19–008

108TH CONGRESS REPORT " HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ! 1st Session 108–232

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2210, SCHOOL 

READINESS ACT OF 2003

JULY 24 (legislative day of JULY 23), 2003.—Referred to the House Calendar and 

ordered to be printed 

Mr. PRYCE of Ohio, from the Committee on Rules, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H. Res. 336] 

The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration House 

Resolution 336, by a non-record vote, report the same to the House 

with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted. 

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION

The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2210, the School 

Readiness Act of 2003, under a structured rule. The rule provides 

one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the 

chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. 

The rule provides that in lieu of the amendment recommended 

by the Committee on Education and the Workforce now printed in 

the bill, it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the 

purpose of amendment, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of this report, and provides that it shall 

be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against 

the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of 

this report. 

The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in part 

B of this report. The rule provides that the amendments printed in 

part B of this report shall be considered only in the order printed 

in this report, may be offered only by a Member designated in this 

report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time 

specified in this report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and 

shall not be subject to a demand for a division of the question in 

the House or in the Committee of the Whole. 

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The rule provides that after a motion that the Committee rise 

has been rejected on a legislative day, the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may entertain another such motion on that 

day only if offered by the chairman of the Committee on Education 

and the Workforce or the Majority Leader or a designee. 

The rule further provides that after a motion to strike out the 

enacting words of the bill (as described in clause 9 of rule XVIII) 

has been rejected, the Chairman may not entertain another such 

motion during further consideration of the bill. 

Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

COMMITTEE VOTES

Pursuant to clause 3(b) of House rule XIII the results of each 

record vote on an amendment or motion to report, together with 

the names of those voting for and against, are printed below: 

Rules Committee record vote No. 183

Date: July 23, 2003. 

Measure: H.R. 2210—School Readiness Act of 2003. 

Motion by: Mr. Frost. 

Summary of motion: To report an open rule. 

Results: Defeated 4 to 9. 

Vote by Members: Goss—Nay; Linder—Nay; Pryce—Nay; DiazBalart—Nay; Hastings (WA)—Nay; Myrick—Nay; Sessions—Nay; 

Reynolds—Nay; Frost—Yea; Slaughter—Yea; McGovern—Yea; 

Hastings (FL)—Yea; Dreier—Nay. 

Rules Committee record vote No. 184

Date: July 23, 2003. 

Measure: H.R. 2210—School Readiness Act of 2003. 

Motion by: Mr. Frost. 

Summary of motion: To make an order and provide the appropriate waivers for a new amendment in the nature of a substitute 

offered by Representative Miller of California. 

Results: Defeated 4 to 9. 

Vote by Members: Goss—Nay; Linder—Nay; Pryce—Nay; DiazBalart—Nay; Hastings (WA)—Nay; Myrick—Nay; Sessions—Nay; 

Reynolds—Nay; Frost—Yea; Slaughter—Yea; McGovern—Yea; 

Hastings (FL)—Yea; Dreier—Nay.

Rules Committee record vote No. 185

Date: July 23, 2003. 

Measure: H.R. 2210—School Readiness Act of 2003. 

Motion by: Mr. Frost. 

Summary of motion: To strike the restrictive provisions limiting 

motions to rise and motions to strike the enacting words of the bill. 

Results: Defeated 4 to 9. 

Vote by Members: Goss—Nay; Linder—Nay; Pryce—Nay; DiazBalart—Nay; Hastings (WA)—Nay; Myrick—Nay; Sessions—Nay; 

Reynolds—Nay; Frost—Yea; Slaughter—Yea; McGovern—Yea; 

Hastings (FL)—Yea; Dreier—Nay. 

Rules Committee record vote No. 186

Date: July 23, 2003. 

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Measure: H.R. 2210—School Readiness Act of 2003. 

Motion by: Mr. McGovern. 

Summary of motion: To extend general debate to two hours and 

extend debate on the amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Representative Miller of California to two hours. 

Results: Defeated 4 to 9. 

Vote by Members: Goss—Nay; Linder—Nay; Pryce—Nay; DiazBalart—Nay; Hastings (WA)—Nay; Myrick—Nay; Sessions—Nay; 

Reynolds—Nay; Frost—Yea; Slaughter—Yea; McGovern—Yea; 

Hastings (FL)—Yea; Dreier—Nay.

Rules Committee record vote No. 187

Date: July 23, 2003. 

Measure: H.R. 2210—School Readiness Act of 2003. 

Motion by: Mr. McGovern. 

Summary of motion: To make in order and provide the appropriate waivers for the amendment offered by Representative Waters which allows parents to count the hours they volunteer in a 

Head Start classroom against welfare work requirements. 

Results: Defeated 4 to 9. 

Vote by Members: Goss—Nay; Linder—Nay; Pryce—Nay; DiazBalart—Nay; Hastings (WA) Nay; Myrick—Nay; Sessions—Nay; 

Reynolds—Nay; Frost—Yea; Slaughter—Yea; McGovern—Yea; 

Hastings (FL)—Yea; Dreier—Nay. 

Rules Committee record vote No. 188

Date: July 23, 2003. 

Measure: H.R. 2210—School Readiness Act of 2003. 

Motion by: Mr. Hastings of Florida. 

Summary of motion: To make in order and provide the appropriate waivers for the amendment offered by Representative Van 

Hollen which provides for full funding of Head Start and double enrollment in Early Head Start over the next five years. 

Results: Defeated 4 to 9. 

Vote by Members: Goss—Nay; Linder—Nay; Pryce—Nay; DiazBalart—Nay; Hastings (WA) Nay; Myrick—Nay; Sessions—Nay; 

Reynolds—Nay; Frost—Yea; Slaughter—Yea; McGovern—Yea; 

Hastings (FL)—Yea; Dreier—Nay.

Rules Committee record vote No. 189

Date: July 23, 2003. 

Measure: H.R. 2210—School Readiness Act of 2003. 

Motion by: Mr. Hastings of Florida. 

Summary of motion: To make in order and provide the appropriate waivers for the amendment offered by Representative Waters which strikes Title II—State Demonstration Program. 

Results: Defeated 4–9. 

Vote by Members: Goss—Nay; Linder—Nay; Price—Nay; DiazBalart—Nay; Hastings (WA)—Nay; Myrick—Nay; Sessions—Nay; 

Reynolds—Nay; Frost—Yea; Slaughter—Yea; McGovern—Yea; 

Hastings (FL)—Yea; Dreier—Nay. 

Rules Committee record vote No. 190

Date: July 23, 2003. 

Measure: H.R. 2210—School Readiness Act of 2003. 

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Motion by: Mr. Hastings of Florida. 

Summary of motion: To make in order and provide the appropriate waivers for the following amendments en bloc: Amendments 

offered by Representatives Berkley, Faleomavaega, Hill, JacksonLee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Kennedy of Rhode Island, Kildee, two 

amendments offered by Representative Kind, two amendments offered by Representative McCollum, and amendments offered by 

Representatives Schiff, Waters, and Woolsey. 

Results: Defeated 4 to 9. 

Vote by Members: Goss—Nay; Linder—Nay; Price—Nay; DiazBalart—Nay; Hastings (WA)—Nay; Myrick—Nay; Sessions—Nay; 

Reynolds—Nay; Frost—Yea; Slaughter—Yea; NcGovern—Yea; 

Hastings (FL)—Yea; Dreier—Nay.

PART A—SUMMARY OF AMENDMENT CONSIDERED AS ADOPTED

Castle #27: Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute. Retains 

authorization level for fiscal year 2004 at $6.87 billion, while fiscal 

years 2005–2008 change from ‘‘such sums’’ to the following specific 

spending levels: $6,988,750,000 for the fiscal year 2005, 

$7,106,500,000 for the fiscal year 2006, $7,245,000,000 for the fiscal year 2007, and $7,427,000,000 for the fiscal year 2008. Specifies 

that a State would have school readiness standards in place in fiscal year 2003 in order to qualify for the eight-state State Demonstration Program. A state that currently has such standards 

under development, but has not completed them yet, would not 

qualify. Specifies that all States participating in the eight-state 

Demonstration Program would continue to fund all current Head 

Start grantees for the full 5 years of the Demonstration Program, 

provided that the grantees comply with all of the requirements in 

the state plan and have no uncorrected substantial deficiencies on 

HHS monitoring reports within the last five years. Specifies that 

HHS would set-aside one percent of funding for training and technical assistance. An additional one percent of funds would be set 

aside, with not less than 25 percent of that one percent being used 

to expand services for the children of migrant and seasonal workers 

and not less than 60 percent of that one percent being used for 

quality improvement purposes. Reaffirms the following guidelines 

for states participating in the eight-state Demonstration Project: (1) 

States would maintain or increase fiscal year 2003 State funding 

levels; (2) States would provide an additional financial contribution, equal to 5% of their federal Head Start allotment; (3) Head 

Start funds would only be used for Head Start-related uses; (4) All 

comprehensive health and nutritional services currently provided 

by Head Start would continue to be provided; (5) Parental involvement strategies would be developed; (6) State teacher quality 

standards would meet or exceed the new requirements for Head 

Start programs administered by the federal government; (7) Quality standards would be enforced for Head Start programs aligned 

with K–12 educational standards, and will generally meet or exceed the Federal Head Start performance standards; and (8) States 

would continue to provide services that are at least as extensive, 

and are provided to at least as many low-income children and families, as they did in fiscal year 2003. 

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PART B—SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER UNDER THE

RULE

1. Woolsey/Edwards/Frank/Scott (VA)/Van Hollen: Restores civil 

rights protections to Head Start teachers. (20 minutes) 

2. Miller, George (CA): Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute. Identical to the base bill, and keeps all the changes to Title 

I. Retains longstanding civil rights protections currently guaranteed to Head Start teachers, parents, and volunteers. Removes the 

block grant from the underlying bill. (60 minutes) 

PART A—TEXT OF AMENDMENT CONSIDERED AS ADOPTED

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘School Readiness Act of 2003’’. 

TITLE I—HEAD START REAUTHORIZATION AND PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS 

SEC. 101. PURPOSE. 

Section 636 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831) is amended 

to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 636. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. 

‘‘It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote school readiness 

by enhancing the development of low-income children, through educational instruction in prereading skills, premathematics skills, 

and language, and through the provision to low-income children 

and their families of health, educational, nutritional, social and 

other services that are determined, based on family needs assessments, to be necessary.’’. 

SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 

Section 637 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9832) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) In paragraph (17) by striking ‘‘, but for fiscal years’’ and 

all that follows down to the period. 

(2) By adding the following at the end thereof: 

‘‘(18) The term ‘eligible entities’ means an institution of higher education or other agency with expertise in delivering training in early childhood development, family support, and other 

assistance designed to improve the quality of early childhood 

educations programs. 

‘‘(19) The term ‘homeless children’ has the meaning given 

such term in subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento 

Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.).’’. 

SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION. 

Section 639 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9834) is amended 

to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 639. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated for 

carrying out the provisions of this subchapter $6,870,000,000 for 

the fiscal year 2004, $6,988,750,000 for fiscal year 2005, 

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$7,106,500,000 for fiscal year 2006, $7,245,000,000 for fiscal year 

2007, and $7,427,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

‘‘(b) SPECIFIC PROGRAMS.—From the amount appropriated under 

subsection (a), the Secretary shall make available not more than 

$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005 through 2008 to carry out such other research, demonstration, and evaluation activities, including longitudinal studies, under section 649. 

‘‘(1) not more than $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 

through 2008 to carry out impact studies under section 649(g); 

and 

‘‘(2) not more than $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such 

sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2005 through 

2008, to carry out other research, demonstration, and evaluation activities, including longitudinal studies, under section 

649. 

‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—There are authorized to be ap- propriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008 to 

assist participating States with the administrative expenses associated with implementing a program under section 643A.’’. 

SEC. 104. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS; LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE. 

Section 640 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) In subsection (a)(2): 

(A) By striking ‘‘1998’’ in subparagraph (A) and inserting 

‘‘2003’’. 

(B) By amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows: 

‘‘(B) payments, subject to paragraph (7) to Guam, American 

Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

and the Virgin Islands of the United States;’’. 

(2) By striking the last sentence of paragraph (2) of subsection (a). 

(3)(A) By amending subsection (a)(2)(C) to read as follows: 

‘‘(C) training and technical assistance activities that are sufficient to meet the needs associated with program expansion 

and to foster program and management improvement as described in section 648 of this subchapter, in an amount for 

each fiscal year which is equal to one percent of the amount 

appropriated for such fiscal year, of which—

‘‘(i) not less than 50 percent shall be made available to 

local Head Start agencies to comply with the standards described in section 641A(a)(1), of which not less than 50 

percent shall be used to comply with the standards described in section 641A(a)(1)(B) and for the uses described 

in clauses (iii), (iv), and (vii) of subsection (a)(3)(B); 

‘‘(ii) not less than 30 percent shall be made available to 

support a State system of early childhood education training and technical assistance; 

‘‘(iii) not less than 20 percent shall be made available to 

the Secretary to assist local programs in meeting the 

standards described in section 641A(a)(1); and 

‘‘(iv) not less than $3,000,000 of the amount in clause 

(iii) appropriated for such fiscal year shall be made available to carry out activities described in section 648(c)(4);’’. 

(B) By inserting the following at the end of subsection (a)(2): 

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‘‘Of an additional one percent of the amount appropriated for such 

fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not less than 25 percent of such 

funds to fund the expansion of services to migrant and seasonal 

Head Start children. If sufficient migrant and seasonal eligible children are not available to use such funds, then enrollment priority 

shall be given to other disadvantaged populations referred to in 

subparagraph (A). Not less than 60 percent of such one percent 

amount shall be used to fund quality improvement activites as described in sec 640(a)(3)(B) and (C)’’. 

(4) In subsection (a)(3)(A) by inserting at the end thereof: 

‘‘(iii) After the reservation of amounts under paragraph (2) and 

the 60 percent amount referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, a portion of the remaining funds shall be made available for 

quality to expand services to underserved populations, such as children receiving services under the Early Head Start and Migrant 

and Seasonal Head Start programs.’’. 

(5) In subsection (a)(3)(A)(i)(I) by striking ‘‘1999’’ and all that 

follows down to the semicolon and inserting ‘‘2004 through 

2008’’. 

(6) By amending subsection (a)(3)(B) to read as follows: 

‘‘(B) Funds reserved under this paragraph (referred to in this 

paragraph as ‘quality improvement funds’) shall be used to accomplish any or all of the following goals: 

‘‘(i) Ensuring that Head Start programs meet or exceed 

standards pursuant to section 641A(a)(1). 

‘‘(ii) Ensuring that such programs have adequate numbers of 

qualified staff, and that such staff is furnished adequate training, including developing skills to promote the development of 

language skills, premathematic skills, and prereading in young 

children and in working with children with non-English language background, children referred by child welfare services, 

and children with disabilities, when appropriate. 

‘‘(iii) Developing and financing the salary scales described 

under section 644(a) and section 653, in order to ensure that 

salary levels and benefits are adequate to attract and retain 

qualified staff for such programs. 

‘‘(iv) Using salary increases to improve staff qualifications, 

and to assist with the implementation of programs specifically 

designed to enable lead instructors to become more effective 

educators, for the staff of Head Start programs, and to encourage the staff to continually improve their skills and expertise 

by informing the staff of the availability of Federal and State 

incentive and loan forgiveness programs for professional development. 

‘‘(v) Improving community-wide strategic planning and needs 

assessments for such programs and collaboration efforts for 

such programs, including collaborations to increase program 

participation by underserved populations of eligible children. 

