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[House Report 110-439]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    110-439

======================================================================

 
                     IMPROVING HEAD START ACT, 2007

                                _______
                                

                November 9, 2007.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Kildee, from the committee of conference, submitted the following

                           CONFERENCE REPORT

                        [To accompany H.R. 1429]

    The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 
two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 
1429), to reauthorize the Head Start Act, to improve program 
quality, to expand access, and for other purposes, having met, 
after full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do 
recommend to their respective Houses as follows:
    That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate and agree to the same with an amendment 
as follows:
    In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the Senate 
amendment, insert the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Improving 
Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Statement of purpose.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Financial assistance for Head Start programs.
Sec. 5. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 6. Allotment of funds; limitations on assistance.
Sec. 7. Designation of Head Start agencies.
Sec. 8. Standards; monitoring of Head Start agencies and programs.
Sec. 9. Powers and functions of Head Start agencies.
Sec. 10. Head start transition and alignment with K-12 education.
Sec. 11. Early childhood education, coordination, and improvement.
Sec. 12. Submission of plans.
Sec. 13. Administrative requirements and standards.
Sec. 14. Participation in Head Start programs.
Sec. 15. Early Head Start programs.
Sec. 16. Appeals, notice, and hearing.
Sec. 17. Records and audits.
Sec. 18. Technical assistance and training.
Sec. 19. Staff qualifications and development.
Sec. 20. Research, demonstrations, and evaluation.
Sec. 21. Reports.
Sec. 22. Comparability of wages.
Sec. 23. Limitation with respect to certain unlawful activities.
Sec. 24. Political activities.
Sec. 25. Parental consent requirement for health services.
Sec. 26. Centers of Excellence in Early Childhood.
Sec. 27. General provisions.
Sec. 28. Compliance with Improper Payments Information Act of 2002.
Sec. 29. References in other Acts.

SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    Section 636 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 636. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    ``It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote the 
school readiness of low-income children by enhancing their 
cognitive, social, and emotional development--
            ``(1) in a learning environment that supports 
        children's growth in language, literacy, mathematics, 
        science, social and emotional functioning, creative 
        arts, physical skills, and approaches to learning; and
            ``(2) through the provision to low-income children 
        and their families of health, educational, nutritional, 
        social, and other services that are determined, based 
        on family needs assessments, to be necessary.''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 637 of the Head Start Act (42 
U.S.C. 9832) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``(including a 
        community-based organization, as defined in section 
        9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801))'' after ``nonprofit'';
            (2) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ``, and 
        financial literacy.'' after ``self-sufficiency'';
            (3) in paragraph (12), by striking ``migrant and 
        seasonal Head Start program'' and inserting ``migrant 
        or seasonal Head Start program'';
            (4) by striking paragraph (17) and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(17) The term `State' means a State, the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, 
        Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United 
        States, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
        Islands. The term includes the Republic of Palau for 
        fiscal years 2008 and 2009, and (if the legislation 
        described in section 640(a)(2)(B)(v) has not been 
        enacted by September 30, 2009) for fiscal years 2010 
        through 2012.''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(18) The term `deficiency' means--
                    ``(A) a systemic or substantial material 
                failure of an agency in an area of performance 
                that the Secretary determines involves--
                            ``(i) a threat to the health, 
                        safety, or civil rights of children or 
                        staff;
                            ``(ii) a denial to parents of the 
                        exercise of their full roles and 
                        responsibilities related to program 
                        operations;
                            ``(iii) a failure to comply with 
                        standards related to early childhood 
                        development and health services, family 
                        and community partnerships, or program 
                        design and management;
                            ``(iv) the misuse of funds received 
                        under this subchapter;
                            ``(v) loss of legal status (as 
                        determined by the Secretary) or 
                        financial viability, loss of permits, 
                        debarment from receiving Federal grants 
                        or contracts, or the improper use of 
                        Federal funds; or
                            ``(vi) failure to meet any other 
                        Federal or State requirement that the 
                        agency has shown an unwillingness or 
                        inability to correct, after notice from 
                        the Secretary, within the period 
                        specified;
                    ``(B) systemic or material failure of the 
                governing body of an agency to fully exercise 
                its legal and fiduciary responsibilities; or
                    ``(C) an unresolved area of noncompliance.
            ``(19) The term `homeless children' has the meaning 
        given the term `homeless children and youths' in 
        section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2)).
            ``(20) The term `institution of higher education' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            ``(21) The term `interrater reliability' means the 
        extent to which 2 or more independent raters or 
        observers consistently obtain the same result when 
        using the same assessment tool.
            ``(22) The term `limited English proficient', used 
        with respect to a child, means a child--
                    ``(A)(i) who was not born in the United 
                States or whose native language is a language 
                other than English;
                    ``(ii)(I) who is a Native American (as 
                defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                7801)), an Alaska Native, or a native resident 
                of an outlying area (as defined in such section 
                9101); and
                    ``(II) who comes from an environment where 
                a language other than English has had a 
                significant impact on the child's level of 
                English language proficiency; or
                    ``(iii) who is migratory, whose native 
                language is a language other than English, and 
                who comes from an environment where a language 
                other than English is dominant; and
                    ``(B) whose difficulties in speaking or 
                understanding the English language may be 
                sufficient to deny such child--
                            ``(i) the ability to successfully 
                        achieve in a classroom in which the 
                        language of instruction is English; or
                            ``(ii) the opportunity to 
                        participate fully in society.
            ``(23) The term `principles of scientific research' 
        means principles of research that--
                    ``(A) apply rigorous, systematic, and 
                objective methodology to obtain reliable and 
                valid knowledge relevant to education 
                activities and programs;
                    ``(B) present findings and make claims that 
                are appropriate to and supported by methods 
                that have been employed; and
                    ``(C) include, as appropriate to the 
                research being conducted--
                            ``(i) use of systematic, empirical 
                        methods that draw on observation or 
                        experiment;
                            ``(ii) use of data analyses that 
                        are adequate to support the general 
                        findings;
                            ``(iii) reliance on measurements or 
                        observational methods that provide 
                        reliable and generalizable findings;
                            ``(iv) strong claims of causal 
                        relationships, only with research 
                        designs that eliminate plausible 
                        competing explanations for observed 
                        results, such as, but not limited to, 
                        random assignment experiments;
                            ``(v) presentation of studies and 
                        methods in sufficient detail and 
                        clarity to allow for replication or, at 
                        a minimum, to offer the opportunity to 
                        build systematically on the findings of 
                        the research;
                            ``(vi) acceptance by a peer-
                        reviewed journal or critique by a panel 
                        of independent experts through a 
                        comparably rigorous, objective, and 
                        scientific review; and
                            ``(vii) consistency of findings 
                        across multiple studies or sites to 
                        support the generality of results and 
                        conclusions.
            ``(24) The term `professional development' means 
        high-quality activities that will improve the knowledge 
        and skills of Head Start teachers and staff, as 
        relevant to their roles and functions, in program 
        administration and the provision of services and 
        instruction, as appropriate, in a manner that improves 
        service delivery to enrolled children and their 
        families, including activities that--
                    ``(A) are part of a sustained effort to 
                improve overall program quality and outcomes 
                for enrolled children and their families;
                    ``(B) are developed or selected with 
                extensive participation of administrators and 
                teachers from Head Start programs;
                    ``(C) are developmentally appropriate for 
                the children being served;
                    ``(D) include instruction in ways that Head 
                Start teachers and staff may work more 
                effectively with parents, as appropriate;
                    ``(E) are designed to give Head Start 
                teachers and staff the knowledge and skills to 
                provide instruction and appropriate support 
                services to children of diverse backgrounds, as 
                appropriate;
                    ``(F) may include a 1-day or short-term 
                workshop or conference, if the workshop or 
                conference is consistent with the goals in the 
                professional development plan described in 
                section 648A(f) and will be delivered by an 
                institution of higher education or other 
                entity, with expertise in delivering training 
                in early childhood development, training in 
                family support, and other assistance designed 
                to improve the delivery of Head Start services; 
                and
                    ``(G) in the case of teachers, assist 
                teachers with--
                            ``(i) the acquisition of the 
                        content knowledge and teaching 
                        strategies needed to provide effective 
                        instruction and other school readiness 
                        services regarding early language and 
                        literacy, early mathematics, early 
                        science, cognitive skills, approaches 
                        to learning, creative arts, physical 
                        health and development, and social and 
                        emotional development linked to school 
                        readiness;
                            ``(ii) meeting the requirements in 
                        paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 
                        648A(a), as appropriate;
                            ``(iii) improving classroom 
                        management skills, as appropriate;
                            ``(iv) advancing their 
                        understanding of effective 
                        instructional strategies that are--
                                    ``(I) based on 
                                scientifically valid research; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) aligned with--
                                            ``(aa) the Head 
                                        Start Child Outcomes 
                                        Framework developed by 
                                        the Secretary and, as 
                                        appropriate, State 
                                        early learning 
                                        standards; and
                                            ``(bb) curricula, 
                                        ongoing assessments, 
                                        and other instruction 
                                        and services, designed 
                                        to help meet the 
                                        standards described in 
                                        section 641A(a)(1);
                            ``(v) acquiring the knowledge and 
                        skills to provide instruction and 
                        appropriate language and support 
                        services to increase the English 
                        language skills of limited English 
                        proficient children, as appropriate; or
                            ``(vi) methods of teaching children 
                        with disabilities, as appropriate.
            ``(25) The term `scientifically valid research' 
        includes applied research, basic research, and field-
        initiated research in which the rationale, design, and 
        interpretation are soundly developed in accordance with 
        principles of scientific research.
            ``(26) The term `unresolved area of noncompliance' 
        means failure to correct a noncompliance item within 
        120 days, or within such additional time (if any) as is 
        authorized by the Secretary, after receiving from the 
        Secretary notice of such noncompliance item, pursuant 
        to section 641A(c).''.
    (b) Redesignation and Reordering of Definitions.--Section 
637 of such Act is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (23) as 
        paragraphs (1), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), 
        (10), (12), (16), (17), (18), (19), (22), (24), (25), 
        (2), (11), (13), (14), (15), (20), (21), (23), and 
        (26), respectively; and
            (2) so that paragraphs (1) through (26), as so 
        redesignated in paragraph (1), appear in numerical 
        order.

