Violence Prevention Training for Early Childhood Educators Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Violence Prevention Training for 
Early Childhood Educators Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to provide grants to institutions of 
higher education and qualified entities that carry out early childhood 
education training programs to enable the institutions of higher 
education and qualified entities to include violence prevention 
training as part of the preparation of individuals pursuing careers in 
early childhood development and education.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Aggressive behavior in early childhood is the single 
        best predictor of aggression in later life.
            (2) Aggressive and defiant behavior predictive of later 
        delinquency is increasing among our Nation's youngest children. 
        Without prevention efforts, higher percentages of children are 
        likely to become violent juvenile offenders.
            (3) Research has demonstrated that aggression is primarily 
        a learned behavior that develops through observation, 
        imitation, and direct experience. Therefore, children who 
        experience violence as victims or as witnesses are at increased 
        risk of becoming violent themselves.
            (4) In a study at a Boston city hospital, 1 out of every 10 
        children seen in the primary care clinic had witnessed a 
        shooting or a stabbing before the age of 6, with 50 percent of 
        the children witnessing in the home and 50 percent of the 
        children witnessing in the streets.
            (5) A study in New York found that children who had been 
        victims of violence within their families were 24 percent more 
        likely to report violent behavior as adolescents, and 
        adolescents who had grown up in families where partner violence 
        occurred were 21 percent more likely to experience violent 
        delinquency than individuals not exposed to violence.
            (6) Aggression can become well-learned and difficult to 
        change by the time a child reaches adolescence. Early childhood 
        offers a critical period for overcoming risk for violent 
        behavior and providing support for prosocial behavior.
            (7) Violence prevention programs for very young children 
        yield economic benefits. By providing health and stability to 
        the individual child and the child's family, the programs may 
        reduce expenditures for medical care, special education, and 
        involvement with the judicial system.
            (8) Primary prevention can be effective. When preschool 
        teachers teach young children interpersonal problem-solving 
        skills and other forms of conflict resolution, children are 
        less likely to demonstrate problem behaviors.
            (9) There is evidence that family support programs in 
        families with children from birth through 5 years of age are 
        effective in preventing delinquency.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
            (1) At-risk child.--The term ``at-risk child'' means a 
        child who has been affected by violence through direct exposure 
        to child abuse, other domestic violence, or violence in the 
        community.
            (2) Early childhood education training program.--The term 
        ``early childhood education training program'' means a program 
        that--
                    (A)(i) trains individuals to work with young 
                children in early child development programs or 
                elementary schools; or
                    (ii) provides professional development to 
                individuals working in early child development programs 
                or elementary schools;
                    (B) provides training to become an early childhood 
                education teacher, an elementary school teacher, a 
                school counselor, or a child care provider; and
                    (C) leads to a bachelor's degree or an associate's 
                degree, a certificate for working with young children 
                (such as a Child Development Associate's degree or an 
                equivalent credential), or, in the case of an 
                individual with such a degree, certificate, or 
                credential, provides professional development.
            (3) Elementary school.--The term ``elementary school'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 14101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).
            (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (5) Qualified entity.--The term ``qualified entity'' means 
        a public or nonprofit private organization which has--
                    (A) experience in administering a program 
                consistent with the requirements of this Act; and
                    (B) demonstrated the ability to coordinate, manage, 
                and provide technical assistance to programs that 
                receive grants under this Act.
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (7) Violence prevention.--The term ``violence prevention'' 
        means--
                    (A) preventing violent behavior in children;
                    (B) identifying and preventing violent behavior in 
                at-risk children; or
                    (C) identifying and ameliorating violent behavior 
                in children who act out violently.

SEC. 5. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    (a) Grant Authority.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants 
to institutions of higher education and qualified entities that carry 
out early childhood education training programs to enable selected 
institutions of higher education and qualified entities to provide 
violence prevention training as part of the early childhood education 
training program.
    (b) Amount.--The Secretary shall award a grant under this Act in an 
amount that is not less than $500,000 and not more than $1,000,000.
    (c) Duration.--The Secretary shall award a grant under this Act for 
a period of not less than 3 years and not more than 5 years.

SEC. 6. APPLICATION.

    (a) Application Required.--Each institution of higher education and 
qualified entity desiring a grant under this Act shall submit to the 
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied 
by such information as the Secretary may require.
    (b) Contents.--Each application shall--
            (1) describe the violence prevention training activities 
        and services for which assistance is sought;
            (2) contain a comprehensive plan for the activities and 
        services, including a description of--
                    (A) the goals of the violence prevention training 
                program;
                    (B) the curriculum and training that will prepare 
                students for careers which are described in the plan;
                    (C) the recruitment, retention, and training of 
                students;
                    (D) the methods used to help students find 
                employment in their fields;
                    (E) the methods for assessing the success of the 
                violence prevention training program; and
                    (F) the sources of financial aid for qualified 
                students;
            (3) contain an assurance that the instructors running the 
        program are qualified and will use proven methods of violence 
        prevention;
            (4) contain an assurance that the institution has the 
        capacity to implement the plan; and
            (5) contain an assurance that the plan was developed in 
        consultation with agencies and organizations that will assist 
        the institution of higher education or qualified entity in 
        carrying out the plan.

SEC. 7. SELECTION PRIORITIES.

    The Secretary shall give priority to awarding grants to 
institutions of higher education and qualified entities carrying out 
violence prevention programs that include 1 or more of the following 
components:
            (1) Preparation to engage in family support (such as parent 
        education, service referral, and literacy training).
            (2) Preparation to engage in community outreach or 
        collaboration with other services in the community.
            (3) Preparation to use conflict resolution training with 
        children.
            (4) Preparation to work in economically disadvantaged 
        communities.
            (5) Recruitment of economically disadvantaged students.
            (6) Carrying out programs of demonstrated effectiveness in 
        the type of training for which assistance is sought, including 
        programs funded under section 596 of the Higher Education Act 
        of 1965 (as such section was in effect prior to October 7, 
        1998).

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$35,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2004.

Summary: Violence Prevention Training for Early Childhood Educators Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants for a specified period to enable selected institutions of higher education and other qualified entities to provide violence prevention training as part of the early childhood education training programs they offer. Prescribes application procedures and selection priorities. Authorizes appropriations.