‘‘(vi) Ensuring that the physical environments of Head Start 

programs are conducive to providing effective program services 

to children and families, and are accessible to children with 

disabilities and their parents. 

‘‘(vii) Ensuring that such programs have qualified staff that 

can promote language skills and literacy growth of children 

and that can provide children with a variety of skills that have 

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been identified, through scientifically based reading research, 

as predictive of later reading achievement. 

‘‘(viii) Providing assistance to complete post-secondary course 

work needed to attain baccalaureate degrees in early childhood 

education. 

‘‘(ix) Making such other improvements in the quality of such 

programs as the Secretary may designate. 

‘‘(x) To promote the regular attendance and stability of highly mobile children, including migrant and homeless children.’’. 

(7) By amending subsection (a)(3)(C) to read as follows: 

‘‘(C) Quality improvement funds shall be used to carry out any 

or all of the following activities: 

‘‘(i)(I) Not less than one-half of the amount reserved under 

this paragraph, to improve the compensation (including benefits) of classroom teachers and other staff of Head Start agencies providing instructional services and thereby enhancing recruitment and retention of qualified staff, including recruitment and retention pursuant to achieving the requirements set 

forth in section 648A(a). The expenditure of funds under this 

clause shall be subject to section 653. Salary increases, in excess of cost-of-living allowance, provided with such funds shall 

be subject to the specific standards governing salaries and salary increases established pursuant to section 644(a). 

‘‘(II) If a Head Start agency certifies to the Secretary for 

such fiscal year that part of the funds set aside under subclause (I) to improve wages cannot be expended by such agency 

to improve wages because of the operation of section 653, then 

such agency may expend such part for any of the uses specified 

in this subparagraph (other than wages). 

‘‘(III) From the remainder of the amount reserved under this 

paragraph (after the Secretary carries out subclause (I)), the 

Secretary shall carry out any or all of the activities described 

in clauses (ii) through (vii), placing the highest priority on the 

activities described in clause (ii). 

‘‘(ii) To train classroom teachers and other staff to meet the 

education standards described in section 641A(a)(1)(B), 

through activities—

‘‘(I) to promote children’s language and prereading 

growth, through techniques identified through scientifically based reading research; 

‘‘(II) to promote the acquisition of the English language 

for non-English background children and families; 

‘‘(III) to foster children’s school readiness skills through 

activities described in section 648A(a)(1); and 

‘‘(IV) to educate and provide training necessary to improve the qualifications particularly with respect to such 

assistance to enable more instructors 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 problems of children participating in 

Head Start programs, including children from dysfunctional families, children who experience chronic violence in 

their communities, and children who experience substance 

abuse in their families. 

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‘‘(iii) To employ additional Head Start staff, including staff 

necessary to reduce the child-staff ratio lead instructors who 

meet the qualifications of section 648A(a) and staff necessary 

to coordinate a Head Start program with other services available to children participating in such program and to their 

families. 

‘‘(iv) To pay costs incurred by Head Start agencies to purchase insurance (other than employee benefits) and thereby 

maintain or expand Head Start services. 

‘‘(v) To supplement amounts provided under paragraph (2)(C) 

to provide training necessary to improve the qualifications of 

the staff of the Head Start agencies, and to support staff training, child counseling, and other services necessary to address 

the problems of children participating in Head Start programs, 

including children from dysfunctional families, children who 

experience chronic violence in their communities, and children 

who experience substance abuse in their families. 

‘‘(vi) To conduct outreach to homeless families in an effort to 

increase the program participation of eligible homeless children. 

‘‘(vii) Such other activities as the Secretary may designate. 

‘‘(viii) To conduct outreach to migrant and seasonal farmworking families and families with children with a limited 

English proficiency.’’. 

(8) In subsection (a)(4) by striking ‘‘1998’’ in subparagraph 

(A) and inserting ‘‘2003’’. 

(9) In subsection (a)(5)(B)—

(A) by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’; and 

(B) by inserting ‘‘early childhood education’’ after ‘‘regarding’’. 

(10) By amending subsection (a)(5)(C) to read as follows: 

‘‘(C) In order to improve results for children, a State that receives 

a grant under subparagraph (B) shall—

‘‘(i) appoint an individual to serve as the State Director of 

Collaboration between—

‘‘(I) the appropriate regional office of the Administration 

for Children and Families; 

‘‘(II) the State educational agency; 

‘‘(III) the State Department of Health and Human Services; 

‘‘(IV) the State agency that oversees child care; 

‘‘(V) the State agency that assists children with developmental disabilities; 

‘‘(VI) the State Head Start Association; 

‘‘(VII) the State network of child care resource and referral agencies; 

‘‘(VIII) local educational agencies; 

‘‘(IX) community-based and faith-based organizations; 

‘‘(X) State representatives of migrant and seasonal Head 

Start programs; 

‘‘(XI) State representatives of Indian Head Start programs; 

‘‘(XII) State and local providers of early childhood education and child care; and 

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‘‘(XIII) other entities carrying out programs serving lowincome children and families in the State; 

‘‘(ii) ensure that the State Director of Collaboration holds a 

position with sufficient authority and access to ensure that the 

collaboration described in subparagraph (B) is effective and involves a range of State agencies; 

‘‘(iii) involve the entities described in section clause (i) to develop a strategic plan for the coordinated outreach to identify 

eligible children and implementation strategies based on a 

needs assessment conducted by the Office of the State Director 

of Collaboration which shall include an assessment of the 

availability of high quality prekindergarten services for low-income children in the State. Such assessment shall be completed within one year after the date of enactment of the 

‘School Readiness Act of 2003’ and be updated on an annual 

basis and shall be made available to the general public within 

the State; 

‘‘(iv) ensure that the collaboration described in subparagraph 

(B) involves coordination of Head Start services with health 

care, welfare, child care, child protective services, education, 

and community service activities, family literacy services, activities relating to children with disabilities (including coordination of services with those State officials who are responsible 

for administering part C and section 619 of the Individuals 

with Disabilities Education Act), and services for homeless 

children (including coordination of services with the Office of 

Coordinator for Education of Homeless Children and Youth 

designated under section 722 (g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinneyVento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 

2001; 

‘‘(v) consult with the chief State school officer, local educational agencies, and representatives of local Head Start 

agencies and providers of early childhood education and care in 

unified planning regarding early care and education services at 

both the State and local levels, including collaborative efforts 

to develop school readiness standards; and 

‘‘(vi) consult with the chief State school officer, local educational agencies, State child care administrators, State human 

services administrators, representatives of local resource and 

referral agencies, local early childhood councils, providers of 

early childhood education and care and other relevant State 

and local agencies, and representatives of the State Head Start 

Associations to plan for the provision of full-working-day, full 

calendar year early care and education services for children.’’. 

(11) By amending clause (i) of subsection (a)(5)(D) by inserting ‘‘and providers of services supporting early childhood education and child care’’ after ‘‘Associations’’. 

(12) By amending subsection (a)(6)(A) to read as follows: 

‘‘(A) From amounts reserved and allotted pursuant to paragraphs 

(2) and (4), the Secretary shall use, for grants for programs described in section 645A(a) of this subchapter, a portion of the combined total of such amounts equal to at least 10 percent for fiscal 

years 2004 through 2008, of the amount appropriated pursuant to 

section 639(a), except as provided in subparagraph (B).’’

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(13) By inserting the following before the period at the end 

of subsection (f): ‘‘, including models that leverage the existing 

capacity and capabilities of the delivery system of early childhood education and child care’’. 

(14) By inserting the following after ‘‘manner that will’’ in 

subsection (g)(2)(G): ‘‘leverage the existing delivery systems of 

such services and’’. 

(15) By amending subsection (g)(2)(C) to read as follows: 

‘‘(C) the extent to which the applicant has undertaken community-wide strategic planning and needs assessments involving other community organizations and 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 organizations and public entities serving children with disabilities and homeless children (including the local educational 

agency liaison designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the 

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001);’’. 

(16) By inserting in subsection (g)(2)(H) after ‘‘serving the 

community involved’’ the following: ‘‘, including the liaison designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento 

Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001,’’. 

(17) By adding the following new subsections at the end 

thereof: 

‘‘(m) ENROLLMENT OF HOMELESS CHILDREN.—The Secretary shall 

by regulation prescribe policies and procedures to remove barriers 

to the enrollment and participation of eligible homeless children in 

Head Start programs. Such regulations shall require Head Start 

agencies to: 

‘‘(1) implement policies and procedures to ensure that eligible 

homeless children are identified and prioritized for enrollment, 

‘‘(2) allow homeless families to apply to, enroll in and attend 

Head Start programs while required documents, such as proof 

of residency, immunization and other medical records, birth 

certificates and other documents, are obtained within a reasonable time frame, and 

‘‘(3) coordinate individual Head Start centers and programs 

with efforts to implement Subtitle VII-B of the McKinneyVento Homeless Assistance Act. 

‘‘(n) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed 

to require a State to establish a program of early education for children in the State, to require any child to participate in a program 

of early education, to attend school, or to participate in any initial 

screening prior to participation in such program, except as provided 

under section 612(a)(3), (consistent with section 614(a)(1)(C)), of the 

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 

‘‘(o) MATERIALS.—All curricula and instructional materials funded under this subchapter shall be scientifically based and age appropriate. Parents shall have the ability to inspect, upon request, 

any curricula or instructional materials.’’. 

SEC. 105. DESIGNATION OF AGENCIES. 

Section 641 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836) is amended 

as follows: 

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(1) In subsection (a)—

(A) by inserting after ‘‘community’’ in the first place it 

appears ‘‘, including a community-based or faith-based organization’’; 

(B) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(a)’’; 

(C) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; and 

(D) by adding the following at the end thereof: 

‘‘(2) In order to be designated as a Head Start agency and to receive a grant under this subchapter, a grantee shall establish 

grantee-determined goals for improving the school readiness of children participating in a program under this subchapter, which shall 

include goals for—

‘‘(A) educational instruction in prereading, premathematical, 

and language skills; and 

‘‘(B) the provision of health, educational, nutritional, social, 

and other services. 

‘‘(3) In order to receive a grant subsequent to the initial grant 

provided following the date of enactment of this subchapter, the 

grantee shall demonstrate that it has met the goals described in 

paragraph (2). 

‘‘(4) Progress in meeting such goals shall not be measured primarily or solely by the results of assessments.’’

(2) By amending subsection (c) to read as follows: 

‘‘(c) In the administration of the provisions of this section, the 

Secretary shall, in consultation with the chief executive officer of 

the State involved if such State expends non-Federal funds to carry 

out Head Start programs, give priority in the designation of Head 

Start agencies to any local public or private nonprofit or for-profit 

agency which is receiving funds under any Head Start program on 

the date of the enactment of this Act that fulfills the program and 

financial management requirements, standards described in section 

641A(a)(1), results-based performance measures developed by the 

Secretary under section 641A(b), or other requirements established 

by the Secretary.’’. 

(3) By amending subsection (d) to read as follows: 

‘‘(d) If no entity in a community is entitled to the priority specified in subsection (c), then the Secretary may designate a Head 

Start agency from among qualified applicants in such community. 

In selecting from among qualified applicants for designation as a 

Head Start agency, the Secretary shall give priority to any qualified agency that functioned as a Head Start delegate agency in the 

community and carried out a Head Start program that the Secretary determines met or exceeded such performance standards 

and such results-based performance measures. 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 capacity of such applicant to serve eligible children 

with scientifically-based programs that promote school readiness of children participating in the program; 

13

‘‘(3) 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; 

‘‘(4) the plan of such applicant to provide comprehensive 

health, nutritional, educational, social, and other services needed to prepare children to succeed in school; 

‘‘(5) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the Head Start 

program it proposes to carry out with other preschool programs, including Early Reading First and Even Start programs 

under title I, part B, subparts 1 and 2 of the Elementary and 

Secondary Education Act of 1965; other preschool programs 

carried out under title I of the Act; programs under part C and 

section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; 

State prekindergarten programs; and with the educational programs such children will enter at the age of compulsory school 

attendance; 

‘‘(6) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the Head Start 

program it proposes to carry out with private entities with resources available to assist the Head Start Program meet its 

program needs; 

‘‘(7) the plan of such applicant—

‘‘(A) to seek 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, conduct, and overall performance of 

the program at the local level; 

‘‘(C) to offer (directly or through referral to local entities, 

such as entities carrying out Even Start programs under 

part B of chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2741 et seq.), 

public and school libraries, and 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), including information on drug-exposed 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; 

‘‘(ii) assistance in developing communication skills; 

‘‘(iii) opportunities for parents to share experiences 

with other parents; or 

‘‘(iv) 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 about the benefits of parent involvement and 

about the activities described in subparagraphs (C) (D), 

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14

volved (taking into consideration their specific family 

needs, work schedules, and other responsibilities); and 

‘‘(G) to extend out reach to fathers in order to strengthen 

the role of fathers in families by working directly with fathers and father-figures through such activities as including fathers in home visits; implementing father outreach 

efforts, providing opportunities for direct father-child interactions; and targeting increased male participation in the 

program; 

‘‘(8) the ability of such applicant to carry out the plans described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4); 

‘‘(9) other factors related to the requirements of this subchapter; 

‘‘(10) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of nonEnglish background children and their families, including 

needs related to the acquisition of the English language; 

‘‘(11) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of children 

with disabilities; 

‘‘(12) the plan of such applicant who chooses to assist younger siblings of children who will participate in the proposed 

Head Start program to obtain health services from other 

sources; 

‘‘(13) the plan of such applicant to collaborate with other entities carrying out early childhood education and child care 

programs in the community; and 

‘‘(14) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of homeless children.’’. 

SEC. 106. QUALITY STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD START AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS. 

Section 641A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836a) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) In subsection (a)(1)(B) by amending clause (ii) to read as 

follows: 

‘‘(ii) additional education standards to ensure that the 

children participating in the program, at a minimum develop and demonstrate—

‘‘(I) language skills; 

‘‘(II) prereading knowledge and skills, including interest in and appreciation of books, reading and writing either alone or with others; 

‘‘(III) premathematics knowledge and skills, including aspects of classification, seriation, number, spatial 

relations, and time; 

‘‘(IV) cognitive abilities related to academic achievement; 

‘‘(V) social and emotional development important for 

environments constructive for child development, early 

learning, and school success; and 

‘‘(VI) in the case of limited-English proficient children, progress toward acquisition of the English language.’’. 

(2) By amending subsection (a)(2)(B) to read as follows: 

‘‘(B) take into consideration—

‘‘(i) past experience with use of the standards in effect under this subchapter on October 27, 1998; 

15

‘‘(ii) changes over the period since October 27, 1998, 

in the circumstances and problems typically facing 

children and families served by Head Start agencies; 

‘‘(iii) developments concerning best practices with respect to early childhood education and development, 

children with disabilities, family services, program administration, and financial management; 

‘‘(iv) projected needs of an expanding Head Start 

program; 

‘‘(v) guidelines and standards currently in effect or 

under consideration that promote child health services, and projected needs of expanding Head Start programs; 

‘‘(vi) changes in the population of children who are 

eligible to participate in Head Start programs, including the language background and family structure of 

such children; 

‘‘(vii) the need for, and state-of-the-art developments 

relating to, local policies and activities designed to ensure that children participating in Head Start programs make a successful transition to schools; and 

‘‘(viii) the unique challenges faced by individual programs, including those that are seasonal or short 

term, and those that serve rural populations; and’’. 

(3) In subsection (a)(2)(C)(ii) by striking all that follows ‘‘in 

effect on’’ down to the period and inserting ‘‘October 27, 1998’’. 