SEC. 4. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HEAD START PROGRAMS.

    Section 638 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9833) is 
amended by inserting ``for a period of 5 years'' after 
``provide financial assistance to such agency''.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 639 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9834) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 639. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
subchapter (other than section 657B) $7,350,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2008, $7,650,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $7,995,000,000 
for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012.''.

SEC. 6. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS; LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Allotment of Funds.--Section 640(a) of the Head Start 
Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(a)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a)(1) Using the sums appropriated pursuant to section 
639 for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allocate such sums 
in accordance with paragraphs (2) through (5).
    ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall determine an amount for each 
fiscal year for each State that is equal to the amount received 
through base grants for the prior fiscal year by the Head Start 
agencies (including Early Head Start agencies) in the State 
that are not described in clause (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph 
(B).
    ``(B) The Secretary shall reserve for each fiscal year such 
sums as are necessary--
            ``(i) to provide each amount determined for a State 
        under subparagraph (A) to the Head Start agencies 
        (including Early Head Start agencies) in the State that 
        are not described in clause (ii) or (iii), by allotting 
        to each agency described in this clause an amount equal 
        to that agency's base grant for the prior fiscal year;
            ``(ii) to provide an amount for the Indian Head 
        Start programs that is equal to the amount provided for 
        base grants for such programs under this subchapter for 
        the prior fiscal year, by allotting to each Head Start 
        agency (including each Early Head Start agency) 
        administering an Indian Head Start program an amount 
        equal to that agency's base grant for the prior fiscal 
        year;
            ``(iii) to provide an amount for the migrant and 
        seasonal Head Start programs, on a nationwide basis, 
        that is equal to the amount provided nationwide for 
        base grants for such programs under this subchapter for 
        the prior fiscal year, by allotting to each Head Start 
        agency administering a migrant or seasonal Head Start 
        program an amount equal to that agency's base grant for 
        the prior fiscal year;
            ``(iv) to provide an amount for each of Guam, 
        American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
        Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands of the United 
        States (for Head Start agencies (including Early Head 
        Start agencies) in the jurisdiction) that is equal to 
        the amount provided for base grants for such 
        jurisdiction under this subchapter for the prior fiscal 
        year, by allotting to each agency described in this 
        clause an amount equal to that agency's base grant for 
        the prior fiscal year;
            ``(v) to provide an amount for the Republic of 
        Palau (for Head Start agencies (including Early Head 
        Start agencies) in the jurisdiction) for each of fiscal 
        years 2008 and 2009, and (if legislation approving a 
        new agreement regarding United States assistance for 
        the Republic of Palau has not been enacted by September 
        30, 2009) for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2012, 
        that is equal to the amount provided for base grants 
        for such jurisdiction under this subchapter for the 
        prior fiscal year, by allotting to each agency 
        described in this clause an amount equal to that 
        agency's base grant for the prior fiscal year; and
            ``(vi) to provide an amount for a collaboration 
        grant under section 642B(a) for each State, for the 
        Indian Head Start programs, and for the migrant and 
        seasonal Head Start programs, in the same amount as the 
        corresponding collaboration grant provided under this 
        subchapter for fiscal year 2007.
    ``(C)(i) The Secretary shall reserve for each fiscal year 
an amount that is not less than 2.5 percent and not more than 3 
percent of the sums appropriated pursuant to section 639 for 
that fiscal year, to fund training and technical assistance 
activities, from which reserved amount--
            ``(I) the Secretary shall set aside a portion, but 
        not less than 20 percent, to be used to fund training 
        and technical assistance activities for Early Head 
        Start programs, in accordance with section 645A(g)(2); 
        and
            ``(II) the Secretary shall set aside a portion, 
        equal to the rest of the reserved amount, to fund 
        training and technical assistance activities for other 
        Head Start programs, in accordance with section 648, of 
        which portion--
                    ``(aa) not less than 50 percent shall be 
                made available to Head Start agencies to use 
                directly, which may include at their discretion 
                the establishment of local or regional 
                agreements with community experts, institutions 
                of higher education, or private consultants, to 
                make program improvements identified by such 
                agencies, by carrying out the training and 
                technical assistance activities described in 
                section 648(d);
                    ``(bb) not less than 25 percent shall be 
                available to the Secretary to support a State-
                based training and technical assistance system, 
                or a national system, described in section 
                648(e) for supporting program quality; and
                    ``(cc) the remainder of the portion set 
                aside under this subclause shall be available 
                to the Secretary to assist Head Start agencies 
                in meeting and exceeding the standards 
                described in section 641A(a)(1) by carrying out 
                activities described in subsections (a), (b), 
                (c), (f), and (g) of section 648, including 
                helping Head Start programs address weaknesses 
                identified by monitoring activities conducted 
                by the Secretary under section 641A(c), except 
                that not less than $3,000,000 of the remainder 
                shall be made available to carry out activities 
                described in section 648(a)(3)(B)(ii).
    ``(ii) In determining the portion set aside under clause 
(i)(I) and the amount reserved under this subparagraph, the 
Secretary shall consider the number of Early Head Start 
programs newly funded for that fiscal year.
    ``(D) The Secretary shall reserve not more than $20,000,000 
to fund research, demonstration, and evaluation activities 
under section 649, of which not more than $7,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 shall be available to carry 
out impact studies under section 649(g).
    ``(E) The Secretary shall reserve not more than $42,000,000 
for discretionary payments by the Secretary, including payments 
for all costs (other than compensation of Federal employees) 
for activities carried out under subsection (c) or (e) of 
section 641A.
    ``(F) If the sums appropriated under section 639 are not 
sufficient to provide the amounts required to be reserved under 
subparagraphs (B) through (E), the amounts shall be reduced 
proportionately.
    ``(G) Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny 
the Secretary the authority, consistent with sections 641, 
641A, and 646 to terminate, suspend, or reduce funding to a 
Head Start agency.
    ``(3)(A) From any amount remaining for a fiscal year after 
the Secretary carries out paragraph (2) (referred to in this 
paragraph as the `remaining amount'), the Secretary shall--
            ``(i) subject to clause (ii)--
                    ``(I) provide a cost of living increase for 
                each Head Start agency (including each Early 
                Head Start agency) funded under this subchapter 
                for that fiscal year, to maintain the level of 
                services provided during the prior year; and
                    ``(II) subject to subparagraph (B), provide 
                $10,000,000 for Indian Head Start programs 
                (including Early Head Start programs), and 
                $10,000,000 for migrant and seasonal Head Start 
                programs, to increase enrollment in the 
                programs involved;
            ``(ii) subject to clause (iii), if the remaining 
        amount is not sufficient to carry out clause (i)--
                    ``(I) for each of fiscal years 2008, 2009, 
                and 2010--
                            ``(aa) subject to subparagraph (B), 
                        provide 5 percent of that amount for 
                        Indian Head Start programs (including 
                        Early Head Start programs), and 5 
                        percent of that amount for migrant and 
