funds.''; and
(2) in the first sentence of subsection (c), by striking ``(age 3 to compulsory school attendance)'' and inserting ``(other than children eligible for an Early Head Start program)''; and
(3) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an Indian tribe that operates both an Early Head Start program under section 645A and a Head Start program may, at its discretion, at any time during the grant period involved, reallocate funds between the Early Head Start program and the Head Start program in order to address fluctuations in client population, including pregnant women and children birth to compulsory school age. The reallocation of such funds between programs by an Indian
tribe shall not serve as the basis for the Secretary to reduce a base grant (as defined in section 641A(g)(1)) for either program in succeeding years.''.
SEC. 15. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS.
Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840a) is amended--
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting the following:
``SEC. 645A. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``provide services to parents to support their role as parents'' and inserting ``provide additional services and research-based activities to parents to support their role as parents (including parenting skills training and training in basic child development)'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), (7), (8), and (9) as paragraphs (6), (8), (11), (12), and (13), respectively;
(C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) where appropriate and in conjunction with services provided under this section to the children's immediate families (or as approved by the Secretary), provide home-based services to family child care homes, and kin caregivers, caring for infants and toddlers who also participate in Early Head Start programs, to provide continuity in supporting the children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development;'';
(D) in paragraph (6), as redesignated by subparagraph (B)--
(i) by inserting ``(including home-based services)'' after ``with services'';
(ii) by inserting ``and homeless infants and toddlers'' after ``disabilities''; and
(iii) by inserting ``, and family support services'' after ``health services'';
(E) by inserting after paragraph (6), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), the following:
``(7) ensure that children with documented behavioral problems, including problems involving behavior related to prior or existing trauma, receive appropriate screening and referral;'';
(F) by inserting after paragraph (8), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), the following:
``(9) develop and implement a systematic procedure for transitioning children and parents from an Early Head Start program to a Head Start program or another local program of early childhood education and care;
``(10) establish channels of communication between staff of Early Head Start programs and staff of Head Start programs or other local providers of early childhood education and care, to facilitate the coordination of programs;''; and
(G) in paragraph (12), as redesignated by subparagraph (B)--
(i) by striking ``and providers'' and inserting ``, providers''; and
(ii) by inserting ``, and the agencies responsible for administering section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a) and parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq. and 670 et seq.)'' after ``(20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.)'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, including tribal governments and entities operating migrant and seasonal Head Start programs'' after ``subchapter''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, including community-based organizations'' after ``private entities'';
(4) in subsection (g)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by adding at the end the following: ``In determining the amount so reserved, the Secretary shall consider the number of Early Head Start programs newly funded for that fiscal year.''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (ii), by inserting ``, including supporting infant and toddler specialists to assist such staff and improve the programs carried out under this section'' after ``section''; and
(ii) by striking clause (iv) and inserting the following:
``(iv) providing professional development and personnel enhancement activities, including the provision of funds to recipients of grants under subsection (a), relating to--
``(I) effective methods of conducting parent education, home visiting, and promoting quality early childhood development;
``(II) recruiting and retaining qualified staff; and
``(III) increasing program participation for underserved populations of eligible children.''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Staff Qualifications and Development.--
``(1) CENTER-BASED STAFF.--The Secretary shall establish staff qualification goals to ensure that, not later than September 30, 2012, 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 with a focus on infant and toddler development.
``(2) HOME VISITOR STAFF.--
``(A) STANDARDS.--In order to further enhance the quality of home visiting services provided to families of children participating in home-based, center-based, or combination program options under this subchapter, the Secretary shall establish standards for training, qualifications, and the conduct of home visits for home visitor staff in Early Head Start programs.
``(B) CONTENTS.--The standards for training, qualifications, and the conduct of home visits shall include content related to--
``(i) structured child-focused home visiting that promotes parents' ability to support the child's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development;
``(ii) effective strengths-based parent education, including methods to encourage parents as their child's first teachers;
``(iii) early childhood development with respect to children from birth through age 3;
``(iv) methods to help parents promote emergent literacy in their children from birth through age 3, including use of research-based strategies to support the development of literacy and language skills for children who are limited English proficient;
``(v) health, vision, hearing, and developmental screenings;
``(vi) strategies for helping families coping with crisis; and
``(vii) the relationship of health and well-being of pregnant women to prenatal and early child development.''.