(4) By amending subsection (b)(2) to read as follows: 

‘‘(2) CHARACTERISTICS OF MEASURES.—The performance 

measures developed under this subsection shall—

‘‘(A) be used to assess the impact of the various services 

provided by Head Start programs and, to the extent the 

Secretary finds appropriate, administrative and financial 

management practices of such programs; 

‘‘(B) be adaptable for use in self-assessment, peer review, 

and program evaluation of individual Head Start agencies 

and programs; 

‘‘(C) be developed for other program purposes as determined by the Secretary; 

‘‘(D) be appropriate for the population served; and 

‘‘(E) be reviewed no less than every 4 years, based on advances in the science of early childhood development. 

The performance measures shall include the performance 

standards described in subsection (a)(1)(A) and (B).’’. 

(5) By amending subsection (b)(4) to read as follows: 

‘‘(4) EDUCATIONAL MEASURES.—Results based measures shall 

be designed for the purpose of promoting the competencies of 

children participating in Head Start programs specified in subsection (a)(1)(B)(ii), with an emphasis on measuring those competencies that have a strong scientifically-based predictability 

of a child’s school readiness and later performance in school.’’. 

(6) In subsection (c)(1)(C) by striking ‘‘the standards’’ and inserting ‘‘one or more of the performance measures developed by 

the Secretary under subsection (b)’’. 

(7) By amending subsection (c)(2) to read as follows: 

16

‘‘(2) CONDUCT OF REVIEWS.—The Secretary shall ensure that 

reviews described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1)—

‘‘(A) that incorporate a monitoring visit, do so without 

prior notice of the visit to the local agency or program; 

‘‘(B) are conducted by review teams that shall include individuals who are knowledgeable about Head Start programs and, to the maximum extent practicable, the diverse 

(including linguistic and cultural) needs of eligible children 

(including children with disabilities) and limited-English 

proficient children and their families; 

‘‘(C) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a review and assessment of program effectiveness, as measured in accordance with the results-based performance 

measures developed by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b) and with the standards established pursuant to 

subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(1); 

‘‘(D) seek information from the communities and the 

States involved about the performance of the programs 

and the efforts of the Head Start agencies to collaborate 

with other entities carrying out early childhood education 

and child care programs in the community; 

‘‘(E) seek information from the communities where Head 

Start programs exist about innovative or effective collaborative efforts, barriers to collaboration, and the efforts of 

the Head Start agencies and programs to collaborate with 

the entities carrying out early childhood education and 

child care programs in the community; 

‘‘(F) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a review and assessment of whether a program is in conformity with the income eligibility requirements, as defined in section 645 and regulations promulgated thereunder; 

‘‘(G) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a review and assessment of whether programs have adequately addressed the population and community needs 

(including populations of children with a limited English 

proficiency and children of migrant and seasonal farmworking families); and 

‘‘(H) include as part of the review the extent to which 

the program addresses the community needs and strategic 

plan identified in section 640(g)(2)(C).’’. 

(8) By amending so much of subsection (d)(1) as precedes 

subparagraph (A) to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) DETERMINATION.—If the Secretary determines, on the 

basis of a review pursuant to subsection (c), that a Head Start 

agency designated pursuant to section 641 fails to meet the 

standards described in subsection (a) or results-based performance measures developed by the Secretary under subsection 

(b), or fails to adequately address the community needs and 

strategic plan identified in 640(g)(2)(C), the Secretary shall—

’’

(9) By amending subsection (d)(2) to read as follows: 

‘‘(2) QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN.—

17

‘‘(A) AGENCY AND PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES.—In order 

to retain a designation as a Head Start agency under this 

subchapter, or in the case of a Head Start Program, in 

order to continue to receive funds from such agency, a 

Head Start agency, or Head Start program that is the subject of a determination described in paragraph (1) (other 

than an agency or program required to correct a deficiency 

immediately or during a 90-day period under clause (i) or 

(ii) of paragraph (1)(B)) shall—

‘‘(i) develop in a timely manner, a quality improvement plan which shall be subject to the approval of 

the Secretary, or in the case of a program, the sponsoring agency, and which shall specify—

‘‘(I) the deficiencies to be corrected; 

‘‘(II) the actions to be taken to correct such deficiencies; and 

‘‘(III) the timetable for accomplishment of the 

corrective actions specified; and 

‘‘(ii) eliminate each deficiency identified, not later 

than the date for elimination of such deficiency specified in such plan (which shall not be later than 1 year 

after the date the agency or program received notice 

of the determination and of the specific deficiency to 

be corrected). 

‘‘(B) SECRETARIAL RESPONSIBILITY.—Not later than 30 

days after receiving from a Head Start agency a proposed 

quality improvement plan pursuant to subparagraph (A), 

the Secretary shall either approve such proposed plan or 

specify the reasons why the proposed plan cannot be approved. 

‘‘(C) AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROGRAM IMPROVE- MENT.—Not later than 30 days after receiving from a Head 

Start program, a proposed quality improvement plan pursuant to subparagraph (A), the sponsoring agency shall either approve such proposed plan or specify the reasons 

why the proposed plan cannot be approved.’’. 

(10) In subsection (d)(3) by inserting ‘‘and programs’’ after 

‘‘agencies’’. 

(11) Subsection (e) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(e) SUMMARIES OF MONITORING OUTCOMES.—Not later than 120 

days after the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall publish 

a summary report on the findings of reviews conducted under subsection (c) and on the outcomes of quality improvement plans implemented under subsection (d), during such fiscal year. Such information shall be made available to all parents with students receiving assistance under this Act in a understandable and uniform format, and to the extent practicable, provided in a language that the 

parents can understand, and in addition, make the information 

widely available through public means such as distribution through 

public agencies, and at a minimum posting such information on the 

Internet immediately upon publication.’’. 

SEC. 107. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES. 

Section 642 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837(b)) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) By amending subsection (b) to read as follows: 

18

‘‘(b) In order to be so designated, a Head Start agency shall 

also—

‘‘(1) establish a program with standards set forth in section 

641A(a)(1), with particular attention to the standards set forth 

in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section; 

‘‘(2) demonstrate capacity to serve eligible children with scientifically-based curricula and other interventions that help 

promote the school readiness of children participating in the 

program; 

‘‘(3) establish effective procedures by which parents and area 

residents concerned will be enabled to directly participate in 

decisions that influence the character of programs affecting 

their interests; 

‘‘(4) provide for their regular participation in the implementation of such programs; 

‘‘(5) provide technical and other support needed to enable 

parents and area residents to secure on their own behalf available assistance from public and private sources; 

‘‘(6) seek the involvement of parents of participating children 

in activities designed to help such parents become full partners 

in the education of their children, and to afford such parents 

the opportunity to participate in the development, conduct, and 

overall performance of the program at the local level; 

‘‘(7) conduct outreach to schools in which Head Start children 

enroll, local educational agencies, the local business community, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, museums, and libraries to generate support and leverage 

the resources of the entire local community in order to improve 

school readiness; 

‘‘(8) offer (directly or through referral to local entities, such 

as entities carrying out Even Start programs under part B of 

chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education 

Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2741 et seq.)), to parents of participating children, family literacy services and parenting skills 

training; 

‘‘(9) offer to parents of participating children substance abuse 

counseling (either directly or through referral to local entities), 

including information on drug-exposed infants and fetal alcohol 

syndrome; 

‘‘(10) at the option of such agency, offer (directly or through 

referral to local entities), to such parents—

‘‘(A) training in basic child development; 

‘‘(B) assistance in developing communication skills; 

‘‘(C) opportunities to share experiences with other parents; 

‘‘(D) regular in-home visitation; or 

‘‘(E) any other activity designed to help such parents become full partners in the education of their children; 

‘‘(11) provide, with respect to each participating family, a 

family needs assessment that includes consultation with such 

parents about the benefits of parent involvement and about the 

activities described in paragraphs (4) through (7) in which such 

parents may choose to be involved (taking into consideration 

their specific family needs, work schedules, and other responsibilities); 

19

‘‘(12) consider providing services to assist younger siblings of 

children participating in its Head Start program to obtain 

health services from other sources; 

‘‘(13) perform community outreach to encourage individuals 

previously unaffiliated with Head Start programs to participate in its Head Start program as volunteers; and 

‘‘(14)(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.’’. 

(2) Amend subsection (c) to read as follows: 

‘‘(c) The head of each Head Start agency shall coordinate and collaborate with the State agency responsible for administering the 

State program carried out under the Child Care and Development 

Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), and other early 

childhood education and development programs, including programs under subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431-11435), Even Start programs under 

part B of chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2741 et seq.), and programs under 

Part C and section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431-1445, 1419), and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a), serving the children 

and families served by the Head Start agency to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.’’. 

(3) In subsection (d) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 

(4) as paragraph (3) through (5) and inserting the following 

new paragraph after paragraph (1): 

‘‘(2) In communities where both public prekindergarten programs 

and Head Start programs operate, a Head Start agency shall coordinate with the local educational agency or other public agency 

responsible for the operation of the prekindergarten program and 

providers of prekindergarten, including for outreach to identify eligible children.’’. 

(5) In paragraph (3) (as redesignated) of subsection (d), strike 

‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (A) and insert the following after 

subparagraph (A) and redesignate subparagraph (B) as (C): 

‘‘(B) collaborating to increase the program participation 

of underserved populations of eligible children; and’’. 

SEC. 108. HEAD START ALIGNMENT WITH K–12 EDUCATION. 

Section 642A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837a) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) The heading is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 642A. HEAD START ALIGNMENT WITH K–12 EDUCATION.’’. 

(2) In paragraph (2) after ‘‘social workers,’’ insert the following: ‘‘McKinney-Vento liaisons as established under section 

722 (g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001,’’. 

(3) Add the following new paragraph after paragraph (2) and 

redesignated paragraphs (3) through (7) as (4) through (8): 

20

‘‘(3) developing continuity of developmentally appropriate 

curricula between Head Start and local educational agencies to 

ensure an effective transition and appropriate shared expectations for children’s learning and development as they make 

such transition to school;’’. 

(4) Paragraph (6)(as redesignated by paragraph (3) of this 

section) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(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 and family outreach and support 

efforts under subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 

Assistance Act;’’. 

(4) In paragraph (7)(as redesignated by paragraph (3) of this 

section) by inserting ‘‘and continuity in parental involvement 

activities’’ after ‘‘developmental continuity’’. 

(5) Strike ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (7)(as redesignated 

by paragraph (3) of this section) and strike the period at the 

end of paragraph (8)(as redesignated by paragraph (3) of this 

section) and insert a semicolon. 

(6) Add the following after paragraph (8): 

‘‘(9) helping parents to understand the importance of parental involvement in a child’s academic success while teaching 

them strategies for maintaining parental involvement as their 

child moves from Head Start to elementary school; and 

‘‘(10) developing and implementing a system to increase program participation of underserved populations of eligible children.’’. 

SEC. 109. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS. 

Section 644 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9839) is amended 

in subsection (f)(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) 

as (B) through (F) and inserting the following new subparagraph 

before subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated): 

‘‘(A) a description of the consultation conducted by the Head 

Start agency with the providers in the community demonstrating capacity and capability to provide services under 

this Act, and of the potential for collaboration with such providers and the cost effectiveness of such collaboration as opposed to the cost effectiveness of the purchase of a facility;’’

SEC. 110. ELIGIBILITY. 

Section 645(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) By striking ‘‘to a reasonable extent’’ in paragraph (1)(B)(i) 

and inserting ‘‘not to exceed 10 percent of the total enrollment’’ 

and by striking ‘‘benefit from such programs’’ and inserting 

‘‘benefit from such programs, including children referred by 

child welfare services,’’ . 

(2) By adding the following new paragraph at the end thereof: 

‘‘(3) The amount of a basic allowance provided under section 403 

of title 37, United States Code, on behalf of an individual who is 

a member of the uniformed services for housing that is acquired or 

constructed under the authority of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of 

title 10, United States Code, or any other related provision of law, 

21

shall not be considered to be income for purposes of determining 

the eligibility of a child of the individual for programs assisted 

under this subchapter.’’. 

SEC. 111. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 

9643) is amended as follows: 

(1) By amending paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (b) to 

read as follows: 

‘‘(4) provide services to parents to support their role as parents (including parenting skills training and training in basic 

child development) and to help the families move toward selfsufficiency (including educational and employment services as 

appropriate); 

‘‘(5) coordinate services with services (including home-based 

services) provided by programs in the State and programs in 

the community (including programs for infants and toddlers 

with disabilities) to ensure a comprehensive array of services 

(such as health and mental health services, and family support 

services);’’. 

(2) By amending paragraph (8) of subsection (b) to read as 

follows: 

‘‘(8) ensure formal linkages with the agencies and entities described in section 644(b) of the Individuals with Disabilities 

Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1444(b)) and providers of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities under 

the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 

et seq.) and the agency responsible for administering the Section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 

U.S.C. 5106a); and’’. 

(3) In subsection (g)(2)(B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of 

clause (iii), by striking the period at the end of clause (iv) and 

inserting ‘‘; and’’ and by inserting the following at the end: 

‘‘(v) providing professional development designed to 

increase program participation for underserved populations of eligible children.’’. 

(b) MIGRANT AND SEASONAL PROGRAMS.—Section 645A(d)(1) of 

the Head Start Act (42 US.C. 9643(d)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) entities operating Head Start programs under this subpart, including migrant and seasonal Head Start programs; 

and’’. 

(c) COMMUNITY- AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.—Section 

645A(d)(2) of the Head Start Act (42 US.C. 9643(d)(21)) is amended 

by inserting ‘‘, including community- and faith-based organizations’’ 

after ‘‘entities’’ in the second place it appears. 

SEC. 112. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING. 

Section 648 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) By inserting the following new subsection after subsection (a) and redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as 

subsections (c) through (f): 

‘‘(b) The Secretary shall make available to each State the money 

reserved in section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) to support a State-based system 

delivering training and technical assistance that improves the caVerDate Jan 31 2003 09:00 Jul 24, 2003 Jkt 019008 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR232.XXX HR232
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pacity of Head Start programs within a State to deliver services in 

accordance with the Head Start standards in section 641A(a)(1), 

with particular attention to the standards set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section. The Secretary shall—

‘‘(1) ensure eligible entities within a State are chosen by the 

Secretary, in consultation with the State Collaboration Board 

described in section 640(a)(5)(C)(i), through a competitive bid 

process; 

‘‘(2) ensure that existing agencies with demonstrated expertise in providing high quality training and technical assistance 

to improve the delivery of Head Start services, including the 

State Head Start Association, State agencies, migrant and seasonal Head Start programs operating in the State, and other 

entities currently providing training and technical assistance 

in early education, be included in the planning and coordination of the State system of training and technical assistance; 

and 

‘‘(3) encourage States to supplement the funds authorized in 

section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) with State, Federal, or local funds other 

than Head Start funds, to expand activities beyond Head Start 

agencies to include other providers of other early childhood 

services within a State.’’. 

(2) In subsection (d) (as redesignated): 

(A) In paragraph (2), after ‘‘disabilities’’ insert ‘‘and for 

activities described in section 1221(b)(3) of the Elementary 

and Secondary Education Act of 1965’’. 

(B) In paragraph (5) after ‘‘assessment’’ insert ‘‘, including the needs of homeless children and their families’’. 

(C) By striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (10), by 

striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and inserting ‘‘; and’’ and by inserting the following at the end: 

‘‘(12) assist Head Start agencies and programs in increasing 

program participation of eligible homeless children.’’. 

(3) In subsection (e) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) by inserting ‘‘, including community- and faith-based organizations’’ 

after ‘‘entities’’. 