                        seasonal Head Start programs, to 
                        increase enrollment in the programs 
                        involved; and
                            ``(bb) use 90 percent of that 
                        amount to provide, for each Head Start 
                        agency (including each Early Head Start 
                        agency) funded as described in clause 
                        (i)(I), the same percentage (but not 
                        less than 50 percent) of the cost of 
                        living increase described in clause 
                        (i); and
                    ``(II) for fiscal year 2011 and each 
                subsequent fiscal year--
                            ``(aa) provide, for each Head Start 
                        agency (including each Early Head Start 
                        agency) funded as described in clause 
                        (i)(I), the cost of living increase 
                        described in clause (i); and
                            ``(bb) subject to subparagraph (B), 
                        with any portion of the remaining 
                        amount that is not used under item 
                        (aa), provide equal amounts for Indian 
                        Head Start programs (including Early 
                        Head Start programs), and for migrant 
                        and seasonal Head Start programs, to 
                        increase enrollment in the programs 
                        involved; and
            ``(iii) if the remaining amount is not sufficient 
        to carry out clause (ii) for the fiscal year involved, 
        use that amount to provide, for each Head Start agency 
        (including each Early Head Start agency) funded as 
        described in clause (i)(I), the same percentage of the 
        cost of living increase described in clause (i).
    ``(B)(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
paragraph, the Indian Head Start programs shall not receive 
more than a total cumulative amount of $50,000,000 for all 
fiscal years, and the migrant and seasonal Head Start programs 
shall not receive more than a total cumulative amount of 
$50,000,000 for all fiscal years, under clause (i)(II), and 
subclauses (I)(aa) and (II)(bb) of clause (ii), of subparagraph 
(A) (referred to in this subsection as the `special expansion 
provisions'), to increase enrollment in the programs involved.
    ``(ii)(I) Funds that are appropriated under section 639 for 
a fiscal year, and made available to Indian Head Start programs 
or migrant or seasonal Head Start programs under the special 
expansion provisions, shall remain available until the end of 
the following fiscal year.
    ``(II) For purposes of subclause (I)--
            ``(aa) if no portion is reallocated under clause 
        (iii), those funds shall remain available to the 
        programs involved; or
            ``(bb) if a portion is reallocated under clause 
        (iii), the portion shall remain available to the 
        recipients of the portion.
    ``(iii) Of the funds made available as described in clause 
(ii), the Secretary shall reallocate the portion that the 
Secretary determines is unobligated 18 months after the funds 
are made available. The Secretary shall add that portion to the 
balance described in paragraph (4), and reallocate the portion 
in accordance with paragraph (4), for the following fiscal year 
referred to in clause (ii).
    ``(4)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), from any 
amount remaining for a fiscal year after the Secretary carries 
out paragraphs (2) and (3) (referred to in this paragraph as 
the `balance'), the Secretary shall--
            ``(i) reserve 40 percent to carry out subparagraph 
        (C) and paragraph (5);
            ``(ii) reserve 45 percent to carry out subparagraph 
        (D); and
            ``(iii) reserve 15 percent (which shall remain 
        available through the end of fiscal year 2012) to 
        provide funds for carrying out section 642B(b)(2).
    ``(B)(i) Under the circumstances described in clause (ii), 
from the balance, the Secretary shall--
            ``(I) reserve 45 percent to carry out subparagraph 
        (C) and paragraph (5); and
            ``(II) reserve 55 percent to carry out subparagraph 
        (D).
    ``(ii) The Secretary shall make the reservations described 
in clause (i) for a fiscal year if--
            ``(I) the total cumulative amount reserved under 
        subparagraph (A)(iii) for all preceding fiscal years 
        equals $100,000,000; or
            ``(II) in the 2-year period preceding such fiscal 
        year, funds were reserved under subparagraph (A)(iii) 
        in an amount that totals not less than $15,000,000 and 
        the Secretary received no approvable applications for 
        such funds.
    ``(iii) The total cumulative amount reserved under 
subparagraph (A)(iii) for all fiscal years may not be greater 
than $100,000,000.
    ``(C) The Secretary shall fund the quality improvement 
activities described in paragraph (5) using the amount reserved 
under subparagraph (A)(i) or subparagraph (B)(i)(I), as 
appropriate, of which--
            ``(i) a portion that is less than 10 percent may be 
        reserved by the Secretary to provide funding to Head 
        Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies) 
        that demonstrate the greatest need for additional 
        funding for such activities, as determined by the 
        Secretary; and
            ``(ii) a portion that is not less than 90 percent 
        shall be reserved by the Secretary to allot, to each 
        Head Start agency (including each Early Head Start 
        agency), an amount that bears the same ratio to such 
        portion as the number of enrolled children served by 
        the agency involved bears to the number of enrolled 
        children served by all the Head Start agencies 
        (including Early Head Start agencies), except that the 
        Secretary shall account for the additional costs of 
        serving children in Early Head Start programs and may 
        consider whether an agency is providing a full-day 
        program or whether an agency is providing a full-year 
        program.
    ``(D) The Secretary shall fund expansion of Head Start 
programs (including Early Head Start programs) using the amount 
reserved under subparagraph (A)(ii) or subparagraph (B)(i)(II), 
as appropriate, of which the Secretary shall--
            ``(i) use 0.2 percent for Head Start programs 
        funded under clause (iv) or (v) of paragraph (2)(B) 
        (other than Early Head Start programs);
            ``(ii) for any fiscal year after the last fiscal 
        year for which Indian Head Start programs receive funds 
        under the special expansion provisions, use 3 percent 
        for Head Start programs funded under paragraph 
        (2)(B)(ii) (other than Early Head Start programs), 
        except that the Secretary may increase that percentage 
        if the Secretary determines that the results of the 
        study conducted under section 649(k) indicate that the 
        percentage should be increased;
            ``(iii) for any fiscal year after the last fiscal 
        year for which migrant or seasonal Head Start programs 
        receive funds under the special expansion provisions, 
        use 4.5 percent for Head Start programs funded under 
        paragraph (2)(B)(iii) (other than Early Head Start 
        programs), except that the Secretary may increase that 
        percentage if the Secretary determines that the results 
        of the study conducted under section 649(l) indicate 
        that the percentage should be increased; and
            ``(iv) from the remainder of the reserved amount--
                    ``(I) use 50 percent for Head Start 
                programs funded under paragraph (2)(B)(i) 
                (other than Early Head Start programs), of 
                which--
                            ``(aa) the covered percentage shall 
                        be allocated among the States serving 
                        less than 60 percent (as determined by 
                        the Secretary) of children who are 3 or 
                        4 years of age from families whose 
                        income is below the poverty line, by 
                        allocating to each of those States an 
                        amount that bears the same relationship 
                        to that covered percentage as the 
                        number of children who are less than 5 
                        years of age from families whose income 
                        is below the poverty line (referred to 
                        in this subclause as `young low-income 
                        children') in that State bears to the 
                        number of young low-income children in 
                        all those States; and
                            ``(bb) the remainder shall be 
                        allocated proportionately among the 
                        States on the basis of the number of 
                        young low-income children; and
                    ``(II) use 50 percent for Early Head Start 
                programs.
    ``(E) In this paragraph, the term `covered percentage' 
means--
            ``(i) for fiscal year 2008, 30 percent;
            ``(ii) for fiscal year 2009, 40 percent;
            ``(iii) for fiscal year 2010, 50 percent;
            ``(iv) for fiscal year 2011, 55 percent; and
            ``(v) for fiscal year 2012, 55 percent.
    ``(5)(A) Not less than 50 percent of the amount reserved 