SEC. 16. APPEALS, NOTICE, AND HEARING AND RECORDS AND FINANCIAL AUDITS.
(a) Appeals, Notice, and Hearing.--Section 646(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9841(a)) is amended by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and inserting the following:
``(3) financial assistance under this subchapter may be terminated or reduced, and an application for refunding may be denied, after the recipient has been afforded reasonable notice and opportunity for a full and fair hearing, including--
``(A) a right to file a notice of appeal of a decision not later than 30 days after notice of the decision from the Secretary; and
``(B) access to a full and fair hearing of the appeal, not later than 120 days after receipt by the Secretary of the notice of appeal;
``(4) the Secretary shall develop and publish procedures (including mediation procedures) to be used in order to--
``(A) resolve in a timely manner conflicts potentially leading to an adverse action between--
``(i) recipients of financial assistance under this subchapter; and
``(ii) delegate agencies, or policy councils of Head Start agencies;
``(B) avoid the need for an administrative hearing on an adverse action; and
``(C) prohibit a Head Start agency from expending financial assistance awarded under this subchapter for the purpose of paying legal fees pursuant to an appeal under paragraph (3), except that such fees shall be reimbursed by the Secretary if the agency prevails in such decision; and
``(5) the Secretary may suspend funds to a grantee under this subchapter--
``(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), for not more than 30 days; or
``(B) in the case of a grantee under this subchapter that has multiple and recurring deficiencies for 180 days or more and has not made substantial and significant progress toward meeting the goals of the grantee's quality improvement plan or eliminating all deficiencies identified by the Secretary, during the hearing of an appeal described in paragraph (3), for any amount of time, including permanently.''.
(b) Records and Financial Audits.--
(1) HEADING.--Section 647 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9842) is amended by striking the section heading and inserting the following: ``RECORDS AND FINANCIAL AUDITS''.
(2) RECIPIENTS.--Section 647(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9842(a)) is amended by striking ``Each recipient of'' and inserting ``Each Head Start center, including each Early Head Start center, receiving''.
(3) FINANCIAL AUDITS.--Subsections (a) and (b) of section 647 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9842) are amended by striking ``audit'' and inserting ``financial audit''.
(4) ACCOUNTING.--Section 647 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9842) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Each Head Start center, including each Early Head Start center, receiving financial assistance under this subchapter shall maintain, and annually submit to the Secretary, a complete accounting of its administrative expenses, including expenses for salaries and compensation funded under this subchapter and provide such additional documentation as the Secretary may require.''.
SEC. 17. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.
Section 648 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``(b) and (c)'' and inserting ``(b), (c), and (d)'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as subsections (c) through (f), respectively;
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) The Secretary shall make available funds set aside in section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) to support a State system of training and technical assistance (which may include such a system for a consortium of States within a region) that improves the capacity of Head Start programs to deliver services in accordance with the standards described in section 641A(a)(1), with particular attention to the standards described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section. The Secretary shall--
``(1) ensure that agencies with demonstrated expertise in providing high-quality training and technical assistance to improve the delivery of Head Start services, including the State Head Start Associations, State agencies, Indian Head Start agencies, migrant and seasonal Head Start agencies, and other entities providing training and technical assistance in early childhood education and care, for the State (including such a consortium of States within a region), are included in the planning
and coordination of the system; and
``(2) encourage States (including such consortia) to supplement the funds authorized in section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) with Federal, State, or local funds other than funds made available under this subchapter, to expand training and technical assistance activities beyond Head Start agencies to include other providers of other early childhood education and care within a State (including such a consortium).'';
(4) in paragraph (3) of subsection (c), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by striking ``child care and early childhood programs'' and inserting ``early childhood education and care programs'';
(5) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), by striking ``educational performance measures'' and inserting ``measures'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and for activities described in section 1222(d) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6372(d))'' after ``children with disabilities'';
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``early childhood professional development systems'' and inserting ``professional development systems regarding early childhood education and care'';