(4) By amending subsection (f) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) to read as follows: 

‘‘(f) The Secretary shall provide, either directly or through grants 

or other arrangements, funds from programs authorized under this 

subchapter to support an organization to administer a centralized 

child development and national assessment program leading to recognized credentials for personnel working in early childhood development and child care programs, training for personnel providing 

services to non-English language background children (including 

services to promote the acquisition of the English language), training for personnel providing services to children determined to be 

abused or neglected, training for personnel providing services to 

children referred by or receiving child welfare services, training for 

personnel in helping children cope with community violence, and 

resource access projects for personnel working with disabled children.’’. 

(5) Insert at the end of the section: 

‘‘(g) HELPING PERSONNEL BETTER SERVE MIGRANT AND SEASONAL

FARM-WORKING COMMUNITIES AND HOMELESS FAMILIES.—The SecVerDate Jan 31 2003 09:00 Jul 24, 2003 Jkt 019008 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR232.XXX HR232
23

retary shall provide, either directly or through grants, or other arrangements, funds for training of Head Start personnel in addressing the unique needs of migrant and seasonal working families, 

families with a limited English proficiency, and homeless families. 

‘‘(h) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—The majority of funds expended 

under this section shall be used to provide high quality, sustained, 

intensive, and classroom-focused training and technical assistance 

in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction. Funds shall be used to carry out activities related to any or 

all of the following: 

‘‘(1) Education and early childhood development. 

‘‘(2) Child health, nutrition, and safety. 

‘‘(3) Family and community partnerships. 

‘‘(4) Other areas that impact the quality or overall effectiveness of Head Start programs. 

‘‘(i) PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Funds under this subchapter used for training shall be used for needs identified annually by a grant applicant or delegate agency in their program improvement plan, except that funds shall not be used for long-distance travel expenses for training activities available locally or regionally or for training activities substantially similar to locally or 

regionally available training activities. 

‘‘(j) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘eligible 

entities’ means an institution of higher education or other entity 

with expertise in delivering training in early childhood development, family support, and other assistance designed to improve the 

delivery of Head Start services.’’. 

SEC. 113. STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT. 

Section 648A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843a) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) By amending paragraph (2) of subsection (a) to read as 

follows: 

‘‘(2) DEGREE REQUIREMENTS.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure that not 

later than September 30, 2008, at least 50 percent of all 

Head Start teachers nationwide in center-based programs 

have—

‘‘(i) a baccalaureate, or advanced degree in early 

childhood education; or 

‘‘(ii) a baccalaureate, or advanced degree in a field 

related to early childhood education, with experience 

in teaching preschool children. 

‘‘(B) PROGRESS.—Each Head State agency shall provide 

to the Secretary a report indicating the number and percentage of classroom instructors with child development 

associate credentials and associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degrees. The Secretary shall compile all program 

reports and make them available to the Committee on 

Education and the Workforce of the United States House 

of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the United States Senate. 

‘‘(C) REQUIREMENT FOR NEW HEAD START TEACHERS.—

Within 3 years after the date of enactment of this clause, 

the Secretary shall require that all Head Start teachers 

24

nationwide in center-based programs hired following the 

date of enactment of this subparagraph—

‘‘(i) have an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced 

degree in early childhood education; 

‘‘(ii) have an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced 

degree in a field related to early childhood education, 

with experience in teaching preschool children; or 

‘‘(iii) be currently enrolled in a program of study 

leading to an associate degree in early childhood education and agree to complete degree requirements 

within 3 years from the date of hire. 

‘‘(D) SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall establish requirements to ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under this Act in order to comply 

with the requirements under section 648A(a)(2) shall subsequently teach in a Head Start center for a period of time 

equivalent to the period for which they received assistance 

or repay the amount of the funds.’’. 

(2) By adding the following at the end thereof: 

‘‘(f) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS.—Every Head Start 

agency and program shall create, in consultation with an employee, 

a professional development plan for all full-time employees who 

provide direct services to children.’’. 

SEC. 114. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUATION. 

Section 649 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) By amending subsection (a)(1)(B) to read as follows: 

‘‘(B) use the Head Start programs to develop, test, and 

disseminate new ideas and approaches for addressing the 

needs of low-income preschool children (including children 

with disabilities and children determined to be abused or 

neglected) and their families and communities (including 

demonstrations of innovative non-center based program 

models such as home-based and mobile programs), and 

otherwise to further the purposes of this subchapter.’’. 

(1) By striking paragraph (9) of subsection (d) and inserting 

‘‘(9) REPEALED.—’’. 

(2) By striking clause (i) of subsection (g)(1)(A) and redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (i) and (ii). 

(3) In subsection (g)(7)(C)(i) by striking ‘‘1999’’ and inserting 

‘‘2003’’, striking ‘‘2001’’ and inserting ‘‘2005’’, and striking 

‘‘2003’’ and inserting ‘‘2006’’. 

(4) By amending subsection (h) to read as follows: 

‘‘(h) NAS STUDY.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall use funds allocated in 

section 640(a)(2)(C)(iii) to contract with the National Academy 

of Sciences for the Board on Children, Youth, and Families of 

the National Research Council to establish an independent 

panel of experts to review and synthesize research, theory and 

applications in the social, behavioral and biological sciences 

and shall make recommendations on early childhood pedagogy 

with regard to each of the following: 

‘‘(A) Age and developmentally appropriate Head Start 

academic requirements and outcomes, including but not 

limited to the domains in 641A(a)(B). 

25

‘‘(B) Differences in the type, length, mix and intensity of 

services necessary to ensure that children from challenging 

family and social backgrounds including: low-income children, children of color, children with special needs, and 

children with limited English proficiency enter kindergarten ready to succeed. 

‘‘(C) Appropriate assessments of young children for the 

purposes of improving instruction, services, and program 

quality, including systematic observation assessment in a 

child’s natural environment, parent and provider interviews, and accommodations for children with disabilities 

and appropriate assessments for children with special 

needs, including English language learners. 

‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.—The panel shall consist of multiple experts in each of the following areas: 

‘‘(A) Child development and education, including cognitive, social, emotional, physical, approaches to learning, 

and other domains of child development and learning. 

‘‘(B) Professional development, including teacher preparation, to individuals who teach young children in programs. 

‘‘(C) Assessment of young children, including screening, 

diagnostic and classroom-based instructional assessment; 

children with special needs, including children with disabilities and limited English proficient children. 

‘‘(3) TIMING.—The National Academy of Sciences and the 

Board shall establish the panel not later than 90 days after the 

date of enactment of this paragraph. The panel should complete its recommendations within 18 months of its convening. 

‘‘(4) APPLICATION OF PANEL REPORT.—The results of the panel 

study shall be used as guidelines by the Secretary to develop, 

inform and revise, where appropriate, the Head Start education performance measures and standards and the assessments utilized in the Head Start program.’’. 

SEC. 115. REPORTS. 

Section 650 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9845) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) The first sentence of subsection (a) is amended to read as 

follows: ‘‘At least once during every 2-year period, the Secretary shall prepare and submit, to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and 

the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of 

the Senate, a report concerning the status of children (including disabled, homeless, and non-English language background 

children) in Head Start programs, including the number of 

children and the services being provided to such children.’’. 

(2) Paragraph (8) of subsection (a) is amended by inserting 

‘‘, homelessness’’ after ‘‘background’’. 

SEC. 116. HEAD START NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISIONS. 

Section 654 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9849) is amended 

to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 654. NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISIONS. 

‘‘(a)(1) The Secretary shall not provide financial assistance for 

any program, project, or activity under this subchapter unless the 

26

grant or contract with respect thereto specifically provides that no 

person with responsibilities in the operation thereof will discriminate with respect to any such program, project, or activity because 

of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, political affiliation, or beliefs. 

‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a recipient of financial assistance under this subchapter that is a religious corporation, association, educational institution, or society, with respect to the employment of individuals of a particular religion to perform work 

connected with the carrying on by such corporation, association, 

educational institution, or society of its activities. Such recipients 

shall comply with the other requirements contained in this subsection. 

‘‘(b) No person in the United States shall on the ground of sex 

be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, be subjected to discrimination under, or be denied employment in connection with any program or activity receiving assistance under this 

subchapter. The Secretary shall enforce the provisions of the preceding sentence in accordance with section 602 of the Civil Rights 

Act of 1964. Section 603 of such Act shall apply with respect to any 

action taken by the Secretary to enforce such sentence. This section 

shall not be construed as affecting any other legal remedy that a 

person may have if such person is excluded from participation in, 

denied the benefit of, subjected to discrimination under, or denied 

employment (except as provided in subsection (a)(2)), in the administration of any program, project, or activity receiving assistance 

under this subchapter. 

‘‘(c) The Secretary shall not provide financial assistance for any 

program, project, or activity under this subchapter unless the grant 

or contract relating to the financial assistance specifically provides 

that no person with responsibilities in the operation of the program, project, or activity will discriminate against any individual 

because of a handicapping condition in violation of section 504 of 

the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, except as provided in subsection 

(a)(2).’’. 

SEC. 117. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

The amendments made by this Act shall be effective with respect 

to fiscal years beginning on and after October 1, 2003. 

TITLE II—STATE DEMONSTRATION 

PROGRAM 

SEC. 201. STATE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. 

The Head Start Act is amended by inserting after section 643 the 

following new section: 

‘‘SEC. 643A. STATE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. 

‘‘(a) GRANTS.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—

‘‘(A) ELIGIBLE STATES.—In the case of each eligible State 

that submits to the Secretary an application that fulfills 

the requirements of this section, the Secretary, from 

amounts appropriated under section 639(a), shall make a 

grant to the State to carry out a State demonstration proVerDate Jan 31 2003 09:00 Jul 24, 2003 Jkt 019008 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR232.XXX HR232
27

gram under this section, except that the Secretary shall 

not make such grants to more than 8 eligible States. 

‘‘(B) DETERMINATION.—The Secretary shall make awards 

to those States that demonstrate—

‘‘(i) that the State standards generally meet or exceed the standards that ensure the quality and effectiveness of programs operated by Head Start agencies; 

‘‘(ii) the capacity to deliver high quality early childhood education services to prepare children, including 

low-income children, for school; and 

‘‘(iii)–success in improving the school readiness of 

children. 

‘‘(2) STATE ELIGIBILITY.—A State shall be eligible to participate in the program under this section if it meets each of the 

following criteria: 

‘‘(A) The State has an existing State supported system 

providing public prekindergarten to children prior to entry 

into kindergarten. 

‘‘(B) The State has implemented standards as of fiscal 

year 2003 for school readiness that include standards for 

language, prereading and premathematics development for 

prekindergarten that are aligned with State kindergarten 

through twelfth grade academic content standards and 

which shall apply to all programs receiving funds under 

this part or provides an assurance that such standards will 

be aligned by the end of the second fiscal year of participation. 

‘‘(C) State and locally appropriated funds for prekindergarten services and Head Start services in the base year 

under this section shall not be less than 50 percent of the 

Federal funds that the grantees in the State received 

under this Act in the base year for services to Head Start 

eligible children, excluding amounts for services provided 

under section 645A. 

‘‘(D) The State has established a means for inter-agency 

coordination and collaboration in the development of the 

plan under subsection (h). 

‘‘(b) LEAD AGENCY.—A program under this section shall be administered by a State governmental entity designated by the Chief 

Executive Officer of the State as the lead State agency. 

‘‘(c) STATE OPERATION OF PROGRAM.—The State may conduct all 

or any part of the program under this section (including the activities specified in subsection (g)) directly or by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement. 

‘‘(d) TRANSITION.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For 60 months after the effective date of 

this section, the State shall continue to provide funds to each 

local grantee who—

‘‘(A) was receiving funds under this subchapter, as in effect prior to the date of enactment of this section, and 

‘‘(B) is serving the geographic area covered by the plan 

in section 643A(h). 

Such continuing grants shall be made in accordance with the 

terms of the grant made to the local grantee immediately prior 

to such date of enactment. This paragraph shall not apply to 

28

a grant applicant who has experienced substantial uncorrected 

deficiencies on Department of Health and Human Services 

monitoring reports during any year of the most recent 5-year 

period, or to a grantee that, as determined by the State, does 

not comply with the State plan described in subsection 643A(h) 

submitted to the Secretary. 

‘‘(e) FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.— ‘‘(1) ALLOCATION OF FEDERAL ALLOTMENTS TO STATE PRO- GRAMS.—From each total amount described in paragraph (2) 

allotted to a State for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall pay to 

a State with a program approved under this section for such 

fiscal year an amount equal to—

‘‘(A) if the State program is statewide, 100 percent of 

such total amount; and 

‘‘(B) if the State program is limited to a geographic area 

or areas, the sum of—

‘‘(i) an amount equal to the amount received by 

grantees in such geographic area or areas for the Federal fiscal year preceding the first fiscal year of the 

State program under this section; plus 

‘‘(ii) an amount bearing the same ratio to the excess 

(if any) above the total amount for such preceding fiscal year as the number of children less than 5 years 

of age from families whose income is below the poverty 

line in the geographic area or areas included in the 

program bears to the total number of such children in 

the State (as determined using the same data used 

pursuant to section 640(a)(4)(B)). 

‘‘(2) FUNDS ALLOCATED.—For purposes of paragraph (1), 

amounts described in this paragraph are: 

‘‘(A) BASIC STATE ALLOTMENTS.—Amounts allotted to 

States pursuant to section 640(a)(4), including amounts reserved pursuant to section 640(a)(5), excluding amounts 

for services provided under section 645A. 

‘‘(B) STATE ALLOTMENTS OF EXPANSION FUNDS.—Amounts 

allotted to States pursuant to section 640(a)(3)(D)(i)(I) for 

program expansion. 

‘‘(C) QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FUNDS.—Quality improvement funds (if any) reserved pursuant to section 640(a)(3). 

‘‘(D) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS.—An 

amount bearing the same ratio to the amount set aside for 

training and technical assistance activities pursuant to 

section 640(a)(2)(C)(i) and (ii) as the State’s share of 

amounts allotted under section 640(a)(4)(B) bears to the 

total amount so allotted (and for purposes of subparagraph 

(A), such amount shall be considered an amount allotted 

to the State for the fiscal year). 

‘‘(3) NON-FEDERAL MATCH.—(A) In determining the amount of 

Federal and non-Federal contributions for purposes of this section, the amounts required to be expended by the State under 

subsection (h)(14)(B) (relating to maintenance of effort) shall be 

excluded. 

‘‘(B) Financial assistance made available to a State under 

this subchapter shall be in an amount equal to 95 percent of 

the total amount expended for such programs. The Secretary 

29

shall require non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to 

5 percent of the total amount expended under this subchapter 

for such programs. 

‘‘(C) Non-Federal contributions may be made in cash or in 

kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services. 

‘‘(4) COMBINED OPERATIONS WITH OTHER EARLY CHILDHOOD

EDUCATION PROGRAMS.—A State may combine funds for a program under this section with funds for other early childhood 

programs serving children in the same age group, as long as 

all applicable requirements of this subchapter are met with respect to either—

‘‘(A) the entire combined program; or 

‘‘(B) each child served in such combined program for 

whom the services provided are funded from appropriations under this subchapter or non-Federal matching contributions under this subchapter. 

‘‘(5) USE OF FUNDS WITHOUT REGARD TO ALLOTMENT PUR- POSES.—A State may use funds received pursuant to this section for any program purpose set forth in section 636, without 

regard to the purposes for such funds specified in section 640. 

‘‘(6) OTHER FUNDS.—Funds received under this section shall 

not supplant any non-Federal, State or local funds that would 

otherwise be used for activities authorized under this section 

or similar activities carried out in the State. 