under subparagraph (A)(i) or subparagraph (B)(i)(I), as 
appropriate, of paragraph (4) to carry out quality improvement 
activities under paragraph (4)(C) and this paragraph shall be 
used to improve the compensation (including benefits) of 
educational personnel, family service workers, and child 
counselors, as described in sections 644(a) and 653, in the 
manner determined by the Head Start agencies (including Early 
Head Start agencies) involved, to--
            ``(i) ensure that compensation is adequate to 
        attract and retain qualified staff for the programs 
        involved in order to enhance program quality;
            ``(ii) improve staff qualifications and assist with 
        the implementation of career development programs for 
        staff that support ongoing improvement of their skills 
        and expertise; and
            ``(iii) provide education and professional 
        development to enable teachers to be fully competent to 
        meet the professional standards established under 
        section 648A(a)(1), including--
                    ``(I) providing assistance to complete 
                postsecondary course work;
                    ``(II) improving the qualifications and 
                skills of educational personnel to become 
                certified and licensed as bilingual education 
                teachers, or as teachers of English as a second 
                language; and
                    ``(III) improving the qualifications and 
                skills of educational personnel to teach and 
                provide services to children with disabilities.
    ``(B) Any remaining funds from the reserved amount 
described in subparagraph (A) shall be used to carry out any of 
the following activities:
            ``(i) Supporting staff training, child counseling, 
        and other services, necessary to address the challenges 
        of children from immigrant, refugee, and asylee 
        families, homeless children, children in foster care, 
        limited English proficient children, children of 
        migrant or seasonal farmworker families, children from 
        families in crisis, children referred to Head Start 
        programs (including Early Head Start programs) by child 
        welfare agencies, and children who are exposed to 
        chronic violence or substance abuse.
            ``(ii) 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 
        other individuals with disabilities.
            ``(iii) Employing additional qualified classroom 
        staff to reduce the child-to-teacher ratio in the 
        classroom and additional qualified family service 
        workers to reduce the family-to-staff ratio for those 
        workers.
            ``(iv) Ensuring that Head Start programs have 
        qualified staff that promote the language skills and 
        literacy growth of children and that provide children 
        with a variety of skills that have been identified, 
        through scientifically based reading research, as 
        predictive of later reading achievement.
            ``(v) Increasing hours of program operation, 
        including--
                    ``(I) conversion of part-day programs to 
                full-working-day programs; and
                    ``(II) increasing the number of weeks of 
                operation in a calendar year.
            ``(vi) Improving communitywide strategic planning 
        and needs assessments for Head Start programs and 
        collaboration efforts for such programs, including 
        outreach to children described in clause (i).
            ``(vii) Transporting children in Head Start 
        programs safely, except that not more than 10 percent 
        of funds made available to carry out this paragraph may 
        be used for such purposes.
            ``(viii) Improving the compensation and benefits of 
        staff of Head Start agencies, in order to improve the 
        quality of Head Start programs.
    ``(6) No sums appropriated under this subchapter may be 
combined with funds appropriated under any provision other than 
this subchapter if the purpose of combining funds is to make a 
single discretionary grant or a single discretionary payment, 
unless such sums appropriated under this subchapter are 
separately identified in such grant or payment and are used for 
the purposes of this subchapter.
    ``(7) In this subsection:
            ``(A) The term `base grant', used with respect to a 
        fiscal year, means the amount of permanent ongoing 
        funding (other than funding described in sections 
        645A(g)(2)(A)(i) and paragraph (2)(C)(i)(II)(aa)) 
        provided to a Head Start agency (including an Early 
        Head Start agency) under this subchapter for that 
        fiscal year.
            ``(B) The term `cost-of-living increase', used with 
        respect to an agency for a fiscal year, means an 
        increase in the funding for that agency, based on the 
        percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All 
        Urban Consumers (issued by the Bureau of Labor 
        Statistics) for the prior fiscal year, calculated on 
        the amount of the base grant for that agency for the 
        prior fiscal year.
            ``(C) For the purposes of this subsection, the term 
        `State' does not include Guam, American Samoa, the 
        Virgin Islands of the United States, the Commonwealth 
        of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States 
        of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 
        and the Republic of Palau.''.
    (b) Minimum Enrollment Requirement for Children With 
Disabilities.--Section 640(d) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
9835(d)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(d)(1) The Secretary shall establish policies and 
procedures to assure that, for fiscal year 2009 and thereafter, 
not less than 10 percent of the total number of children 
actually enrolled by each Head Start agency and each delegate 
agency will be children with disabilities who are determined to 
be eligible for special education and related services, or 
early intervention services, as appropriate, as determined 
under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), by the State or local agency providing 
services under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.).
    ``(2) Such policies and procedures shall ensure the 
provision of early intervening services, such as educational 
and behavioral services and supports, to meet the needs of 
children with disabilities, prior to an eligibility 
determination under the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
Act.
    ``(3) Such policies and procedures shall require Head Start 
agencies to provide timely referral to and collaborate with the 
State or local agency providing services under section 619 or 
part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to 
ensure the provision of special education and related services 
and early intervention services, and the coordination of 
programmatic efforts, to meet the special needs of such 
children.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall establish policies and procedures 
to provide Head Start agencies with waivers of the requirements 
of paragraph (1) for not more than 3 years. Such policies and 
procedures shall require Head Start agencies, in order to 
receive such waivers, to provide evidence demonstrating that 
the Head Start agencies are making reasonable efforts on an 
annual basis to comply with the requirements of that paragraph.
    ``(5) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
limit or create a right to a free appropriate public education 
under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.''.
    (c) Service Delivery Models.--Section 640(f) of the Head 
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(f)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(f) The'' and inserting ``(f)(1) 
        Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
        the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 
        2007, the'';
            (2) by striking ``needs.'' and inserting ``needs, 
        including models that leverage the capacity and 
        capabilities of the delivery system of early childhood 
        education and development services or programs.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) In establishing the procedures the Secretary shall 
establish procedures to provide for--
            ``(A) the conversion of part-day programs to full-
        working-day programs or part-day slots to full-working-
        day slots; and
            ``(B) serving additional infants and toddlers 
        pursuant to section 645(a)(5).''.
    (d) Additional Funds.--Section 640(g) of the Head Start Act 
(42 U.S.C. 9835(g)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraphs (1), (3), and (4);
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                (A), by striking ``, in allocating funds to an 
                applicant within a State, from amounts allotted 
                to a State pursuant to subsection (a)(4),'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                ``performance standards'' and inserting 
                ``standards described in section 641A(a)(1)'';
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (C) and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(C) the extent to which the applicant has 
        undertaken a communitywide strategic planning and needs 
        assessment involving other entities, including 
        community organizations, and Federal, State, and local 
        public agencies (including the local educational agency 