(D) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``, including assessing the needs of homeless children and their families'' after ``needs assessment'';
(E) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
``(7) assist Head Start agencies in better serving the needs of families with very young children, including providing support and program planning and implementation assistance for Head Start agencies that apply to serve or are serving additional infants and toddlers with funds previously used for 3- and 4-year-olds in accordance with section 645(a)(5);'';
(F) in paragraph (10), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(G) in paragraph (11), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and
(H) by adding at the end the following:
``(12) assist Head Start agencies in increasing the program participation of homeless children;
``(13) provide training and technical assistance to members of governing bodies, policy councils, and, as appropriate, policy committees, to ensure that the members can fulfill their functions;
``(14) provide training and technical assistance to Head Start agencies to assist such agencies in conducting self-assessments;
``(15) assist Head Start agencies in improving outreach to, and the quality of services available to, families of limited English proficient children, including such services to help such families learn English, particularly in communities that have experienced a large percentage increase in the population of such families;
``(16) assist Head Start agencies and improve programs to increase the capacity of classroom staff to meet the needs of children with disabilities in Head Start classrooms;
``(17) provide activities that help ensure that Head Start programs have qualified staff who can promote prevention of childhood obesity by integrating into the programs developmentally appropriate research-based initiatives that stress the importance of physical activity and nutrition choices made by children and family, through daily classroom and family routines; and
``(18) assist Indian Head Start agencies to provide on-site and off-site training to staff, using approaches that identify and enhance the positive resources and strengths of Indian children and families, to improve parent and family engagement and staff development, particularly with regard to child and family development.'';
(6) in subsection (e), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting ``including community-based organizations,'' after ``nonprofit entities,'';
(7) in subsection (f), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``early childhood development and child care programs'' and inserting ``early childhood education and care programs''; and
(B) by inserting ``or providing services to children determined to be abused or neglected, training for personnel providing services to children referred by entities providing child welfare services or receiving child welfare services,'' after ``English language)''; and
(8) by adding at the end the following:
``(g) The Secretary shall provide, either directly or through grants or other arrangements, funds for training of Head Start personnel in addressing the unique needs of children with disabilities and their families, migrant and seasonal farmworker families, families of children with limited English proficiency, and homeless families.
``(h) Funds used under this section shall be used to provide high quality, sustained, and intensive, training and technical assistance in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction. Funds shall be used to carry out activities related to 1 or more of the following:
``(1) Education and early childhood development.
``(2) Child health, nutrition, and safety.
``(3) Family and community partnerships.
``(4) Other areas that impact the quality or overall effectiveness of Head Start programs.
``(i) Funds used under this section for training shall be used for needs identified annually by a grant applicant (including any delegate agency) in its program improvement plan, except that funds shall not be used for long-distance travel expenses for training activities--
``(1) available locally or regionally; or
``(2) substantially similar to locally or regionally available training activities.
``(j)(1) To support local efforts to enhance early language and preliteracy development of children in Head Start programs, and to provide the children with high-quality oral language skills, and environments that are rich in literature, in which to acquire language and preliteracy skills, each Head Start agency, in coordination with the appropriate State office and the relevant State Head Start collaboration office, shall ensure that all of the agency's Head Start teachers receive ongoing training
in language and emergent literacy (referred to in this subsection as `literacy training'), including appropriate curricula and assessments to improve instruction and learning. Such training shall include training in methods to promote phonological awareness (including phonemic awareness) and vocabulary development in an age-appropriate and culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
``(2) The literacy training shall be provided at the local level in order--
``(A) to be provided, to the extent feasible, in the context of the Head Start programs of the State involved and the children the program involved serves; and
``(B) to be tailored to the early childhood literacy background and experience of the teachers involved.
``(3) The literacy training shall be culturally and linguistically appropriate and support children's development in their home language.
``(4) The literacy training shall include training in how to work with parents to enhance positive language and early literacy development at home.
``(5) The literacy training shall include specific methods to best address the needs of children who are limited English proficient.