‘‘(f) COORDINATION AND CHOICE.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State demonstration Program shall be 

coordinated with the education programs of local educational 

agencies in the State to ensure that the program is effectively 

designed to develop in children in the program the knowledge 

and behaviors necessary to transition successfully to kindergarten and to succeed in school. 

‘‘(2) PROGRAMS CONCERNED.—

‘‘(A) REQUIRED PROGRAMS.—Such coordination shall 

occur regarding the implementation of the following: 

‘‘(i) The Early Reading First and Even Start programs under title I, part B, subparts 2 and 3 of the 

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and 

other preschool programs carried out under title I of 

that Act. 

‘‘(ii) State prekindergarten programs. 

‘‘(iii) The Ready-to-Learn Television Program under 

subpart 3 of Part D of title II of the Elementary and 

Secondary Education Act. 

‘‘(B) OPTIONAL PROGRAMS.—Such coordination may occur 

regarding the implementation of the following: 

‘‘(i) Programs under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act. 

‘‘(ii) Other publicly funded early childhood education 

programs. 

‘‘(3) PARENTAL CHOICE.—The program shall allow parents to 

choose the preschool program for their child. 

‘‘(g) REQUIRED SERVICES.—With funds under this section, the 

State shall provide services described in section 641A at least as 

extensive as were provided, and to at least as many low-income 

children and families in each fiscal year as were provided such 

30

services, with such funds in the base year in the State (or, if applicable, in the geographic area included in the State program). A program under this section shall include the following comprehensive 

activities designed to promote school readiness and success in 

school: 

‘‘(1) CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION.—Activities with 

enrolled children that promote—

‘‘(A) cognitive development, language development, 

prereading, and premathematics knowledge and skills; 

‘‘(B) physical development, health, and nutrition (including through coordination with, and referral of children and 

families to local health service entities; and 

‘‘(C) social development important for environments constructive for child development, early learning, and school 

success. 

‘‘(2) PARENT EDUCATION AND INVOLVEMENT.—Activities with 

the parents of enrolled children directed at enhancing and encouraging—

‘‘(A) involvement in, and ability to support, their children’s educational development; 

‘‘(B) parenting skills and understanding of child development; and 

‘‘(C) ability to participate effectively in decisions relating 

to the education of their children. 

‘‘(3) SOCIAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES.—Activities directed at securing appropriate social and family support services for enrolled children and their families, primarily through 

referral and coordination with local, State, and Federal entities 

that provide such services. 

‘‘(4) HEAD START SERVICES.—For purposes of paragraph (1) 

Head Start services furnished in a State program under this 

section shall include all Head Start services, other than—

‘‘(A) Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs supported with funds reserved 

under section 640(a)(2)(A); and 

‘‘(B) Early Head Start services provided under section 

645A. 

‘‘(h) STATE PLAN.—A State proposing to administer a program 

under this section shall submit a State plan to the Secretary. The 

State plan shall include the following: 

‘‘(1) LEAD STATE AGENCY.—The plan shall identify the entity 

designated by the Chief Executive Officer of the State as the 

lead State agency. 

‘‘(2) GEOGRAPHIC AREA.—The plan shall specify whether the 

program is statewide, and, if it is not, identify the geographic 

area or areas covered by the plan. A geographic area may be 

a city, county, standard metropolitan statistical area, or such 

other geographic area in the State. 

‘‘(3) PROGRAM PERIOD.—A State program under this section 

shall be in effect for 5 Federal fiscal years. 

‘‘(4) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION.—The plan shall describe the 

services under subsection (f) to be provided in the program and 

arrangements the State proposes to use to provide the services 

specified in subsection (g), including how the State will leverage existing delivery systems for such services. 

31

‘‘(5) NEEDS ASSESSMENT.—The plan shall describe the results 

of a State needs assessment and shall provide an assurance 

that the State will use the results to identify the needs for 

early childhood education services within a State or geographic 

area to be served and is targeting services to those areas of 

greatest need and to expand and improve services to disadvantaged children in the State. 

‘‘(6) ASSURANCE OF COMPLIANCE.—The plan shall provide an 

assurance that the State program will comply with the requirements of this section, including each of the following: 

‘‘(A) PRIORITY FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN.—Requirements established pursuant to section 645(a) concerning 

the eligibility and priority of individuals for participation 

in Head Start programs. 

‘‘(B) CONTINUATION FOR EXISTING PROVIDERS.—An applicant who received funds under this subchapter in prior fiscal years and has not corrected any substantial deficiencies identified in the past 5 years shall not be eligible 

to receive any grants, contract, or cooperative agreements 

under this section. 

‘‘(C) PARTICIPATION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.—

Requirements pursuant to section 640(d) concerning Head 

Start enrollment opportunities and services for children 

with disabilities. 

‘‘(D) PROVISIONS CONCERNING FEES AND COPAYMENTS.—

The provisions of section 645(b) concerning the charging of 

fees and the circumstances under which copayments are 

permissible. 

‘‘(E) FEDERAL SHARE; STATE AND LOCAL MATCHING.—The 

provisions of section 640(b) limiting Federal financial assistance for Head Start programs, and providing for nonFederal contributions. 

‘‘(F) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The provisions of section 

644(b) limiting the share of program funds that may be 

used for developing and administering a program. 

‘‘(G) FEDERAL PROPERTY INTEREST.—Applicable provisions of this subchapter regarding the Federal Government 

interest in property (including real property) purchased, 

leased, or renovated with Federal funds. 

‘‘(7) IDENTIFICATION OF BARRIERS.—The plan shall identify 

barriers in the State to the effective use of Federal, State, and 

local public funds, and private funds, for early education and 

care that are available to the State on the date on which the 

application is submitted. 

‘‘(8) STATE GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL READINESS.—The plan 

shall include—

‘‘(A) a State definition of school readiness; 

‘‘(B) a description of the State’s general goals for school 

readiness, including how the State intends to—

‘‘(i) promote and maintain ongoing communication 

and collaboration between providers of early care and 

education and local educational agencies in the State; 

‘‘(ii) align early childhood and kindergarten curricula to ensure program continuity; and 

32

‘‘(iii) ensure that children successfully transition to 

kindergarten. 

‘‘(9) TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS.—The plan shall assure that 

the qualifications and credentials for early childhood teachers 

meet or exceed the standards in section 648A(a)(2)(A), (B), and 

(C). 

‘‘(10) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.—The plan shall provide a 

description of the State plan for assuring the ongoing professional development of early childhood educators and administrators including how the State intends to—

‘‘(A) improve the competencies of early childhood educators in meeting the cognitive and other developmental 

needs of young children through effective instructional 

strategies, methods, and skills; 

‘‘(B) develop and implement initiatives to effectively recruit and promote the retention of well-qualified early 

childhood educators; 

‘‘(C) encourage institutions of higher education, providers of community-based training, and other qualified 

providers to develop high-quality programs to prepare students to be early childhood education professionals; and 

‘‘(D) improve the quality of professional development 

available to meet the needs of teachers that serve preschool children. 

‘‘(11) QUALITY STANDARDS.—The State shall describe the 

State’s standards, applicable to all agencies, programs, and 

projects that receive funds under this subchapter, including a 

description of—

‘‘(A) standards with respect to services required to be 

provided, including health, parental involvement, nutritional, social, transition activities described in section 

642(d) of this subchapter, and other services; 

‘‘(B)(i) education standards to promote the school readiness of children participating in a State program under 

Title II of this subchapter; and 

‘‘(ii) additional education standards to ensure that the 

children participating in the program, at a minimum develop and demonstrate—

‘‘(I) language skills; 

‘‘(II) prereading knowledge and skills, including interest in and appreciation of books, reading and writing either alone or with others; 

‘‘(III) premathematics knowledge and skills, including aspects of classification, seriation, number, spatial 

relations, and time; 

‘‘(IV) cognitive abilities related to academic achievement; 

‘‘(V) social development important for environments 

constructive for child development, early learning, and 

school success; and 

‘‘(VI) in the case of limited-English proficient children, progress toward acquisition of the English language; 

‘‘(C) the State’s minimum standards for early childhood 

teacher credentials and qualifications; 

33

‘‘(D) the student-teacher ratio for each age-group served; 

‘‘(E) administrative and financial management standards; 

‘‘(F) standards relating to the condition and location of 

facilities for such agencies, programs, and projects; and 

‘‘(G) such other standards as the State finds to be appropriate. 

‘‘(12) STATE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The State plan shall—

‘‘(i) ensure that individual providers are achieving 

results in advancing the knowledge and behaviors 

identified by the State as prerequisites for kindergarten success; and 

‘‘(ii) specify the measures the State will use to evaluate the progress toward achieving such results and the 

effectiveness of the State program under this section, 

and of individual providers in such program. 

‘‘(B) PUBLICATION OF RESULTS.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause (ii), the results 

shall be made publicly available in the communities 

served by the program. 

‘‘(ii) CONFIDENTIALITY SAFEGUARDS.—The system 

shall have in effect privacy safeguards ensuring that 

information on children included in data and results 

made public in accordance with clause (i) shall be in 

aggregated form, and shall not include information allowing identification of individual children. 

‘‘(13) TRANSITION PLAN.—The initial State plan shall make 

provision for transition from the direct Federal program under 

section 640 to the demonstration program. 

‘‘(14) COOPERATION WITH RESEARCH STUDIES.—The plan shall 

provide assurances that the State will cooperate with research 

activities described in section 649. 

‘‘(15) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.—The State plan shall—

‘‘(A) contain a commitment to provide data, at such 

times and in such format as the Secretary requires, concerning non-Federal expenditures and numbers of children 

and families served in preschool and Head Start programs 

during the base year and each fiscal year covered under 

the State plan, sufficient to satisfy the Secretary that the 

State program will meet its obligation with respect to the 

maintenance of effort requirement under subparagraph 

(B); and 

‘‘(B) assure that the resources (which may be cash or inkind) contributed by the State government to child care for 

preschool-aged children and other preschool programs, including Head Start, in the State (or, if applicable, in the 

geographic area included in the State program) for each 

fiscal year in which the program under this section is in 

effect shall be in an amount at least equal to the total 

amount of such State governmental resources contributed 

to support such programs in the State (or geographic area) 

for the base year. 

‘‘(16) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The State plan 

shall describe the training and technical assistance activities 

34

that shall provide high quality, sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused training and technical assistance in order to have 

a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction. 

‘‘(i) RECORDS, REPORTS AND AUDITS.—The State agency administering the State program, and each entity participating as a Head 

Start service provider, shall maintain such records, make such reports, and cooperate with such audits as the Secretary may require 

for oversight of program activities and expenditures. 

‘‘(j) INAPPLICABILITY OF PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRIORITY IN

AGENCY DESIGNATION.—The provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of 

section 641 (concerning priority in designation of Head Start agencies, successor agencies, and delegate agencies) shall not apply to 

a State program under this section. 

‘‘(k) CONSULTATION.—A State proposing to administer a program 

under this section shall submit, with the plan under this section, 

assurances that the plan was developed through timely and meaningful consultation with appropriate public and private sector entities, including—

‘‘(1) representatives of agencies responsible for administering 

early education and care programs in the State, including 

Head Start providers; 

‘‘(2) parents; 

‘‘(3) the State educational agency and local educational agencies; 

‘‘(4) early childhood education professionals; 

‘‘(5) kindergarten teachers and teachers in grades 1 through 

4; 

‘‘(6) child welfare agencies; 

‘‘(7) child care resource and referral agencies; 

‘‘(8) child care providers; and 

‘‘(9) a wide array of persons interested in and involved with 

early care and early education issues in the State, such as representatives of—

‘‘(A) health care professionals; 

‘‘(B) the State agency with responsibility for the special 

supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and 

children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition 

Act of 1966; 

‘‘(C) institutions of higher education; 

‘‘(D) community-based and faith-based organizations; 

‘‘(E) the business community; 

‘‘(F) State legislators and local officials; 

‘‘(G) museums and libraries; 

‘‘(H) other relevant entities in the State; and 

‘‘(I) other agencies that provide resources for young children. 

‘‘(l) STATE PLAN SUBMISSION.—An application shall be submitted 

by a State pursuant to this section to the Secretary, in consultation 

with the Secretary of Education, and shall be deemed to be approved by the Secretary unless the Secretary makes a written determination, prior to the expiration of a reasonable time beginning 

on the date on which the Secretary received the application, that 

the application is not in compliance with this section. 

‘‘(m) TREATMENT OF FUNDS.—If a State or local government contributes its own funds to supplement activities carried out under 

35

the applicable programs, the State or local government has the option to separate out the Federal funds or commingle them. If the 

funds are commingled, the provisions of this subchapter shall apply 

to all of the commingled funds in the same manner, and to the 

same extent, as the provisions apply to the Federal funds. 

‘‘(n) FEDERAL OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY; CORRECTIVE ACTION; WITHDRAWAL OF APPROVAL.—

‘‘(1) FEDERAL OVERSIGHT.—The Secretary shall retain the authority to oversee the operation of the State program under 

this section, including through review of records and reports, 

audits, and onsite inspection of records and facilities and monitoring of program activities and operations. 

‘‘(2) CORRECTION OF DEFICIENCIES.—If the Secretary determines that a State program under this section substantially 

fails to meet the requirements of this section, the Secretary 

shall notify the State of the deficiencies identified and require 

corrective action as follows: 

‘‘(A) DEFICIENCIES CAUSING IMMEDIATE JEOPARDY.—The 

Secretary shall require immediate corrective action to 

eliminate a deficiency that the Secretary finds threatens 

the health or safety of staff or program participants or 

poses a threat to the integrity of Federal funds. 

‘‘(B) OTHER DEFICIENCIES.—The Secretary, taking into 

consideration the nature and magnitude of a deficiency not 

described in subparagraph (A), and the time reasonably required for correction, may—

‘‘(i) require the State to correct the deficiency within 

90 days after notification under this paragraph; or 

‘‘(ii) require the State to implement a quality improvement plan designed to correct the deficiency 

within one year from identification of the deficiency. 

‘‘(3) WITHDRAWAL OF APPROVAL.—If the deficiencies identified 

under paragraph (2) are not corrected by the deadlines established by the Secretary, the Secretary shall initiate proceedings 

to withdraw approval of the State program under this section. 

‘‘(4) PROCEDURAL RIGHTS.—A State subject to adverse action 

under this subsection shall have the same procedural rights as 

a Head Start agency subject to adverse action under section 

641A. 

‘‘(o) INDEPENDENT EVALUATION.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall contract with an independent organization outside of the Department to design and 

conduct a multi-year, rigorous, scientifically valid, quantitative 

evaluation of the State demonstration program. 

‘‘(2) PROCESS.—The Secretary shall award a contract within 

180 days of the date of enactment of the School Readiness Act 

of 2003, to an organization that is capable of designing and 

carrying out an independent evaluation described in this subsection. 

‘‘(3) ANALYSIS.—The evaluation shall include an analysis of 

each State participating in the State demonstration program, 

including—

‘‘(A) A quantitative description of the State prekindergarten program and Head Start programs within such 

36

State, as such programs existed prior to participation in 

the State demonstration program, including: 

‘‘(i) data on the characteristics of the children 

served, including the overall number and percentages 

of children served disaggregated by socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity of those served; 

‘‘(ii) the quality and characteristics of the services 

provided to such children; and 

‘‘(iii) the education attainment of instructional staff. 

‘‘(B) A quantitative and qualitative description of the 

State program after each year of participation in the State 

demonstration, which shall include each of the following: 

‘‘(i) A description of changes in the administration of 

the State program, including the Head Start program, 

within such State. 

‘‘(ii) The rate of progress of the State in improving 

the school readiness of disadvantaged children in the 

key domains of development. 