        liaison designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of 
        the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11432(g)(1)(J)(ii))), that provide services to children 
        and families, such as--
                    ``(i) family support services;
                    ``(ii) child abuse prevention services;
                    ``(iii) protective services;
                    ``(iv) foster care;
                    ``(v) services for families in whose homes 
                English is not the language customarily spoken;
                    ``(vi) services for children with 
                disabilities; and
                    ``(vii) services for homeless children;'';
                    (D) in subparagraph (D)--
                            (i) by striking ``family and 
                        community needs assessment'' and 
                        inserting ``family needs assessment and 
                        communitywide strategic planning and 
                        needs assessment'';
                            (ii) by striking ``reflects'' and 
                        inserting ``reflect''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``other local'' 
                        and inserting ``the State and local'';
                    (E) by striking subparagraph (E) and 
                inserting the following:
                    ``(E) the number of eligible children, as 
                described in clause (i) or (ii) of section 
                645(a)(1)(B), in each community who are not 
                participating in a Head Start program or any 
                other publicly funded early childhood education 
                and development program;'';
                    (F) by striking subparagraphs (G) and (H) 
                and inserting the following:
            ``(G) the extent to which the applicant proposes to 
        foster partnerships with other service providers in a 
        manner that will leverage the existing delivery systems 
        of such services and enhance the resource capacity of 
        the applicant; and
            ``(H) the extent to which the applicant, in 
        providing services, successfully coordinated activities 
        with the local educational agency serving the community 
        involved (including the local educational agency 
        liaison designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of 
        the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11432(g)(1)(J)(ii))), and with schools in which 
        children participating in such applicant's program will 
        enroll following such program, with respect to such 
        services and the education services provided by such 
        local educational agency.'';
            (3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph 
        (1); and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in using funds made 
available for expansion under subsection (a)(4)(D), the 
Secretary shall first allocate the funds to qualified 
applicants proposing to use such funds to serve children from 
families with incomes below the poverty line. Agencies that 
receive such funds are subject to the eligibility and 
enrollment requirements under section 645(a)(1).
    ``(3)(A) In the event that the amount appropriated to carry 
out the program under this subchapter for a fiscal year does 
not exceed the amount appropriated for the prior fiscal year, 
or is not sufficient to maintain services comparable to the 
services provided under this subchapter during the prior fiscal 
year, a Head Start agency may negotiate with the Secretary a 
reduced funded enrollment level without a reduction in the 
amount of the grant received by the agency under this 
subchapter, if such agency can reasonably demonstrate that such 
reduced funded enrollment level is necessary to maintain the 
quality of services.
    ``(B) In accordance with this paragraph, the Secretary 
shall set up a process for Head Start agencies to negotiate the 
reduced funded enrollment levels referred to in subparagraph 
(A) for the fiscal year involved.
    ``(C) In the event described in subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary shall be required to notify Head Start agencies of 
their ability to negotiate the reduced funded enrollment levels 
if such an agency can reasonably demonstrate that such reduced 
funded enrollment level is necessary to maintain the quality of 
services.''.
    (e) Vehicle Safety Requirements.--Section 640(i) of the 
Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(i)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: ``The regulations shall also establish 
requirements to ensure the appropriate supervision of, and 
appropriate background checks for, individuals with whom the 
agencies contract to transport those children.''.
    (f) Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs.--Section 
640(l) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(l)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``With funds'' and all that 
                follows through ``programs,'' and inserting 
                ``With funds made available under this 
                subchapter to expand migrant and seasonal Head 
                Start programs,''; and
                    (B) by striking ``children of migrant and 
                seasonal farmworker families'' and inserting 
                ``children of migrant or seasonal farmworker 
                families'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``For'' and all that 
                follows through ``in determining'' and 
                inserting ``In determining'';
                    (B) by striking ``children of migrant 
                farmworkers'' and inserting ``children of 
                migrant farmworker families'';
                    (C) by striking ``under such subsection'' 
                and inserting ``under this subchapter'';
                    (D) by striking ``children of seasonal 
                farmworkers'' each place it appears and 
                inserting ``children of seasonal farmworker 
                families''; and
                    (E) by striking ``children of such 
                farmworkers'' and inserting ``children of such 
                farmworker families''; and
            (3) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(3) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall 
continue the administrative arrangement at the national level 
for meeting the needs of Indian children and children of 
migrant and seasonal farmworker families and shall ensure--
            ``(A) the provision of training and technical 
        assistance by staff with knowledge of and experience in 
        working with such populations; and
            ``(B) the appointment of a national Indian Head 
        Start collaboration director and a national migrant and 
        seasonal Head Start collaboration director.
    ``(4)(A) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the Secretary 
shall conduct an annual consultation in each affected Head 
Start region, with tribal governments operating Head Start 
(including Early Head Start) programs.
    ``(B) The consultations shall be for the purpose of better 
meeting the needs of Indian, including Alaska Native, children 
and their families, in accordance with this subchapter, taking 
into consideration funding allocations, distribution formulas, 
and other issues affecting the delivery of Head Start services 
in their geographic locations.
    ``(C) The Secretary shall publish a notification of the 
consultations in the Federal Register before conducting the 
consultations.
    ``(D) The Secretary shall ensure that a detailed report of 
each consultation shall be prepared and made available, within 
90 days after the consultation, to all tribal governments 
receiving funds under this subchapter.''.
    (g) Enrollment of Homeless Children; Rule of Construction; 
Materials.--Section 640 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(m) The Secretary shall issue rules to establish policies 
and procedures to remove barriers to the enrollment and 
participation of homeless children in Head Start programs. Such 
rules shall require Head Start agencies--
            ``(1) to implement policies and procedures to 
        ensure that homeless children, along with children from 
        other special populations, are identified and 
        prioritized for enrollment;
            ``(2) to allow families of homeless children 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) to coordinate individual Head Start programs 
        with efforts to implement subtitle B of title VII of 
        the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11431 et seq.).
    ``(n) Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to 
require a State to establish a publicly funded program of early 
childhood education and development, or to require any child to 
participate in such a publicly funded program, including a 
State-funded preschool program, or to participate in any 
initial screening before participating in a publicly funded 
program of early childhood education and development, except as 
provided under sections 612(a)(3) and 635(a)(5) of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
1412(a)(3), 1435(a)(5)).
    ``(o) All curricula funded under this subchapter shall be 
based on scientifically valid research, and be age and 
developmentally appropriate. The curricula shall reflect all 
areas of child development and learning and be aligned with the 
Head Start Child Outcomes Framework. Parents shall have the 
opportunity to examine any such curricula or instructional 
materials funded under this subchapter.''.