``(6) The literacy training shall include training on how to best address the language and literacy needs of children with disabilities, including training on how to work with specialists in language development.''.
SEC. 18. STAFF QUALIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
Section 648A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
``(2) DEGREE REQUIREMENTS.--
``(A) IN GENERAL.--The Secretary shall establish staff qualification goals to ensure that--
``(i) not later than September 30, 2012, all Head Start teachers nationwide in center-based programs have at least--
``(I)(aa) an associate degree (or equivalent coursework) relating to early childhood; or
``(bb) an associate degree in a related educational area and, to the extent practicable, coursework relating to early childhood; and
``(II) demonstrated teaching competencies, as determined by the program director involved (including, at a minimum, an appropriate level of literacy, a demonstrated capacity to be highly engaged with children, and a demonstrated ability to effectively implement an early childhood curriculum);
``(ii) not later than September 30, 2010, all Head Start curriculum specialists and education coordinators nationwide in center-based programs have--
``(I) the capacity to offer assistance to other teachers in the implementation and adaptation of curricula to the group and individual needs of a class; and
``(II)(aa) a baccalaureate or advanced degree relating to early childhood; or
``(bb) a baccalaureate or advanced degree and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood;
``(iii) not later than September 30, 2010, all Head Start teaching assistants nationwide in center-based programs have--
``(I) at least a child development associate credential;
``(II) enrolled in a program leading to an associate or baccalaureate degree; or
``(III) enrolled in a child development associate credential program to be completed within 2 years; and
``(iv) not later than September 30, 2013, 50 percent of all Head Start teachers in center-based programs in each State (and geographic region for Indian Head Start programs and for migrant and seasonal Head Start programs) have a baccalaureate degree relating to early childhood (or a related educational area), and demonstrated teaching competencies, as determined by the program director involved (including, at a minimum, an appropriate level of literacy, a demonstrated capacity to be highly
engaged with children, and a demonstrated ability to effectively implement an early childhood curriculum).
``(B) TEACHER IN-SERVICE REQUIREMENT.--Each Head Start teacher shall attend not less than 15 clock hours of professional development per year. Such professional development shall be high quality, sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction and the teacher's performance in the classroom, and regularly evaluated for effectiveness.
``(C) PROGRESS.--
``(i) REPORT.--The Secretary shall--
``(I) require Head Start agencies to--
``(aa) describe continuing progress each year toward achieving the goals described in subparagraph (A);
``(bb) submit to the Secretary a report indicating the number and percentage of classroom instructors in center-based programs with child development associate credentials or associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degrees; and
``(II) compile and submit a summary of all program reports described in subclause (I)(bb) to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
``(ii) DEMONSTRATE PROGRESS.--A Head Start agency may demonstrate that progress by partnering with institutions of higher education or other programs that recruit, train, place, and support college students to deliver an innovative program of early childhood education and care to preschool children.
``(D) SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.--The Secretary shall establish requirements to ensure that, in order to enable Head Start agencies to comply with the requirements of subparagraph (A), individuals who receive financial assistance under this subchapter to pursue a degree or credential described in subparagraph (A) shall--
``(i) teach or work in a Head Start program for a minimum of 3 years after receiving the degree; or
``(ii) repay the total or a prorated amount of the financial assistance received based on the length of service completed after receiving the degree.''; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``(i) or (ii)'' and inserting ``(i) or (iv)'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) promote the use of appropriate strategies to meet the needs of special populations (including populations of limited English proficient children).'';
(3) in subsection (d)(3)(C) by inserting ``, including a center,'' after ``any agency''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Professional Development Plans.--Every Head Start agency and center shall create, in consultation with employees of the agency or center (including family service workers), a professional development plan for employees who provide direct services to children, including a plan for classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, and education coordinators, and teaching assistants to meet the requirements set forth in subsection (a).
``(g) Construction.--In this section, a reference to a Head Start agency, or its program, services, facility or personnel, shall not be considered to be a reference to an Early Head Start agency, or its program, services, facility or personnel. For purposes of this section, a teacher who is providing services, in a migrant or seasonal Head Start program, in a classroom for children under age 3, shall be considered to be a teacher in an Early Head Start program, as described in section
645A.''.