‘‘(iii) Data as described in subparagraph (A), as updated annually. 

‘‘(iv) The extent to which each State has met the 

goals established by such State with respect to annual 

goals as described under section 643(h)(10). 

‘‘(4) REPORT.—(A) The Secretary shall provide an interim report on the progress of such evaluation and of the progress of 

States participating in the State demonstration in increasing 

the availability of high quality prekindergarten services for 

low-income children not later than October 1, 2006 to the Committee on Education and the Workforce in the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 

and Pensions in the Senate. 

‘‘(B) The Secretary shall provide a final report to the Committee on Education and the Workforce in the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 

and Pensions in the Senate, not later than October 1, 2007, 

which shall include an overall evaluation of the State demonstration program, including an assessment of its success in 

increasing the overall availability of high quality prekindergarten services for low income children in each of the participating States as compared to a representative sample of nonparticipating States. 

‘‘(p) STATE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT.—Following the submission of an application fulfilling all requirements of this section, a 

State that meets all eligibility requirements set forth in section 

643A(a)(2) and is selected by the Secretary to participate in the 

demonstration program under this section shall: 

‘‘(1) maintain or increase fiscal year 2003 State funding levels for early childhood education; 

‘‘(2) provide an additional contribution of non-federal funds 

equal to five percent of the State’s federal Head Start allotment; 

‘‘(3) use Head Start funding only for the purposes of Head 

Start as described in section 636; 

‘‘(4) provide all comprehensive social services currently available to Head Start children, including health and nutrition; 

37

‘‘(5) develop a strategy to maximize parental involvement to 

enable parents to become full partners in the education of their 

children; 

‘‘(6) demonstrate that the qualifications and credentials for 

early childhood teachers meet or exceed the standards in section 648A(a)(2)(A), (B), and (C); 

‘‘(7) enforce quality standards for school readiness that are 

aligned with K-12 educational standards and generally meet or 

exceed the Federal Head Start performance standards; 

‘‘(8) continue funding, for a period of 60 months, all current 

Head Start grantees as described in section 643A(d); 

‘‘(9) provide services described in section 641A that are at 

least as extensive as were provided, and to at least as many 

low-income children and families in the State, in each fiscal 

year as were provided such services in the base year; 

‘‘(10) establish a comprehensive collaboration effort to integrate Head Start, state-funded pre-kindergarten programs, 

Even Start, Title I preschool, and Early Reading First; 

‘‘(11) participate in independent evaluations of the demonstration program authorized under this subchapter; and 

‘‘(12) submit to Federal oversight by the Secretary.’’. 

‘‘(q) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘base 

year’ means the fiscal year 2003.’’.

PART B—TEXT OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER UNDER 

THE RULE 

1. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE WOOLSEY

OF CALIFORNIA, OR HER DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 20 MINUTES

Page 57, strike lines 6 through 14. 

2. AN AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE MILLER OF CALIFORNIA, OR

HIS DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR ONE HOUR

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘School Readiness Act of 2003’’. 

SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

Section 636 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831) is amended 

to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 636. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. 

‘‘It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote school readiness 

by enhancing the development of low-income children, through educational instruction in prereading skills, premathematics skills, 

and language, and through the provision to low-income children 

and their families of health, educational, nutritional, social and 

other services that are determined, based on family needs assessments, to be necessary.’’. 

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

Section 637 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9832) is amended 

as follows: 

38

(1) In paragraph (17) by striking ‘‘, but for fiscal years’’ and 

all that follows down to the period. 

(2) By adding the following at the end thereof: 

‘‘(18) The term ‘eligible entities’ means an institution of higher education or other agency with expertise in delivering training in early childhood development, family support, and other 

assistance designed to improve the quality of early childhood 

educations programs. 

‘‘(19) The term ‘homeless children’ has the meaning given 

such term in subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento 

Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.).’’. 

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION. 

Section 639 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9834) is amended 

to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 639. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out the provisions of this subchapter $6,870,000,000 for 

the fiscal year 2004 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal 

years 2005 through 2008. 

‘‘(b) SPECIFIC PROGRAMS.—From the amount appropriated under 

subsection (a), the Secretary shall make available not more than 

$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2008, to carry out such 

other research, demonstration, and evaluation activities, including 

longitudinal studies, under section 649. 

‘‘(1) not more than $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 

through 2008 to carry out impact studies under section 649(g); 

and 

‘‘(2) not more than $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such 

sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2005 through 

2008, to carry out other research, demonstration, and evaluation activities, including longitudinal studies, under section 

649. 

‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008 to 

assist participating States with the administrative expenses associated with implementing a program under section 643A.’’. 

SEC. 5. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS; LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE. 

Section 640 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) In subsection (a)(2): 

(A) By striking ‘‘1998’’ in subparagraph (A) and inserting 

‘‘2003’’. 

(B) By amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows: 

‘‘(B) payments, subject to paragraph (7) to Guam, American 

Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

and the Virgin Islands of the United States;’’. 

(2) By striking the last sentence of paragraph (2) of subsection (a). 

(3)(A) By amending subsection (a)(2)(C) to read as follows: 

‘‘(C) training and technical assistance activities that are sufficient to meet the needs associated with program expansion 

and to foster program and management improvement as described in section 648 of this subchapter, in an amount for 

39

each fiscal year which is not less than one percent, and shall 

not exceed 2 percent, of the amount appropriated for such fiscal year, of which—

‘‘(i) not less than 50 percent shall be made available to 

local Head Start agencies to comply with the standards described in section 641A(a)(1), of which not less than 50 

percent shall be used to comply with the standards described in section 641A(a)(1)(B) and for the uses described 

in clauses (iii), (iv), and (vii) of subsection (a)(3)(B); 

‘‘(ii) not less than 30 percent shall be made available to 

support a State system of early childhood education training and technical assistance; 

‘‘(iii) not less than 20 percent shall be made available to 

the Secretary to assist local programs in meeting the 

standards described in section 641A(a)(1); and 

‘‘(iv) not less than $3,000,000 of the amount in clause 

(iii) appropriated for such fiscal year shall be made available to carry out activities described in section 648(c)(4);’’. 

(B) By inserting the following at the end of subsection (a)(2): 

‘‘If less than 2 percent of the amount appropriated for such fiscal 

year is made available for the activities authorized in subparagraph (C), then the Secretary is authorized to use at least 25 percent of such funds to fund migrant and seasonal Head Start programs for expansion of services. If sufficient migrant and seasonal 

eligible children are not available to use such funds, then enrollment priority shall be given to other disadvantaged populations referred to in subparagraph (A).’’. 

(4) In subsection (a)(3)(A) by inserting at the end thereof: 

‘‘(iii) After the reservation of amounts under paragraph 

(2)(including the 2 percent amount referred to in paragraph (2)(C)) 

and the 60 percent amount referred to in subparagraph (A) of this 

paragraph, a portion of the remaining funds shall be made available to expand services to underserved populations, such as children receiving services under the Early Head Start and Migrant 

and Seasonal Head Start programs.’’. 

(5) In subsection (a)(3)(A)(i)(I) by striking ‘‘1999’’ and all that 

follows down to the semicolon and inserting ‘‘2004 through 

2008’’. 

(6) By amending subsection (a)(3)(B) to read as follows: 

‘‘(B) Funds reserved under this paragraph (referred to in this 

paragraph as ‘quality improvement funds’) shall be used to accomplish any or all of the following goals: 

‘‘(i) Ensuring that Head Start programs meet or exceed 

standards pursuant to section 641A(a)(1). 

‘‘(ii) Ensuring that such programs have adequate numbers of 

qualified staff, and that such staff is furnished adequate training, including developing skills to promote the development of 

language skills, premathematic skills, and prereading in young 

children and in working with children with non-English language background, children referred by child welfare services, 

and children with disabilities, when appropriate. 

‘‘(iii) Developing and financing the salary scales described 

under section 644(a) and section 653, in order to ensure that 

salary levels and benefits are adequate to attract and retain 

qualified staff for such programs. 

40

‘‘(iv) Using salary increases to improve staff qualifications, 

and to assist with the implementation of programs specifically 

designed to enable lead instructors to become more effective 

educators, for the staff of Head Start programs, and to encourage the staff to continually improve their skills and expertise 

by informing the staff of the availability of Federal and State 

incentive and loan forgiveness programs for professional development. 

‘‘(v) Improving community-wide strategic planning and needs 

assessments for such programs and collaboration efforts for 

such programs, including collaborations to increase program 

participation by underserved populations of eligible children. 

‘‘(vi) Ensuring that the physical environments of Head Start 

programs are conducive to providing effective program services 

to children and families, and are accessible to children with 

disabilities and their parents. 

‘‘(vii) Ensuring that such programs have qualified staff that 

can promote language skills and literacy growth of children 

and that can provide children with a variety of skills that have 

been identified, through scientifically based reading research, 

as predictive of later reading achievement. 

‘‘(viii) Providing assistance to complete post-secondary course 

work needed to attain baccalaureate degrees in early childhood 

education. 

‘‘(ix) Making such other improvements in the quality of such 

programs as the Secretary may designate. 

‘‘(x) To promote the regular attendance and stability of highly mobile children, including migrant and homeless children.’’. 

(7) By amending subsection (a)(3)(C) to read as follows: 

‘‘(C) Quality improvement funds shall be used to carry out any 

or all of the following activities: 

‘‘(i)(I) Not less than one-half of the amount reserved under 

this paragraph, to improve the compensation (including benefits) of classroom teachers and other staff of Head Start agencies providing instructional services and thereby enhancing recruitment and retention of qualified staff, including recruitment and retention pursuant to achieving the requirements set 

forth in section 648A(a). The expenditure of funds under this 

clause shall be subject to section 653. Salary increases, in excess of cost-of-living allowance, provided with such funds shall 

be subject to the specific standards governing salaries and salary increases established pursuant to section 644(a). 

‘‘(II) If a Head Start agency certifies to the Secretary for 

such fiscal year that part of the funds set aside under subclause (I) to improve wages cannot be expended by such agency 

to improve wages because of the operation of section 653, then 

such agency may expend such part for any of the uses specified 

in this subparagraph (other than wages). 

‘‘(III) From the remainder of the amount reserved under this 

paragraph (after the Secretary carries out subclause (I)), the 

Secretary shall carry out any or all of the activities described 

in clauses (ii) through (vii), placing the highest priority on the 

activities described in clause (ii). 

41

‘‘(ii) To train classroom teachers and other staff to meet the 

education standards described in section 641A(a)(1)(B), 

through activities—

‘‘(I) to promote children’s language and prereading 

growth, through techniques identified through scientifically based reading research; 

‘‘(II) to promote the acquisition of the English language 

for non-English background children and families; 

‘‘(III) to foster children’s school readiness skills through 

activities described in section 648A(a)(1); and 

‘‘(IV) to educate and provide training necessary to improve the qualifications particularly with respect to such 

assistance to enable more instructors 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 problems of children participating in 

Head Start programs, including children from dysfunctional families, children who experience chronic violence in 

their communities, and children who experience substance 

abuse in their families. 

‘‘(iii) To employ additional Head Start staff, including staff 

necessary to reduce the child-staff ratio lead instructors who 

meet the qualifications of section 648A(a) and staff necessary 

to coordinate a Head Start program with other services available to children participating in such program and to their 

families. 

‘‘(iv) To pay costs incurred by Head Start agencies to purchase insurance (other than employee benefits) and thereby 

maintain or expand Head Start services. 

‘‘(v) To supplement amounts provided under paragraph (2)(C) 

to provide training necessary to improve the qualifications of 

the staff of the Head Start agencies, and to support staff training, child counseling, and other services necessary to address 

the problems of children participating in Head Start programs, 

including children from dysfunctional families, children who 

experience chronic violence in their communities, and children 

who experience substance abuse in their families. 

‘‘(vi) To conduct outreach to homeless families in an effort to 

increase the program participation of eligible homeless children. 

‘‘(vii) Such other activities as the Secretary may designate. 

‘‘(viii) To conduct outreach to migrant and seasonal farmworking families and families with children with a limited 

English proficiency.’’. 

(8) In subsection (a)(4) by striking ‘‘1998’’ in subparagraph 

(A) and inserting ‘‘2003’’. 

(9) In subsection (a)(5)(B)—

(A) by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’; and 

(B) by inserting ‘‘early childhood education’’ after ‘‘regarding’’. 

(10) By amending subsection (a)(5)(C) to read as follows: 

‘‘(C) In order to improve results for children, a State that receives 

a grant under subparagraph (B) shall—

‘‘(i) appoint an individual to serve as the State Director of 

Collaboration between—

42

‘‘(I) the appropriate regional office of the Administration 

for Children and Families; 

‘‘(II) the State educational agency; 

‘‘(III) the State Department of Health and Human Services; 

‘‘(IV) the State agency that oversees child care; 

‘‘(V) the State agency that assists children with developmental disabilities; 

‘‘(VI) the State Head Start Association; 

‘‘(VII) the State network of child care resource and referral agencies; 

‘‘(VIII) local educational agencies; 

‘‘(IX) community-based and faith-based organizations; 

‘‘(X) State representatives of migrant and seasonal Head 

Start programs; 

‘‘(XI) State representatives of Indian Head Start programs; 

‘‘(XII) State and local providers of early childhood education and child care; and 

‘‘(XIII) other entities carrying out programs serving lowincome children and families in the State; 

‘‘(ii) ensure that the State Director of Collaboration holds a 

position with sufficient authority and access to ensure that the 

collaboration described in subparagraph (B) is effective and involves a range of State agencies; 

‘‘(iii) involve the entities described in section clause (i) to develop a strategic plan for the coordinated outreach to identify 

eligible children and implementation strategies based on a 

needs assessment conducted by the Office of the State Director 

of Collaboration which shall include an assessment of the 

availability of high quality prekindergarten services for low-income children in the State. Such assessment shall be completed within one year after the date of enactment of the 

‘School Readiness Act of 2003’ and be updated on an annual 

basis and shall be made available to the general public within 

the State; 

‘‘(iv) ensure that the collaboration described in subparagraph 

(B) involves coordination of Head Start services with health 

care, welfare, child care, child protective services, education, 

and community service activities, family literacy services, activities relating to children with disabilities (including coordination of services with those State officials who are responsible 

for administering part C and section 619 of the Individuals 

with Disabilities Education Act), and services for homeless 

children (including coordination of services with the Office of 

Coordinator for Education of Homeless Children and Youth 

designated under section 722 (g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinneyVento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 

2001; 

‘‘(v) consult with the chief State school officer, local educational agencies, and representatives of local Head Start 

agencies and providers of early childhood education and care in 

unified planning regarding early care and education services at 

both the State and local levels, including collaborative efforts 

to develop school readiness standards; and 

43

‘‘(vi) consult with the chief State school officer, local educational agencies, State child care administrators, State human 

services administrators, representatives of local resource and 

referral agencies, local early childhood councils, providers of 

early childhood education and care and other relevant State 

and local agencies, and representatives of the State Head Start 

Associations to plan for the provision of full-working-day, full 

calendar year early care and education services for children.’’. 

(11) By amending clause (i) of subsection (a)(5)(D) by inserting ‘‘and providers of services supporting early childhood education and child care’’ after ‘‘Associations’’. 

(12) By amending subsection (a)(6)(A) to read as follows: 

‘‘(A) From amounts reserved and allotted pursuant to paragraphs 

(2) and (4), the Secretary shall use, for grants for programs described in section 645A(a) of this subchapter, a portion of the combined total of such amounts equal to at least 10 percent for fiscal 

years 2004 through 2008, of the amount appropriated pursuant to 

section 639(a), except as provided in subparagraph (B).’’