SEC. 7. DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

    Section 641 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 641. DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

    ``(a) Authority To Designate.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to 
        designate as a Head Start agency any local public or 
        private nonprofit agency, including community-based and 
        faith-based organizations, or for-profit agency, within 
        a community, pursuant to the requirements of this 
        section.
            ``(2) Interim policy.--Notwithstanding paragraph 
        (1), until such time as the Secretary develops and 
        implements the system for designation renewal under 
        this section, the Secretary is authorized to designate 
        as a Head Start agency, any local public or private 
        nonprofit agency, including community-based and faith-
        based organizations, or for-profit agency, within a 
        community, in the manner and process utilized by the 
        Secretary prior to the enactment of the Improving Head 
        Start for School Readiness Act of 2007.
    ``(b) Application for Designation Renewal.--To be 
considered for designation renewal, an entity shall submit an 
application to the Secretary, at such time and in such manner 
as the Secretary may require.
    ``(c) System for Designation Renewal.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop a 
        system for designation renewal that integrates the 
        recommendations of the expert panel convened under 
        paragraph (2) to determine if a Head Start agency is 
        delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start 
        program that meets the educational, health, 
        nutritional, and social needs of the children and 
        families it serves, and meets program and financial 
        management requirements and standards described in 
        section 641A(a)(1), based on--
                    ``(A) annual budget and fiscal management 
                data;
                    ``(B) program reviews conducted under 
                section 641A(c);
                    ``(C) annual audits required under section 
                647;
                    ``(D) classroom quality as measured under 
                section 641A(c)(2)(F); and
                    ``(E) Program Information Reports.
            ``(2) Expert panel.--Not later than 3 months after 
        the date of enactment of the Improving Head Start for 
        School Readiness Act of 2007, the Secretary shall 
        convene an expert panel of 7 members to make 
        recommendations to the Secretary on the development of 
        a transparent, reliable, and valid system for 
        designation renewal.
            ``(3) Composition of expert panel.--The Secretary, 
        in convening such panel, shall appoint the following:
                    ``(A)(i) One member, who has demonstrated 
                competency, as evidenced by training, 
                expertise, and experience, in early childhood 
                program accreditation.
                    ``(ii) One member, who has demonstrated 
                competency (as so evidenced) in research on 
                early childhood development.
                    ``(iii) One member, who has demonstrated 
                competency (as so evidenced) in governance and 
                finance of nonprofit organizations.
                    ``(iv) One member, who has demonstrated 
                competency (as so evidenced) in delivery of 
                services to populations of children with 
                special needs and their families.
                    ``(v) One member, who has demonstrated 
                competency (as so evidenced) in assessment and 
                evaluation of programs serving young children.
                    ``(B) An employee from the Office of Head 
                Start.
                    ``(C) An executive director of a Head Start 
                agency.
            ``(4) Expert panel report.--Within 9 months after 
        being convened by the Secretary, the expert panel shall 
        issue a report to the Secretary that provides 
        recommendations on a proposed system for designation 
        renewal that takes into account the criteria in 
        subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1) to 
        evaluate whether a Head Start agency is fulfilling its 
        mission to deliver a high-quality and comprehensive 
        Head Start program, including adequately meeting its 
        governance, legal, and financial management 
        requirements.
            ``(5) Public comment and consideration.--Not later 
        than 3 months after receiving the report described in 
        paragraph (4), the Secretary shall publish a notice 
        describing a proposed system for designation renewal in 
        the Federal Register, including a proposal for the 
        transition to such system, providing at least 90 days 
        for public comment. The Secretary shall review and 
        consider public comments prior to finalizing the system 
        for designation renewal described in this subsection.
            ``(6) Designation renewal system.--Not later than 
        12 months after publishing a notice describing the 
        proposed system under paragraph (5), the Secretary 
        shall implement the system for designation renewal and 
        use that system to determine--
                    ``(A) whether a Head Start grantee is 
                successfully delivering a high-quality and 
                comprehensive Head Start program; and
                    ``(B) whether the grantee has any 
                unresolved deficiencies found during the last 
                triennial review under section 641A(c).
            ``(7) Implementation of the designation renewal 
        system.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A grantee who is 
                determined under such system--
                            ``(i) to be delivering a high-
                        quality and comprehensive Head Start 
                        program shall be designated (consistent 
                        with section 643) as a Head Start 
                        agency for the period of 5 years 
                        described in section 638;
                            ``(ii) to not be delivering a high-
                        quality and comprehensive Head Start 
                        program shall be subject to an open 
                        competition as described in subsection 
                        (d); and
                            ``(iii) in the case of an Indian 
                        Head Start agency, to not be delivering 
                        a high-quality and comprehensive Head 
                        Start program shall (notwithstanding 
                        clause (ii)) be subject to the 
                        requirements of subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Tribal government consultation and 
                reevaluation.--On making a determination 
                described in subparagraph (A)(iii), the 
                Secretary shall engage in government-to-
                government consultation with the appropriate 
                tribal government or governments for the 
                purpose of establishing a plan to improve the 
                quality of Head Start programs operated by the 
                Indian Head Start agency. Such plan shall be 
                established and implemented within 6 months 
                after the Secretary's determination. Not more 
                than 6 months after the implementation of that 
                plan, the Secretary shall reevaluate the 
                performance of the Indian Head Start agency. If 
                the Indian Head Start agency is still not 
                delivering a high-quality and comprehensive 
                Head Start program, the Secretary shall conduct 
                an open competition as described in subsection 
                (d), subject to the limitations described in 
                subsection (e).
            ``(8) Transparency, reliability, and validity.--The 
        Secretary shall ensure the system for designation 
        renewal is fair, consistent, and transparent and is 
        applied in a manner that renews designations, in a 
        timely manner, grantees as Head Start agencies for 
        periods of 5 years if such grantees are delivering 
        high-quality and comprehensive Head Start programs. The 
        Secretary shall periodically evaluate whether the 
        criteria of the system are being applied in a manner 
        that is transparent, reliable, and valid.
            ``(9) Transition.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each Head Start agency 
                shall be reviewed under the system for 
                designation renewal described in paragraph (6), 
                not later than 3 years after the implementation 
                of such system.
                    ``(B) Limitation.--A Head Start agency 
                shall not be subject to the requirements of the 
                system for designation renewal prior to 18 
                months after the date of enactment of the 
                Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act 
                of 2007.
                    ``(C) Schedule.--The Secretary shall 
                establish and implement a schedule for 
                reviewing each Head Start agency under the 
                system for designation renewal described in 
                paragraph (6), consistent with subparagraphs 
                (A) and (B).
            ``(10) Reports to congress.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) make available to the Committee on 
                Education and Labor of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
                Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate 
                the report described in paragraph (4);
                    ``(B) concurrently with publishing a notice 
                in the Federal Register as described in 
                paragraph (5), provide a report to the 
                Committee on Education and Labor of the House 
                of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
                Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate 
                that provides a detailed description of the 
                proposed system described in paragraph (5), 
                including a clear rationale for any differences 
                between the proposed system and the 
                recommendations of the expert panel, if any 
                such differences exist; and
                    ``(C) prior to implementing the system for 
                designation renewal, provide a report to the 
                Committee on Education and Labor of the House 
                of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
                Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate--
                            ``(i) summarizing the public 
                        comment on the proposed system and the 
                        Secretary's response to such comment; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) describing the final system 
                        for designation renewal and the plans 
                        for implementation of such system.
    ``(d) Designation When No Entity Is Renewed.--
            ``(1) In general.--If no entity in a community is 
        determined to be successfully delivering a high-quality 
        and comprehensive Head Start program, as specified in 
        subsection (c), the Secretary shall, after conducting 
        an open competition, designate for a 5-year period a 
        Head Start agency from among qualified applicants in 
        such community.
            ``(2) Considerations for designation.--In selecting 
        from among qualified applicants for designation as a 
        Head Start agency, the Secretary shall consider the 
        effectiveness of each such applicant to provide Head 
        Start services, based on--
                    ``(A) any past performance of such 
                applicant in providing services comparable to 
                Head Start services, including how effectively 
                such applicant provided such comparable 
                services;
                    ``(B) the plan of such applicant to provide 
                comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, 
                social, and other services needed to aid 
                participating children in attaining their full 
                potential, and to prepare children to succeed 
                in school;
                    ``(C) the plan of such applicant to attract 
                and retain qualified staff capable of 
                delivering, including implementing, a high-
                quality and comprehensive program, including 
                the ability to carry out a research based 
                curriculum aligned with the Head Start Child 
                Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate, State 
                early learning standards;
                    ``(D) the ability of such applicant to 
                maintain child-to-teacher ratios and family 
                service worker caseloads that reflect best 
                practices and are tied to high-quality service 
                delivery;
                    ``(E) the capacity of such applicant to 