SEC. 19. TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HEAD START PARTNERSHIP.
The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 648A the following:
``SEC. 648B. TRIBAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY HEAD START PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to promote social competencies and school readiness in Indian children.
``(b) Tribal College or University Head Start Partnership Program.--
``(1) GRANTS.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants, for periods of not less than 5 years, to Tribal Colleges and Universities to--
``(A) implement education programs that include education concerning tribal culture and language and increase the number of associate, baccalaureate, and advanced degrees in early childhood education and related fields that are earned by Indian Head Start agency staff members, parents of children served by such an agency, and members of the tribal community involved;
``(B) develop and implement the programs under subparagraph (A) in technology-mediated formats, including providing the programs through such means as distance learning and use of advanced technology, as appropriate; and
``(C) provide technology literacy programs for Indian Head Start agency staff members and children and families of children served by such an agency.
``(2) STAFFING.--The Secretary shall ensure that the American Indian Programs Branch of the Head Start Bureau of the Department of Health and Human Services shall have staffing sufficient to administer the programs under this section and to provide appropriate technical assistance to Tribal Colleges and Universities receiving grants under this section.
``(c) Application.--Each Tribal College or University desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a certification that the Tribal College or University has established a partnership with 1 or more Indian Head Start agencies for the purpose of conducting the activities described in subsection (b).
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.--The term `institution of higher education' has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
``(2) TRIBAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.--The term `Tribal College or University'--
``(A) has the meaning given such term in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c); and
``(B) means an institution determined to be accredited or a candidate for accreditation by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association.''.
SEC. 20. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUATION.
Section 649 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by inserting ``, children determined to be abused or neglected, homeless children, and children in foster care'' after ``children with disabilities'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10), as paragraphs (6), (8), (9), (10), (11), and (12);
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5)(A) identify successful strategies that promote good oral health and provide effective linkages to quality dental services through pediatric dental referral networks, for infants and toddlers participating in Early Head Start programs and children participating in other Head Start programs; and
``(B) identify successful strategies that promote good vision health through vision screenings for such infants, toddlers, and children, and referrals for appropriate followup care for those identified as having a vision problem;'';
(C) in paragraph (6), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), by striking ``child care, early childhood education, or child development services'' and inserting ``early childhood education and care services'';
(D) by inserting after that paragraph (6) the following:
``(7)(A) contribute to understanding the impact of services related to children with disabilities, delivered in Head Start classrooms, on both children with disabilities and typically-developing children; and
``(B) disseminate promising practices for increasing the availability and quality of such services;'';
(E) in paragraph (10), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), by adding ``and'' after the semicolon;
(F) by striking paragraph (11), as redesignated by subparagraph (A);
(G) by redesignating paragraph (12), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), as paragraph (11); and
(H) by striking the last sentence;
(3) in subsection (e)(3), by striking ``child care, early childhood education, or child development services'' and inserting ``early childhood education and care services'';
(4) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``education, and early childhood programs'' and inserting ``and early childhood education and care programs'';
(ii) by striking clause (i); and
(iii) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``, and research, education, and early childhood programs'' and inserting ``and research, and early childhood education and care programs'';
(C) in paragraph (5)(D)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``early childhood programs'' and inserting ``early childhood education and care programs''; and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``early childhood program'' and inserting ``early childhood education and care program''; and
(D) in paragraph (7)(C)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``2003'' and inserting ``2008''; and
(ii) in clause (ii)--
(I) by striking ``Education and the Workforce'' and inserting ``Education and Labor''; and
(II) by striking ``Labor and Human Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions''; and
(5) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
``(h) Review of Assessments.--
``(1) APPLICATION OF STUDY.--When the study on Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children by the National Academy of Sciences is made available to the Secretary, the Secretary shall--
``(A) incorporate the results of the study, as appropriate and in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3), into each assessment used in the Head Start programs; and
``(B) use the results of the study to develop, inform, and revise the standards and measures described in section 641A.