(13) By inserting the following before the period at the end 

of subsection (f): ‘‘, including models that leverage the existing 

capacity and capabilities of the delivery system of early childhood education and child care’’. 

(14) By inserting the following after ‘‘manner that will’’ in 

subsection (g)(2)(G): ‘‘leverage the existing delivery systems of 

such services and’’. 

(15) By amending subsection (g)(2)(C) to read as follows: 

‘‘(C) the extent to which the applicant has undertaken community-wide strategic planning and needs assessments involving other community organizations and 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 organizations and public entities serving children with disabilities and homeless children (including the local educational 

agency liaison designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the 

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001);’’. 

(16) By inserting in subsection (g)(2)(H) after ‘‘serving the 

community involved’’ the following: ‘‘, including the liaison designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento 

Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001,’’. 

(17) By adding the following new subsections at the end 

thereof: 

‘‘(m) ENROLLMENT OF HOMELESS CHILDREN.—The Secretary shall 

by regulation prescribe policies and procedures to remove barriers 

to the enrollment and participation of eligible homeless children in 

Head Start programs. Such regulations shall require Head Start 

agencies to: 

‘‘(1) implement policies and procedures to ensure that eligible 

homeless children are identified and prioritized for enrollment, 

‘‘(2) allow homeless families to apply to, enroll in and attend 

Head Start programs while required documents, such as proof 

of residency, immunization and other medical records, birth 

44

certificates and other documents, are obtained within a reasonable time frame, and 

‘‘(3) coordinate individual Head Start centers and programs 

with efforts to implement Subtitle VII–B of the McKinneyVento Homeless Assistance Act. 

‘‘(n) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed 

to require a State to establish a program of early education for children in the State, to require any child to participate in a program 

of early education, to attend school, or to participate in any initial 

screening prior to participation in such program, except as provided 

under section 612(a)(3), (consistent with section 614(a)(1)(C)), of the 

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 

‘‘(o) MATERIALS.—All curricula and instructional materials funded under this subchapter shall be scientifically based and age appropriate. Parents shall have the ability to inspect, upon request, 

any curricula or instructional materials.’’. 

SEC. 6. DESIGNATION OF AGENCIES. 

Section 641 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) In subsection (a)—

(A) by inserting after ‘‘community’’ in the first place it 

appears ‘‘, including a community-based or faith-based organization’’; 

(B) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(a)’’; 

(C) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; and 

(D) by adding the following at the end thereof: 

‘‘(2) In order to be designated as a Head Start agency and to receive a grant under this subchapter, a grantee shall establish 

grantee-determined goals for improving the school readiness of children participating in a program under this subchapter, which shall 

include goals for—

‘‘(A) educational instruction in prereading, premathematical, 

and language skills; and 

‘‘(B) the provision of health, educational, nutritional, social, 

and other services. 

‘‘(3) In order to receive a grant subsequent to the initial grant 

provided following the date of enactment of this subchapter, the 

grantee shall demonstrate that it has met the goals described in 

paragraph (2). 

‘‘(4) Progress in meeting such goals shall not be measured primarily or solely by the results of assessments.’’

(2) By amending subsection (c) to read as follows: 

‘‘(c) In the administration of the provisions of this section, the 

Secretary shall, in consultation with the chief executive officer of 

the State involved if such State expends non-Federal funds to carry 

out Head Start programs, give priority in the designation of Head 

Start agencies to any local public or private nonprofit or for-profit 

agency which is receiving funds under any Head Start program on 

the date of the enactment of this Act that fulfills the program and 

financial management requirements, standards described in section 

641A(a)(1), results-based performance measures developed by the 

Secretary under section 641A(b), or other requirements established 

by the Secretary.’’. 

(3) By amending subsection (d) to read as follows: 

45

‘‘(d) If no entity in a community is entitled to the priority specified in subsection (c), then the Secretary may designate a Head 

Start agency from among qualified applicants in such community. 

In selecting from among qualified applicants for designation as a 

Head Start agency, the Secretary shall give priority to any qualified agency that functioned as a Head Start delegate agency in the 

community and carried out a Head Start program that the Secretary determines met or exceeded such performance standards 

and such results-based performance measures. 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 capacity of such applicant to serve eligible children 

with scientifically-based programs that promote school readiness of children participating in the program; 

‘‘(3) 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; 

‘‘(4) the plan of such applicant to provide comprehensive 

health, nutritional, educational, social, and other services needed to prepare children to succeed in school; 

‘‘(5) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the Head Start 

program it proposes to carry out with other preschool programs, including Early Reading First and Even Start programs 

under title I, part B, subparts 1 and 2 of the Elementary and 

Secondary Education Act of 1965; other preschool programs 

carried out under title I of the Act; programs under part C and 

section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; 

State prekindergarten programs; and with the educational programs such children will enter at the age of compulsory school 

attendance; 

‘‘(6) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the Head Start 

program it proposes to carry out with private entities with resources available to assist the Head Start Program meet its 

program needs; 

‘‘(7) the plan of such applicant—

‘‘(A) to seek 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, conduct, and overall performance of 

the program at the local level; 

‘‘(C) to offer (directly or through referral to local entities, 

such as entities carrying out Even Start programs under 

part B of chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2741 et seq.), 

public and school libraries, and family support programs) 

to such parents—

‘‘(i) family literacy services; and 

‘‘(ii) parenting skills training; 

46

‘‘(D) to offer to parents of participating children substance abuse counseling (either directly or through referral 

to local entities), including information on drug-exposed infants and fetal alcohol syndrome; 

‘‘(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; 

‘‘(ii) assistance in developing communication skills; 

‘‘(iii) opportunities for parents to share experiences 

with other parents; or 

‘‘(iv) 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 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 out reach to fathers in order to strengthen 

the role of fathers in families by working directly with fathers and father-figures through such activities as including fathers in home visits; implementing father outreach 

efforts, providing opportunities for direct father-child interactions; and targeting increased male participation in the 

program; 

‘‘(8) the ability of such applicant to carry out the plans described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4); 

‘‘(9) other factors related to the requirements of this subchapter; 

‘‘(10) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of nonEnglish background children and their families, including 

needs related to the acquisition of the English language; 

‘‘(11) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of children 

with disabilities; 

‘‘(12) the plan of such applicant who chooses to assist younger siblings of children who will participate in the proposed 

Head Start program to obtain health services from other 

sources; 

‘‘(13) the plan of such applicant to collaborate with other entities carrying out early childhood education and child care 

programs in the community; and 

‘‘(14) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of homeless children.’’. 

SEC. 7. QUALITY STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD START AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS. 

Section 641A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836a) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) In subsection (a)(1)(B) by amending clause (ii) to read as 

follows: 

‘‘(ii) additional education standards to ensure that the 

children participating in the program, at a minimum develop and demonstrate—

‘‘(I) language skills; 

47

‘‘(II) prereading knowledge and skills, including interest in and appreciation of books, reading and writing either alone or with others; 

‘‘(III) premathematics knowledge and skills, including aspects of classification, seriation, number, spatial 

relations, and time; 

‘‘(IV) cognitive abilities related to academic achievement; 

‘‘(V) social and emotional development important for 

environments constructive for child development, early 

learning, and school success; and 

‘‘(VI) in the case of limited-English proficient children, progress toward acquisition of the English language.’’. 

(2) By amending subsection (a)(2)(B) to read as follows: 

‘‘(B) take into consideration—

‘‘(i) past experience with use of the standards in effect under this subchapter on October 27, 1998; 

‘‘(ii) changes over the period since October 27, 1998, 

in the circumstances and problems typically facing 

children and families served by Head Start agencies; 

‘‘(iii) developments concerning best practices with respect to early childhood education and development, 

children with disabilities, family services, program administration, and financial management; 

‘‘(iv) projected needs of an expanding Head Start 

program; 

‘‘(v) guidelines and standards currently in effect or 

under consideration that promote child health services, and projected needs of expanding Head Start programs; 

‘‘(vi) changes in the population of children who are 

eligible to participate in Head Start programs, including the language background and family structure of 

such children; 

‘‘(vii) the need for, and state-of-the-art developments 

relating to, local policies and activities designed to ensure that children participating in Head Start programs make a successful transition to schools; and 

‘‘(viii) the unique challenges faced by individual programs, including those that are seasonal or short 

term, and those that serve rural populations; and’’. 

(3) In subsection (a)(2)(C)(ii) by striking all that follows ‘‘in 

effect on’’ down to the period and inserting ‘‘October 27, 1998’’. 

(4) By amending subsection (b)(2) to read as follows: 

‘‘(2) CHARACTERISTICS OF MEASURES.—The performance 

measures developed under this subsection shall—

‘‘(A) be used to assess the impact of the various services 

provided by Head Start programs and, to the extent the 

Secretary finds appropriate, administrative and financial 

management practices of such programs; 

‘‘(B) be adaptable for use in self-assessment, peer review, 

and program evaluation of individual Head Start agencies 

and programs; 

48

‘‘(C) be developed for other program purposes as determined by the Secretary; 

‘‘(D) be appropriate for the population served; and 

‘‘(E) be reviewed no less than every 4 years, based on advances in the science of early childhood development.

The performance measures shall include the performance 

standards described in subsection (a)(1)(A) and (B).’’. 

(5) By amending subsection (b)(4) to read as follows: 

‘‘(4) EDUCATIONAL MEASURES.—Results based measures shall 

be designed for the purpose of promoting the competencies of 

children participating in Head Start programs specified in subsection (a)(1)(B)(ii), with an emphasis on measuring those competencies that have a strong scientifically-based predictability 

of a child’s school readiness and later performance in school.’’. 

(6) In subsection (c)(1)(C) by striking ‘‘the standards’’ and inserting ‘‘one or more of the performance measures developed by 

the Secretary under subsection (b)’’. 

(7) By amending subsection (c)(2) to read as follows: 

‘‘(2) CONDUCT OF REVIEWS.—The Secretary shall ensure that 

reviews described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1)—

‘‘(A) that incorporate a monitoring visit, do so without 

prior notice of the visit to the local agency or program; 

‘‘(B) are conducted by review teams that shall include individuals who are knowledgeable about Head Start programs and, to the maximum extent practicable, the diverse 

(including linguistic and cultural) needs of eligible children 

(including children with disabilities) and limited-English 

proficient children and their families; 

‘‘(C) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a review and assessment of program effectiveness, as measured in accordance with the results-based performance 

measures developed by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b) and with the standards established pursuant to 

subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(1); 

‘‘(D) seek information from the communities and the 

States involved about the performance of the programs 

and the efforts of the Head Start agencies to collaborate 

with other entities carrying out early childhood education 

and child care programs in the community; 

‘‘(E) seek information from the communities where Head 

Start programs exist about innovative or effective collaborative efforts, barriers to collaboration, and the efforts of 

the Head Start agencies and programs to collaborate with 

the entities carrying out early childhood education and 

child care programs in the community; 

‘‘(F) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a review and assessment of whether a program is in conformity with the income eligibility requirements, as defined in section 645 and regulations promulgated thereunder; 

‘‘(G) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a review and assessment of whether programs have adequately addressed the population and community needs 

(including populations of children with a limited English 

49

proficiency and children of migrant and seasonal farmworking families); and 

‘‘(H) include as part of the review the extent to which 

the program addresses the community needs and strategic 

plan identified in section 640(g)(2)(C).’’. 

(8) By amending so much of subsection (d)(1) as precedes 

subparagraph (A) to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) DETERMINATION.—If the Secretary determines, on the 

basis of a review pursuant to subsection (c), that a Head Start 

agency designated pursuant to section 641 fails to meet the 

standards described in subsection (a) or results-based performance measures developed by the Secretary under subsection 

(b), or fails to adequately address the community needs and 

strategic plan identified in 640(g)(2)(C), the Secretary shall—

’’ (9) By amending subsection (d)(2) to read as follows: 

‘‘(2) QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN.— ‘‘(A) AGENCY AND PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES.—In order 

to retain a designation as a Head Start agency under this 

subchapter, or in the case of a Head Start Program, in 

order to continue to receive funds from such agency, a 

Head Start agency, or Head Start program that is the subject of a determination described in paragraph (1) (other 

than an agency or program required to correct a deficiency 

immediately or during a 90-day period under clause (i) or 

(ii) of paragraph (1)(B)) shall—

‘‘(i) develop in a timely manner, a quality improvement plan which shall be subject to the approval of 

the Secretary, or in the case of a program, the sponsoring agency, and which shall specify—

‘‘(I) the deficiencies to be corrected; 

‘‘(II) the actions to be taken to correct such deficiencies; and 

‘‘(III) the timetable for accomplishment of the 

corrective actions specified; and 

‘‘(ii) eliminate each deficiency identified, not later 

than the date for elimination of such deficiency specified in such plan (which shall not be later than 1 year 

after the date the agency or program received notice 

of the determination and of the specific deficiency to 

be corrected). 

‘‘(B) SECRETARIAL RESPONSIBILITY.—Not later than 30 

days after receiving from a Head Start agency a proposed 

quality improvement plan pursuant to subparagraph (A), 

the Secretary shall either approve such proposed plan or 

specify the reasons why the proposed plan cannot be approved. 

‘‘(C) AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT.—Not later than 30 days after receiving from a Head 

Start program, a proposed quality improvement plan pursuant to subparagraph (A), the sponsoring agency shall either approve such proposed plan or specify the reasons 

why the proposed plan cannot be approved.’’. 

(10) In subsection (d)(3) by inserting ‘‘and programs’’ after 

‘‘agencies’’. 

50

(11) Subsection (e) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(e) SUMMARIES OF MONITORING OUTCOMES.—Not later than 120 

days after the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall publish 

a summary report on the findings of reviews conducted under subsection (c) and on the outcomes of quality improvement plans implemented under subsection (d), during such fiscal year. Such information shall be made available to all parents with students receiving assistance under this Act in a understandable and uniform format, and to the extent practicable, provided in a language that the 

parents can understand, and in addition, make the information 

widely available through public means such as distribution through 

public agencies, and at a minimum posting such information on the 

Internet immediately upon publication.’’. 

SEC. 8. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES. 

Section 642 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837(b)) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) By amending subsection (b) to read as follows: 

‘‘(b) In order to be so designated, a Head Start agency shall 

also—

‘‘(1) establish a program with standards set forth in section 

641A(a)(1), with particular attention to the standards set forth 

in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section; 

‘‘(2) demonstrate capacity to serve eligible children with scientifically-based curricula and other interventions that help 

promote the school readiness of children participating in the 

program; 

‘‘(3) establish effective procedures by which parents and area 

residents concerned will be enabled to directly participate in 

decisions that influence the character of programs affecting 

their interests; 

‘‘(4) provide for their regular participation in the implementation of such programs; 

‘‘(5) provide technical and other support needed to enable 

parents and area residents to secure on their own behalf available assistance from public and private sources; 

‘‘(6) seek the involvement of parents of participating children 

in activities designed to help such parents become full partners 

in the education of their children, and to afford such parents 

the opportunity to participate in the development, conduct, and 

overall performance of the program at the local level; 

‘‘(7) conduct outreach to schools in which Head Start children 

enroll, local educational agencies, the local business community, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, museums, and libraries to generate support and leverage 

the resources of the entire local community in order to improve 

school readiness; 

‘‘(8) offer (directly or through referral to local entities, such 

as entities carrying out Even Start programs under part B of 

chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education 

Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2741 et seq.)), to parents of participating children, family literacy services and parenting skills 

training; 

‘‘(9) offer to parents of participating children substance abuse 

counseling (either directly or through referral to local entities), 

51

including information on drug-exposed infants and fetal alcohol 

syndrome; 

‘‘(10) at the option of such agency, offer (directly or through 

referral to local entities), to such parents—

‘‘(A) training in basic child development; 

‘‘(B) assistance in developing communication skills; 

‘‘(C) opportunities to share experiences with other parents; 

‘‘(D) regular in-home visitation; or 

‘‘(E) any other activity designed to help such parents become full partners in the education of their children; 

‘‘(11) provide, with respect to each participating family, a 

family needs assessment that includes consultation with such 

parents about the benefits of parent involvement and about the 

activities described in paragraphs (4) through (7) in which such 

parents may choose to be involved (taking into consideration 

their specific family needs, work schedules, and other responsibilities); 

‘‘(12) consider providing services to assist younger siblings of 

children participating in its Head Start program to obtain 

health services from other sources; 

‘‘(13) perform community outreach to encourage individuals 

previously unaffiliated with Head Start programs to participate in its Head Start program as volunteers; and 

‘‘(14)(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.’’. 