                serve eligible children with--
                            ``(i) curricula that are based on 
                        scientifically valid research, that are 
                        developmentally appropriate, and that 
                        promote the school readiness of 
                        children participating in the program 
                        involved; and
                            ``(ii) teaching practices that are 
                        based, as appropriate, on 
                        scientifically valid research, that are 
                        developmentally appropriate, and that 
                        promote the school readiness of 
                        children participating in the program 
                        involved;
                    ``(F) the plan of such applicant to meet 
                standards described in section 641A(a)(1), with 
                particular attention to the standards described 
                in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section;
                    ``(G) the proposed budget of the applicant 
                and plan of such applicant to maintain strong 
                fiscal controls and cost-effective fiscal 
                management;
                    ``(H) the plan of such applicant to 
                coordinate and collaborate with other public or 
                private entities providing early childhood 
                education and development programs and services 
                for young children in the community involved, 
                including--
                            ``(i) programs implementing grant 
                        agreements under the Early Reading 
                        First and Even Start programs under 
                        subparts 2 and 3 of part B of title I 
                        of the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6371 
                        et seq., 6381 et seq.);
                            ``(ii) other preschool programs 
                        under title I of that Act (20 U.S.C. 
                        6301 et seq.);
                            ``(iii) programs under section 619 
                        and part C of the Individuals with 
                        Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
                        1419, 1431 et seq.);
                            ``(iv) State prekindergarten 
                        programs;
                            ``(v) child care programs;
                            ``(vi) the educational programs 
                        that the children in the Head Start 
                        program involved will enter at the age 
                        of compulsory school attendance; and
                            ``(vii) local entities, such as a 
                        public or school library, for--
                                    ``(I) conducting reading 
                                readiness programs;
                                    ``(II) developing 
                                innovative programs to excite 
                                children about the world of 
                                books, including providing 
                                fresh books in the Head Start 
                                classroom;
                                    ``(III) assisting in 
                                literacy training for Head 
                                Start teachers; or
                                    ``(IV) supporting parents 
                                and other caregivers in 
                                literacy efforts;
                    ``(I) the plan of such applicant to 
                coordinate the Head Start program that the 
                applicant proposes to carry out, with public 
                and private entities that are willing to commit 
                resources to assist the Head Start program in 
                meeting its program needs;
                    ``(J) the plan of such applicant--
                            ``(i) to facilitate the involvement 
                        of parents (including grandparents and 
                        kinship caregivers, as appropriate) of 
                        children participating in the proposed 
                        Head Start program, in activities (at 
                        home and, if practicable, at the 
                        location of the Head Start program) 
                        designed to help such parents become 
                        full partners in the education of their 
                        children;
                            ``(ii) to afford such parents the 
                        opportunity to participate in the 
                        development and overall conduct of the 
                        program at the local level, including 
                        transportation assistance, as 
                        appropriate;
                            ``(iii) to offer (directly or 
                        through referral to local entities, 
                        such as entities carrying out Even 
                        Start programs under subpart 3 of part 
                        B of title I of the Elementary and 
                        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                        U.S.C. 6381 et seq.), public and school 
                        libraries, and entities carrying out 
                        family support programs) to such 
                        parents--
                                    ``(I) family literacy 
                                services; and
                                    ``(II) parenting skills 
                                training;
                            ``(iv) to offer to parents of 
                        participating children substance abuse 
                        counseling (either directly or through 
                        referral to local entities), if needed, 
                        including information on the effect of 
                        drug exposure on infants and fetal 
                        alcohol syndrome;
                            ``(v) at the option of such 
                        applicant, to offer (directly or 
                        through referral to local entities) to 
                        such parents--
                                    ``(I) training in basic 
                                child development (including 
                                cognitive, social, and 
                                emotional development);
                                    ``(II) assistance in 
                                developing literacy and 
                                communication skills;
                                    ``(III) opportunities to 
                                share experiences with other 
                                parents (including parent-
                                mentor relationships);
                                    ``(IV) regular in-home 
                                visitation;
                                    ``(V) health services, 
                                including information on 
                                maternal depression; or
                                    ``(VI) any other activity 
                                designed to help such parents 
                                become full partners in the 
                                education of their children;
                            ``(vi) to provide, with respect to 
                        each participating family, a family 
                        needs assessment that includes 
                        consultation with such parents 
                        (including foster parents, 
                        grandparents, and kinship caregivers, 
                        where applicable), in a manner and 
                        language that such parents can 
                        understand, to the extent practicable, 
                        about the benefits of parent 
                        involvement and about the activities 
                        described in this subparagraph in which 
                        such parents may choose to become 
                        involved (taking into consideration 
                        their specific family needs, work 
                        schedules, and other responsibilities); 
                        and
                            ``(vii) to extend outreach to 
                        fathers (including father figures), in 
                        appropriate cases, in order to 
                        strengthen the role of those fathers in 
                        families, in the education of young 
                        children, and in the Head Start 
                        program, by working directly with the 
                        fathers through activities such as--
                                    ``(I) in appropriate cases, 
                                including the fathers in home 
                                visits and providing 
                                opportunities for direct 
                                father-child interactions; and
                                    ``(II) targeting increased 
                                male participation in the 
                                conduct of the program;
                    ``(K) the plan of such applicant to meet 
                the needs of limited English proficient 
                children and their families, including 
                procedures to identify such children, plans to 
                provide trained personnel, and plans to provide 
                services to assist the children in making 
                progress toward the acquisition of the English 
                language, while making meaningful progress in 
                attaining the knowledge, skills, abilities, and 
                development described in section 641A(a)(1)(B);
                    ``(L) the plan of such applicant to meet 
                the diverse needs of the population served;
                    ``(M) the plan of such applicant who 
                chooses to assist younger siblings of children 
                who will participate in the Head Start program 
                to obtain health services from other sources;
                    ``(N) the plan of such applicant to meet 
                the needs of children with disabilities, 
                including procedures to identify such children, 
                procedures for referral of such children for 
                evaluation to State or local agencies providing 
                services under section 619 or part C of the 
                Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
                U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.), and plans for 
                collaboration with those State or local 
                agencies;
                    ``(O) the plan of such applicant to meet 
                the needs of homeless children, including 
                transportation needs, and the needs of children 
                in foster care; and
                    ``(P) other factors related to the 
                requirements of this subchapter.
            ``(3) Priority.--In selecting from among qualified 
        applicants for designation as a Head Start agency, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to applicants that have 
        demonstrated capacity in providing effective, 
        comprehensive, and well-coordinated early childhood 
        education and development services and programs to 
        children and their families.
    ``(e) Prohibition Against Non-Indian Head Start Agency 
Receiving a Grant for an Indian Head Start Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        under no condition may a non-Indian Head Start agency 
        receive a grant to carry out an Indian Head Start 
        program.
            ``(2) Exception.--In a community in which there is 
        no Indian Head Start agency available for designation 
        to carry out an Indian Head Start program, a non-Indian 
        Head Start agency may receive a grant to carry out an 
        Indian Head Start program but only until such time as 
        an Indian Head Start agency in such community becomes 
        available and is designated pursuant to this section.
    ``(f) Interim Provider.--If no agency in a community is 
designated under subsection (d), and there is no qualified 
applicant in the community, the Secretary shall designate a 
qualified agency to carry out the Head Start program in the 
community on an interim basis until a qualified applicant from 
the community is designated under subsection (d).
    ``(g) Parent and Community Participation.--The Secretary 
shall require that the practice of significantly involving 
parents and community residents in the area affected by the 
program involved, in the selection of Head Start agencies, be 
continued.
    ``(h) Community.--For purposes of this subchapter, a 
community may be a city, county, or multicity or multicounty 
unit within a State, an Indian reservation (including Indians 
in any off-reservation area designated by an appropriate tribal 
government in consultation with the Secretary), or a 
neighborhood or other area (irrespective of boundaries or 
political subdivisions) that provides a suitable organizational 
base and possesses the commonality of interest needed to 
operate a Head Start program.''.