``(2) DEVELOPMENT AND REFINEMENT.--In developing and refining any assessment used in the Head Start programs, the Secretary shall--
``(A) receive recommendations from the Panel on Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children of the National Academy of Sciences; and
``(B) with respect to the development or refinement of such assessment, ensure--
``(i) consistency with relevant, nationally recognized professional and technical standards;
``(ii) validity and reliability for all purposes for which assessments under this subchapter are designed and used;
``(iii) developmental and linguistic appropriateness of such assessments for children assessed, including children who are limited English proficient; and
``(iv) that the results can be used to improve the quality of, accountability of, and training and technical assistance in, Head Start programs.
``(3) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.--The Secretary, in carrying out the process described under paragraph (2), shall ensure that--
``(A) staff administering any assessments under this subchapter have received appropriate training to administer such assessments;
``(B) appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities and children who are limited English proficient are made;
``(C) the English and Spanish (and any other language, as appropriate) forms of such assessments are valid and reliable; and
``(D) such assessments are not used to exclude children from Head Start programs.
``(4) SUSPENDED IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL REPORTING SYSTEM.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) suspend implementation and terminate further development and use of the National Reporting System; and
``(B) incorporate, as appropriate, recommendations under paragraph (2)(A) into any assessment used in the Head Start programs.
``(i) Special Rule.--The use of assessment items and data on any assessment authorized under this subchapter by any agent of the Federal Government to rank or compare individual children or teachers, or to provide rewards or sanctions for individual children or teachers is prohibited. The Secretary shall not use the results of a single assessment as the sole method for assessing program effectiveness or making grantee funding determinations at the national, regional, or local level
under this subchapter.
``(j) Services to Limited English Proficient Children and Families.--
``(1) STUDY.--The Secretary shall conduct a study on the status of limited English proficient children and their families in Head Start (including Early Head Start) programs.
``(2) REPORT.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress, not later than September 2011, a report containing the results of the study, including information on--
``(A) the demographics of limited English proficient children from birth through age 5, including the number of such children receiving Head Start (including Early Head Start) services and the geographic distribution of children described in this subparagraph;
``(B) the nature of Head Start (including Early Head Start) services provided to limited English proficient children and their families, including the types, content, duration, intensity, and costs of family services, language assistance, and educational services;
``(C) procedures in Head Start programs for the assessment of language needs and the transition of limited English proficient children to kindergarten, including the extent to which Head Start programs meet the requirements of section 642A for limited English proficient children;
``(D) the qualifications of and training provided to Head Start (including Early Head Start) teachers serving limited English proficient children and their families;
``(E) the rate of progress made by limited English proficient children and their families in Head Start (including Early Head Start) programs, including--
``(i) the rate of progress of the limited English proficient children toward meeting the additional educational standards described in section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii) while enrolled in Head Start programs, measured between 1990 and 2006;
``(ii) the correlation between the progress described in this subparagraph and the type of instruction and educational program provided to the limited English proficient children; and
``(iii) the correlation between the progress described in this subparagraph and the health and family services provided by Head Start programs to limited English proficient children and their families; and
``(F) the extent to which Head Start programs make use of funds under section 640(a)(3) to improve the quality of Head Start services provided to limited English proficient children and their families.
``(k) Research and Evaluation Activities Relevant to Diverse Communities.--For purposes of conducting the study in described in subsection (j), activities described in section 640(l)(5)(A), and other research and evaluation activities relevant to limited English proficient children and their families, migrant and seasonal farmworker families, and other families from diverse populations served by Head Start programs, the Secretary shall award, on a competitive basis, funds from amounts
made available under section 639(b) to 1 or more organizations with a demonstrated capacity for serving and studying the populations involved.''.
SEC. 21. REPORTS.