(2) Amend subsection (c) to read as follows: 

‘‘(c) The head of each Head Start agency shall coordinate and collaborate with the State agency responsible for administering the 

State program carried out under the Child Care and Development 

Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), and other early 

childhood education and development programs, including programs under subtitle VII–B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431–11435), Even Start programs under 

part B of chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2741 et seq.), and programs under 

Part C and section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431–1445, 1419), and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a), serving the children 

and families served by the Head Start agency to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.’’. 

(3) In subsection (d) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 

(4) as paragraph (3) through (5) and inserting the following 

new paragraph after paragraph (1): 

‘‘(2) In communities where both public prekindergarten programs 

and Head Start programs operate, a Head Start agency shall coordinate with the local educational agency or other public agency 

responsible for the operation of the prekindergarten program and 

providers of prekindergarten, including for outreach to identify eligible children.’’. 

52

(5) In paragraph (3) (as redesignated) of subsection (d), strike 

‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (A) and insert the following after 

subparagraph (A) and redesignate subparagraph (B) as (C): 

‘‘(B) collaborating to increase the program participation 

of underserved populations of eligible children; and’’. 

SEC. 9. HEAD START ALIGNMENT WITH K–12 EDUCATION. 

Section 642A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837a) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) The heading is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 642A. HEAD START ALIGNMENT WITH K–12 EDUCATION.’’. 

(2) In paragraph (2) after ‘‘social workers,’’ insert the following: ‘‘McKinney-Vento liaisons as established under section 

722 (g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001,’’. 

(3) Add the following new paragraph after paragraph (2) and 

redesignated paragraphs (3) through (7) as (4) through (8): 

‘‘(3) developing continuity of developmentally appropriate 

curricula between Head Start and local educational agencies to 

ensure an effective transition and appropriate shared expectations for children’s learning and development as they make 

such transition to school;’’. 

(4) Paragraph (6)(as redesignated by paragraph (3) of this 

section) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(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 and family outreach and support 

efforts under subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 

Assistance Act;’’. 

(4) In paragraph (7)(as redesignated by paragraph (3) of this 

section) by inserting ‘‘and continuity in parental involvement 

activities’’ after ‘‘developmental continuity’’. 

(5) Strike ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (7)(as redesignated 

by paragraph (3) of this section) and strike the period at the 

end of paragraph (8)(as redesignated by paragraph (3) of this 

section) and insert a semicolon. 

(6) Add the following after paragraph (8): 

‘‘(9) helping parents to understand the importance of parental involvement in a child’s academic success while teaching 

them strategies for maintaining parental involvement as their 

child moves from Head Start to elementary school; and 

‘‘(10) developing and implementing a system to increase program participation of underserved populations of eligible children.’’. 

SEC. 10. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS. 

Section 644 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9839) is amended 

in subsection (f)(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) 

as (B) through (F) and inserting the following new subparagraph 

before subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated): 

‘‘(A) a description of the consultation conducted by the Head 

Start agency with the providers in the community demonstrating capacity and capability to provide services under 

this Act, and of the potential for collaboration with such proVerDate Jan 31 2003 09:41 Jul 24, 2003 Jkt 019008 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR232.XXX HR232
53

viders and the cost effectiveness of such collaboration as opposed to the cost effectiveness of the purchase of a facility;’’

SEC. 11. ELIGIBILITY. 

Section 645(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) By striking ‘‘to a reasonable extent’’ in paragraph (1)(B)(i) 

and inserting ‘‘not to exceed 10 percent of the total enrollment’’ 

and by striking ‘‘benefit from such programs’’ and inserting 

‘‘benefit from such programs, including children referred by 

child welfare services,’’ . 

(2) By adding the following new paragraph at the end thereof: 

‘‘(3) The amount of a basic allowance provided under section 403 

of title 37, United States Code, on behalf of an individual who is 

a member of the uniformed services for housing that is acquired or 

constructed under the authority of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of 

title 10, United States Code, or any other related provision of law, 

shall not be considered to be income for purposes of determining 

the eligibility of a child of the individual for programs assisted 

under this subchapter.’’. 

SEC. 12. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 

9643) is amended as follows: 

(1) By amending paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (b) to 

read as follows: 

‘‘(4) provide services to parents to support their role as parents (including parenting skills training and training in basic 

child development) and to help the families move toward selfsufficiency (including educational and employment services as 

appropriate); 

‘‘(5) coordinate services with services (including home-based 

services) provided by programs in the State and programs in 

the community (including programs for infants and toddlers 

with disabilities) to ensure a comprehensive array of services 

(such as health and mental health services, and family support 

services);’’. 

(2) By amending paragraph (8) of subsection (b) to read as 

follows: 

‘‘(8) ensure formal linkages with the agencies and entities described in section 644(b) of the Individuals with Disabilities 

Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1444(b)) and providers of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities under 

the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 

et seq.) and the agency responsible for administering the Section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 

U.S.C. 5106a); and’’. 

(3) In subsection (g)(2)(B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of 

clause (iii), by striking the period at the end of clause (iv) and 

inserting ‘‘; and’’ and by inserting the following at the end: 

‘‘(v) providing professional development designed to 

increase program participation for underserved populations of eligible children.’’. 

54

(b) MIGRANT AND SEASONAL PROGRAMS.—Section 645A(d)(1) of 

the Head Start Act (42 US.C. 9643(d)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) entities operating Head Start programs under this subpart, including migrant and seasonal Head Start programs; 

and’’. 

(c) COMMUNITY- AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.—Section 

645A(d)(2) of the Head Start Act (42 US.C. 9643(d)(21)) is amended 

by inserting ‘‘, including community- and faith-based organizations’’ 

after ‘‘entities’’ in the second place it appears. 

SEC. 13. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING. 

Section 648 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) By inserting the following new subsection after subsection (a) and redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as 

subsections (c) through (f): 

‘‘(b) The Secretary shall make available to each State the money 

reserved in section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) to support a State-based system 

delivering training and technical assistance that improves the capacity of Head Start programs within a State to deliver services in 

accordance with the Head Start standards in section 641A(a)(1), 

with particular attention to the standards set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section. The Secretary shall—

‘‘(1) ensure eligible entities within a State are chosen by the 

Secretary, in consultation with the State Collaboration Board 

described in section 640(a)(5)(C)(i), through a competitive bid 

process; 

‘‘(2) ensure that existing agencies with demonstrated expertise in providing high quality training and technical assistance 

to improve the delivery of Head Start services, including the 

State Head Start Association, State agencies, migrant and seasonal Head Start programs operating in the State, and other 

entities currently providing training and technical assistance 

in early education, be included in the planning and coordination of the State system of training and technical assistance; 

and 

‘‘(3) encourage States to supplement the funds authorized in 

section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) with State, Federal, or local funds other 

than Head Start funds, to expand activities beyond Head Start 

agencies to include other providers of other early childhood 

services within a State.’’. 

(2) In subsection (d) (as redesignated): 

(A) In paragraph (2), after ‘‘disabilities’’ insert ‘‘and for 

activities described in section 1221(b)(3) of the Elementary 

and Secondary Education Act of 1965’’. 

(B) In paragraph (5) after ‘‘assessment’’ insert ‘‘, including the needs of homeless children and their families’’. 

(C) By striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (10), by 

striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and inserting ‘‘; and’’ and by inserting the following at the end: 

‘‘(12) assist Head Start agencies and programs in increasing 

program participation of eligible homeless children.’’. 

(3) In subsection (e) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) by inserting ‘‘, including community- and faith-based organizations’’ 

after ‘‘entities’’. 

55

(4) By amending subsection (f) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) to read as follows: 

‘‘(f) The Secretary shall provide, either directly or through grants 

or other arrangements, funds from programs authorized under this 

subchapter to support an organization to administer a centralized 

child development and national assessment program leading to recognized credentials for personnel working in early childhood development and child care programs, training for personnel providing 

services to non-English language background children (including 

services to promote the acquisition of the English language), training for personnel providing services to children determined to be 

abused or neglected, training for personnel providing services to 

children referred by or receiving child welfare services, training for 

personnel in helping children cope with community violence, and 

resource access projects for personnel working with disabled children.’’. 

(5) Insert at the end of the section: 

‘‘(g) HELPING PERSONNEL BETTER SERVE MIGRANT AND SEASONAL

FARM-WORKING COMMUNITIES AND HOMELESS FAMILIES.—The Secretary shall provide, either directly or through grants, or other arrangements, funds for training of Head Start personnel in addressing the unique needs of migrant and seasonal working families, 

families with a limited English proficiency, and homeless families. 

‘‘(h) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—The majority of funds expended 

under this section shall be used to provide high quality, sustained, 

intensive, and classroom-focused training and technical assistance 

in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction. Funds shall be used to carry out activities related to any or 

all of the following: 

‘‘(1) Education and early childhood development. 

‘‘(2) Child health, nutrition, and safety. 

‘‘(3) Family and community partnerships. 

‘‘(4) Other areas that impact the quality or overall effectiveness of Head Start programs. 

‘‘(i) PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Funds under this subchapter used for training shall be used for needs identified annually by a grant applicant or delegate agency in their program improvement plan, except that funds shall not be used for long-distance travel expenses for training activities available locally or regionally or for training activities substantially similar to locally or 

regionally available training activities. 

‘‘(j) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘eligible 

entities’ means an institution of higher education or other entity 

with expertise in delivering training in early childhood development, family support, and other assistance designed to improve the 

delivery of Head Start services.’’. 

SEC. 14. STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT. 

Section 648A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843a) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) By amending paragraph (2) of subsection (a) to read as 

follows: 

‘‘(2) DEGREE REQUIREMENTS.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure that not 

later than September 30, 2008, at least 50 percent of all 

56

Head Start teachers nationwide in center-based programs 

have—

‘‘(i) a baccalaureate, or advanced degree in early 

childhood education; or 

‘‘(ii) a baccalaureate, or advanced degree in a field 

related to early childhood education, with experience 

in teaching preschool children. 

‘‘(B) PROGRESS.—Each Head State agency shall provide 

to the Secretary a report indicating the number and percentage of classroom instructors with child development 

associate credentials and associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degrees. The Secretary shall compile all program 

reports and make them available to the Committee on 

Education and the Workforce of the United States House 

of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the United States Senate. 

‘‘(C) REQUIREMENT FOR NEW HEAD START TEACHERS.—

Within 3 years after the date of enactment of this clause, 

the Secretary shall require that all Head Start teachers 

nationwide in center-based programs hired following the 

date of enactment of this subparagraph—

‘‘(i) have an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced 

degree in early childhood education; 

‘‘(ii) have an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced 

degree in a field related to early childhood education, 

with experience in teaching preschool children; or 

‘‘(iii) be currently enrolled in a program of study 

leading to an associate degree in early childhood education and agree to complete degree requirements 

within 3 years from the date of hire. 

‘‘(D) SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall establish requirements to ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under this Act in order to comply 

with the requirements under section 648A(a)(2) shall subsequently teach in a Head Start center for a period of time 

equivalent to the period for which they received assistance 

or repay the amount of the funds.’’. 

(2) By adding the following at the end thereof: 

‘‘(f) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS.—Every Head Start 

agency and program shall create, in consultation with an employee, 

a professional development plan for all full-time employees who 

provide direct services to children.’’. 

SEC. 15. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUATION. 

Section 649 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) By amending subsection (a)(1)(B) to read as follows: 

‘‘(B) use the Head Start programs to develop, test, and 

disseminate new ideas and approaches for addressing the 

needs of low-income preschool children (including children 

with disabilities and children determined to be abused or 

neglected) and their families and communities (including 

demonstrations of innovative non-center based program 

models such as home-based and mobile programs), and 

otherwise to further the purposes of this subchapter.’’. 

57

(1) By striking paragraph (9) of subsection (d) and inserting 

‘‘(9) REPEALED.—’’. 

(2) By striking clause (i) of subsection (g)(1)(A) and redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (i) and (ii). 

(3) In subsection (g)(7)(C)(i) by striking ‘‘1999’’ and inserting 

‘‘2003’’, striking ‘‘2001’’ and inserting ‘‘2005’’, and striking 

‘‘2003’’ and inserting ‘‘2006’’. 

(4) By amending subsection (h) to read as follows: 

‘‘(h) NAS STUDY.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall use funds allocated in 

section 640(a)(2)(C)(iii) to contract with the National Academy 

of Sciences for the Board on Children, Youth, and Families of 

the National Research Council to establish an independent 

panel of experts to review and synthesize research, theory and 

applications in the social, behavioral and biological sciences 

and shall make recommendations on early childhood pedagogy 

with regard to each of the following: 

‘‘(A) Age and developmentally appropriate Head Start 

academic requirements and outcomes, including but not 

limited to the domains in 641A(a)(B). 

‘‘(B) Differences in the type, length, mix and intensity of 

services necessary to ensure that children from challenging 

family and social backgrounds including: low-income children, children of color, children with special needs, and 

children with limited English proficiency enter kindergarten ready to succeed. 

‘‘(C) Appropriate assessments of young children for the 

purposes of improving instruction, services, and program 

quality, including systematic observation assessment in a 

child’s natural environment, parent and provider interviews, and accommodations for children with disabilities 

and appropriate assessments for children with special 

needs, including English language learners. 

‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.—The panel shall consist of multiple experts in each of the following areas: 

‘‘(A) Child development and education, including cognitive, social, emotional, physical, approaches to learning, 

and other domains of child development and learning. 

‘‘(B) Professional development, including teacher preparation, to individuals who teach young children in programs. 

‘‘(C) Assessment of young children, including screening, 

diagnostic and classroom-based instructional assessment; 

children with special needs, including children with disabilities and limited English proficient children. 

‘‘(3) TIMING.—The National Academy of Sciences and the 

Board shall establish the panel not later than 90 days after the 

date of enactment of this paragraph. The panel should complete its recommendations within 18 months of its convening. 

‘‘(4) APPLICATION OF PANEL REPORT.—The results of the panel 

study shall be used as guidelines by the Secretary to develop, 

inform and revise, where appropriate, the Head Start education performance measures and standards and the assessments utilized in the Head Start program.’’. 

58

SEC. 16. REPORTS. 

Section 650 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9845) is amended 

as follows: 

(1) The first sentence of subsection (a) is amended to read as 

follows: ‘‘At least once during every 2-year period, the Secretary shall prepare and submit, to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and 

the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of 

the Senate, a report concerning the status of children (including disabled, homeless, and non-English language background 

children) in Head Start programs, including the number of 

children and the services being provided to such children.’’. 

(2) Paragraph (8) of subsection (a) is amended by inserting 

‘‘, homelessness’’ after ‘‘background’’. 

SEC. 17. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

The amendments made by this Act shall be effective with respect 

to fiscal years beginning on and after October 1, 2003.

Æ