Head Start Enhanced Parental Involvement and Family Literacy Act of 1994

Summary: Head Start Enhanced Parental Involvement and Family Literacy Act of 1994 - Amends the Head Start Act to require parental involvement activities, family literacy services, parenting skills training, and family needs assessments. 
 Authorizes Head Start agencies to offer parental social self-sufficiency training, substance abuse counseling, or opportunities for parents to assist in program operation. 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide training and technical assistance for Head Start personnel engaged in providing parental involvement services. 
Makes compliance with parental involvement requirements a consideration in funding renewal or supplementation decisions.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Head Start Enhanced Parental 
Involvement and Family Literacy Act of 1994''.

SEC. 2. REQUIRED PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN HEAD START PROGRAMS.

    (a) Administration of Policy.--Section 636 of the Head Start Act 
(42 U.S.C. 9831) is amended by adding the following:
    ``(c) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall take appropriate actions to ensure that 
comprehensive services are provided to parents to become full partners 
in the education of their children and shall seek the involvement of 
parents in such services.''.
    (b) Primary Focus of Programs.--Section 638(a) of the Head Start 
Act (42 U.S.C. 9833(a)), is amended--
            (1) by striking ``the children from'';
            (2) by inserting ``with children'' after ``low-income 
        families''; and
            (3) by inserting before the period at the end the 
        following:
``, as well as involving such parents in activities to help parents to 
become full partners in the education of their children''.
    (c) Activities of Head Start Agencies.--(1) Section 641(d) of the 
Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836(d)) is amended--
            (A) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
            ``(4) the plan of such applicant--
                    ``(A) to seek the involvement of parents of 
                participating children in activities designed to help 
                such parents become full partners in the education of 
                their children;
                    ``(B) to provide (directly or through referral to 
                local entities, such as Even Start programs) to parents 
                of participating children--
                            ``(i) family literacy services; and
                            ``(ii) parenting skills training;
                    ``(C) at the option of such applicant, to provide 
                (directly or through referral to local entities) to 
                such parents--
                            ``(i) parental social self-sufficiency 
                        training;
                            ``(ii) substance abuse counseling;
                            ``(iii) the opportunity to assist in the 
                        operation of the proposed Head Start program; 
                        or
                            ``(iv) any other activity designed to help 
                        such parents become full partners in the 
                        education of their children; and
                    ``(D) to provide, with respect to each 
                participating family, a family needs assessment that 
                includes consultation with such parents about which of 
                the activities described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) 
                would be most appropriate (taking into consideration 
                their needs, work schedules, and other 
                responsibilities) for their involvement;'';
            (B) in paragraph (7) by inserting ``and'' at the end;
            (C) by striking paragraph (8); and
            (D) by redesignating paragraph (9) and paragraph (8).
    (2) Section 642(b) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837(b)) is 
amended--
            (A) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows: ``(4) 
        seek the involvement of parents of participating children in 
        activities designed to help such parents become full partners 
        in the education of their children;'';
            (B) in paragraph (5) by inserting ``and'' at the end;
            (C) by striking paragraph (6);
            (D) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (7) as paragraphs 
        (8) and (9), respectively; and
            (E) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: ``(5) 
        provide (directly or through referral to local entities, such 
        as Even Start programs) to parents of participating children 
        family literacy services and parenting skills training; (6) at 
        the option of such applicant, provide (directly or through 
        referral to local entities) to such parents parental social 
        self-sufficiency training, substance abuse counseling, the 
        opportunity to assist in the operation of the Head Start 
        program, or any other activity designed to help such parents 
        become full partners in the education of their children; (7) 
        provide, with respect to each participating family, a family 
        needs assessment that includes consultation with such parents 
        about which of the activities described in paragraphs (5) and 
        (6) would be most appropriate (taking into consideration their 
        needs, work schedules, and other responsibilities) for their 
        involvement;''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 637 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9832) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) The term `family literacy services' means a unified 
        program that combines interactive literacy activities between 
        parents and their children, training for parents on how to be 
        their children's primary teacher and to be full partners in the 
        education of their children, parent literacy training, and 
        early childhood education.
            ``(13) The term `parent' includes an individual who is a 
        guardian or custodian of a child.''.

SEC. 4. TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    Section 648 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) The Secretary shall provide appropriate training and 
technical assistance for Head Start personnel engaged in providing 
family literacy services, parenting skills training, and other parental 
involvement activities under paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) of 
section 642(b).''.

SEC. 5. EVALUATION.

    Section 651(b) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9846(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after (b); and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) The extent of compliance with paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and 
(7) of section 642(b) shall be considered in deciding whether to renew 
or supplement financial assistance authorized under this subchapter.''.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Effective Date.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act 
and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Application of Amendments.--The amendments made by this Act 
shall not apply with respect to fiscal years beginning before October 
1, 1994.