Section 650 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9846) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``Education and the Workforce'' and inserting ``Education and Labor'';
(ii) by striking ``Labor and Human Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions''; and
(iii) by striking ``(including disabled and non-English language background children)'' and inserting ``(including children with disabilities, limited English proficient children, and children participating in Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs)'';
(B) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``homelessness, children in foster care,'' after ``ethnic background,'';
(C) in paragraph (12), by inserting ``vision care,'' after ``dental care,'';
(D) in paragraph (14)--
(i) by striking ``Alaskan Natives'' and inserting ``Alaska Natives''; and
(ii) by striking ``migrant and'' and inserting ``migrant or''; and
(E) in the flush matter at the end--
(i) by striking ``Education and the Workforce'' and inserting ``Education and Labor''; and
(ii) by striking ``Labor and Human Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``Education and the Workforce'' and inserting ``Education and Labor'';
(B) by striking ``Labor and Human Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions''; and
(C) by striking ``Native Alaskan'' and inserting ``Alaska Native''.
SEC. 22. COMPARABILITY OF WAGES.
Section 653 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9848) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The Secretary shall take'' and inserting ``(a) The Secretary shall take''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) No Federal funds shall be used to pay 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 of such costs, in an amount in excess of an amount based on the rate payable for level II of the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United States Code.''.
SEC. 23. LIMITATION WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES.
Section 655 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9850) is amended by inserting ``or in'' after ``assigned by''.
SEC. 24. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.
Section 656 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9851) is amended--
(1) by striking all that precedes ``chapter 15'' and inserting the following:
``SEC. 656. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.
``(a) State or Local Agency.--For purposes of''; and
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Restrictions.--
``(1) IN GENERAL.--A program assisted under this subchapter, and any individual employed by, or assigned to or in, a program assisted under this subchapter (during the hours in which such individual is working on behalf of such program), shall not engage in--
``(A) any partisan or nonpartisan political activity or any other political activity associated with a candidate, or contending faction or group, in an election for public or party office; or
``(B) any activity to provide voters or prospective voters with transportation to the polls or similar assistance in connection with any such election.
``(2) RULES AND REGULATIONS.--The Secretary, after consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, may issue rules and regulations to provide for the enforcement of this section, which may include provisions for summary suspension of assistance or other action necessary to permit enforcement on an emergency basis.''.
SEC. 25. PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR HEALTH SERVICES.
The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 657A. PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR NONEMERGENCY INTRUSIVE PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS.
``(a) Definition.--The term `nonemergency intrusive physical examination' means, with respect to a child, a physical examination that--
``(1) is not immediately necessary to protect the health or safety of the child involved or the health or safety of another individual; and
``(2) requires incision or is otherwise invasive, or involves exposure of private body parts.
``(b) Requirement.--A Head Start agency shall obtain written parental consent before administration of any nonemergency intrusive physical examination of a child in connection with participation in a program under this subchapter.
``(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit agencies from using established methods, for handling cases of suspected or known child abuse and neglect, that are in compliance with applicable Federal, State, or tribal law.''.
SEC. 26. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
Section 2501(c)(1)(C) of the Children's Health Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 247b-1 note) is amended by striking ``9840a(h)'' and inserting ``9840a''.
SEC. 27. COMPLIANCE WITH THE IMPROPER PAYMENTS INFORMATION ACT OF 2002.
(a) Definitions.--In this section, the term--
(1) ``appropriate committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives; and
(2) ``improper payment'' has the meaning given that term under section 2(d)(2) of the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (31 U.S.C. 3321 note).
(b) Requirement for Compliance Certification and Report.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to the appropriate committees that--
(1) contains a certification that the Department of Health and Human Services has, for each program and activity of the Administration for Children and Families, performed and completed a risk assessment to determine programs and activities that are at significant risk of making improper payments; and
(2) describes the actions to be taken to reduce improper payments for the programs and activities determined to be at significant risk of making improper payments.


(As printed in the Congressional Record for the Senate on Jun 19, 2007.)

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Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007: Amendment SA 1714 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

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Daniel K. AkakaDHI$0$0Yes
Andrew Lamar AlexanderRTN$0$0Yes
Alan Wayne AllardRCO$0$0Yes
Max BaucusDMT$0$0Yes
Birch "Evan" BayhDIN$0$0Yes
Bob BennettRUT$0$0Yes
Joe BidenDDE$0$0Yes
Jesse "Jeff" BingamanDNM$0$0Yes
Christopher "Kit" BondRMO$0$0Yes
Barbara BoxerDCA$0$0Yes
Sherrod BrownDOH$0$0Yes
Sam BrownbackRKS$0$0Yes
Jim BunningRKY$0$0Yes
Richard BurrRNC$0$0Yes
Robert ByrdDWV$0$0Yes
Maria CantwellDWA$0$0Yes
Ben CardinDMD$0$0Yes
Tom CarperDDE$0$0Yes
Bob CaseyDPA$0$0Yes
Clarence Saxby ChamblissRGA$0$0Yes
Hillary ClintonDNY$0$0Yes
Tom CoburnROK$0$0Yes
William Thad CochranRMS$0$0Yes
Norm ColemanRMN$0$0Yes
Susan CollinsRME$0$0Yes
Gaylord Kent ConradDND$0$0Yes
Bob CorkerRTN$0$0Yes
John CornynRTX$0$0Yes
Larry CraigRID$0$0Yes
Mike CrapoRID$0$0Yes
Jim DeMintRSC$0$0Yes
Chris DoddDCT$0$0Yes
Mary Elizabeth DoleRNC$0$0Yes
Pete DomeniciRNM$0$0Yes
Byron DorganDND$0$0Yes
Dick DurbinDIL$0$0Yes
John EnsignRNV$0$0Yes
Mike EnziRWY$0$0Yes
Russ FeingoldDWI$0$0Yes
Dianne FeinsteinDCA$0$0Yes
Lindsey GrahamRSC$0$0Yes
Chuck GrassleyRIA$0$0Yes
Judd GreggRNH$0$0Yes
Chuck HagelRNE$0$0Yes
Tom HarkinDIA$0$0Yes
Orrin HatchRUT$0$0Yes
Kay Bailey HutchisonRTX$0$0Yes
Jim InhofeROK$0$0Yes
Dan InouyeDHI$0$0Yes
Johnny IsaksonRGA$0$0Yes
Tim JohnsonDSD$0$0Yes
Ted KennedyDMA$0$0Yes
John KerryDMA$0$0Yes
Amy KlobucharDMN$0$0Yes
Herb KohlDWI$0$0Yes
Jon KylRAZ$0$0Yes
Mary LandrieuDLA$0$0Yes
Frank LautenbergDNJ$0$0Yes
Patrick LeahyDVT$0$0Yes
Carl LevinDMI$0$0Yes
Joe LiebermanICT$0$0Yes
Blanche LincolnDAR$0$0Yes
Chester Trent LottRMS$0$0Yes
Dick LugarRIN$0$0Yes
Mel MartinezRFL$0$0Yes
John McCainRAZ$0$0Yes
Claire McCaskillDMO$0$0Yes
Addison "Mitch" McConnellRKY$0$0Yes
Bob MenéndezDNJ$0$0Yes
Barbara MikulskiDMD$0$0Yes
Lisa MurkowskiRAK$0$0Yes
Patty MurrayDWA$0$0Yes
Earl "Ben" NelsonDNE$0$0Yes
Clarence "Bill" NelsonDFL$0$0Yes
Barack ObamaDIL$0$0Yes
Mark PryorDAR$0$0Yes
John "Jack" ReedDRI$0$0Yes
Harry ReidDNV$0$0Yes
Charles "Pat" RobertsRKS$0$0Yes
John "Jay" RockefellerDWV$0$0Yes
Ken SalazarDCO$0$0Yes
Bernie SandersIVT$0$0Yes
Chuck SchumerDNY$0$0Yes
Jeff SessionsRAL$0$0Yes
Richard ShelbyRAL$0$0Yes
Gordon SmithROR$0$0Yes
Olympia SnoweRME$0$0Yes
Arlen SpecterDPA$0$0Yes
Debbie StabenowDMI$0$0Yes
Ted StevensRAK$0$0Yes
John SununuRNH$0$0Yes
Jon TesterDMT$0$0Yes
John ThuneRSD$0$0Yes
David VitterRLA$0$0Yes
George VoinovichROH$0$0Yes
John WarnerRVA$0$0Yes
Jim WebbDVA$0$0Yes
Sheldon WhitehouseDRI$0$0Yes
Ron WydenDOR$0$0Yes

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