SEC. 8. STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD START AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS.

    Section 641A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836a) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 641A. STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD START AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Standards.--
            ``(1) Content of standards.--The Secretary shall 
        modify, as necessary, program performance standards by 
        regulation applicable to Head Start agencies and 
        programs under this subchapter, including--
                    ``(A) performance standards with respect to 
                services required to be provided, including 
                health, parental involvement, nutritional, and 
                social services, transition activities 
                described in section 642A, and other services;
                    ``(B) scientifically based and 
                developmentally appropriate education 
                performance standards related to school 
                readiness that are based on the Head Start 
                Child Outcomes Framework to ensure that the 
                children participating in the program, at a 
                minimum, develop and demonstrate--
                            ``(i) language knowledge and 
                        skills, including oral language and 
                        listening comprehension;
                            ``(ii) literacy knowledge and 
                        skills, including phonological 
                        awareness, print awareness and skills, 
                        and alphabetic knowledge;
                            ``(iii) mathematics knowledge and 
                        skills;
                            ``(iv) science knowledge and 
                        skills;
                            ``(v) cognitive abilities related 
                        to academic achievement and child 
                        development;
                            ``(vi) approaches to learning 
                        related to child development and early 
                        learning;
                            ``(vii) social and emotional 
                        development related to early learning, 
                        school success, and social 
                        problemsolving;
                            ``(viii) abilities in creative 
                        arts;
                            ``(ix) physical development; and
                            ``(x) in the case of limited 
                        English proficient children, progress 
                        toward acquisition of the English 
                        language while making meaningful 
                        progress in attaining the knowledge, 
                        skills, abilities, and development 
                        described in clauses (i) through (ix), 
                        including progress made through the use 
                        of culturally and linguistically 
                        appropriate instructional services;
                    ``(C) administrative and financial 
                management standards;
                    ``(D) standards relating to the condition 
                and location of facilities (including indoor 
                air quality assessment standards, where 
                appropriate) for such agencies, and programs, 
                including regulations that require that the 
                facilities used by Head Start agencies 
                (including Early Head Start agencies and any 
                delegate agencies) for regularly scheduled 
                center-based and combination program option 
                classroom activities--
                            ``(i) shall meet or exceed State 
                        and local requirements concerning 
                        licensing for such facilities; and
                            ``(ii) shall be accessible by State 
                        and local authorities for purposes of 
                        monitoring and ensuring compliance, 
                        unless State or local laws prohibit 
                        such access; and
                    ``(E) such other standards as the Secretary 
                finds to be appropriate.
            ``(2) Considerations regarding standards.--In 
        developing any modifications to standards required 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) consult with experts in the fields of 
                child development, early childhood education, 
                child health care, family services (including 
                linguistically and culturally appropriate 
                services to non-English speaking children and 
                their families), administration, and financial 
                management, and with persons with experience in 
                the operation of Head Start programs;
                    ``(B) take into consideration--
                            ``(i) past experience with use of 
                        the standards in effect under this 
                        subchapter on the date of enactment of 
                        the Improving Head Start for School 
                        Readiness Act of 2007;
                            ``(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) recommendations from the 
                        study on Developmental Outcomes and 
                        Assessments for Young Children by the 
                        National Academy of Sciences, 
                        consistent with section 649(j);
                            ``(iv) developments concerning 
                        research-based practices with respect 
                        to early childhood education and 
                        development, children with 
                        disabilities, homeless children, 
                        children in foster care, and family 
                        services, and best practices with 
                        respect to program administration and 
                        financial management;
                            ``(v) projected needs of an 
                        expanding Head Start program;
                            ``(vi) guidelines and standards 
                        that promote child health services and 
                        physical development, including 
                        participation in outdoor activity that 
                        supports children's motor development 
                        and overall health and nutrition;
                            ``(vii) changes in the 
                        characteristics of the population of 
                        children who are eligible to 
                        participate in Head Start programs, 
                        including country of origin, language 
                        background, and family structure of 
                        such children, and changes in the 
                        population and number of such children 
                        who are in foster care or are homeless 
                        children;
                            ``(viii) mechanisms to ensure that 
                        children participating in Head Start 
                        programs make a successful transition 
                        to the schools that the children will 
                        be attending;
                            ``(ix) the need for Head Start 
                        agencies to maintain regular 
                        communications with parents, including 
                        conducting periodic meetings to discuss 
                        the progress of individual children in 
                        Head Start programs; and
                            ``(x) the unique challenges faced 
                        by individual programs, including those 
                        programs that are seasonal or short 
                        term and those programs that serve 
                        rural populations;
                    ``(C)(i) review and revise as necessary the 
                standards in effect under this subsection; and
                    ``(ii) ensure that any such revisions in 
                the standards will not result in the 
                elimination of or any reduction in quality, 
                scope, or types of health, educational, 
                parental involvement, nutritional, social, or 
                other services required to be provided under 
                such standards as in effect on the date of 
                enactment of the Improving Head Start for 
                School Readiness Act of 2007; and
                    ``(D) consult with Indian tribes, including 
                Alaska Natives, experts in Indian, including 
                Alaska Native, early childhood education and 
                development, linguists, and the National Indian 
                Head Start Directors Association on the review 
                and promulgation of standards under paragraph 
                (1) (including standards for language 
                acquisition and school readiness).
            ``(3) Standards relating to obligations to delegate 
        agencies.--In developing any modifications to standards 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall describe the 
        obligations of a Head Start agency to a delegate agency 
        to which the Head Start agency has delegated 
        responsibility for providing services under this 
        subchapter.
    ``(b) Measures.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation 
        with representatives of Head Start agencies and with 
        experts in the fields of early childhood education and 
        development, family services, and program management, 
        shall use the study on Developmental Outcomes and 
        Assessments for Young Children by the National Academy 
        of Sciences and other relevant research to inform, 
        revise, and provide guidance to Head Start agencies for 
        utilizing, scientifically based measures that support, 
        as appropriate--
                    ``(A) classroom instructional practices;
                    ``(B) identification of children with 
                special needs;
                    ``(C) program evaluation; and
                    ``(D) administrative and financial 
                management practices.
            ``(2) Characteristics of measures.--The measures 
        under this subsection shall--
                    ``(A) be developmentally, linguistically, 
                and culturally appropriate for the population 
                served;
                    ``(B) be reviewed periodically, based on 
                advances in the science of early childhood 
                development;
                    ``(C) be consistent with relevant, 
                nationally recognized professional and 
                technical standards related to the assessment 
                of young children;
                    ``(D) be valid and reliable in the language 
                in which they are administered;
                    ``(E) be administered by staff with 
                appropriate training for such administration;
                    ``(F) provide for appropriate 
                accommodations for children with disabilities 
                and children who are limited English 
                proficient;
                    ``(G) be high-quality research-based 
                measures that have been demonstrated to assist 
                with the purposes for which they were devised; 
                and
                    ``(H) be adaptable, as appropriate, for use 
                in the self-assessment of Head Start agencies, 
                including in the evaluation of administrative 
                and financial management practices.
            ``(3) Use of measures; limitations on use.--
                    ``(A) Use.--The measures shall be designed, 
                as appropriate, for the purpose of--
                            ``(i) helping to develop the 
                        skills, knowledge, abilities, and 
                        development described in subsection 
                        (a)(1)(B) of children participating in 
                        Head Start programs, with an emphasis 
                        on measuring skills that scientifically 
                        valid research has demonstrated are 
                        related to children's school readiness 
                        and later success in school;
                            ``(ii) improving classroom 
                        practices, including reviewing 
                        children's strengths and weaknesses and 
                        individualizing instruction to better 
                        meet the needs of the children 
                        involved;
                            ``(iii) identifying the special 
                        needs of children; and
                            ``(iv) improving overall program 
                        performance in order to help programs 
                        identify problem areas that may require 
                        additional training and technical 
                        assistance resources.
                    ``(B) Limitations.--Such measures shall not 
                be used to exclude children from Head Start 
                programs.
            ``(4) Confidentiality.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, through 
                regulation, shall ensure the confidentiality of 
                any personally identifiable data, information, 
                and records collected or maintained under this 
                subchapter by the Secretary and any Head Start 
                agency. Such regulations shall provide the 
                policies, protections, and rights equivalent to 
                those provided to a parent, student, or 
                educational agency or institution under section 
                444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 
                U.S.C. 1232g).
                    ``(B) Prohibition on nationwide database.--
                Nothing in this subsection shall be construed 
                to authorize the development of a nationwide 
                database of personally identifiable data, 
                information, or records on children resulting 
                from the use of measures under this subsection.
            ``(5) Special rule.--
                    ``(A) Prohibition.--The use of assessment 
                items and data on any assessment authorized 
                under this subchapter by any agent of the 
                Federal Government is prohibited for the 
                purposes of--
                            ``(i) ranking, comparing, or 
                        otherwise evaluating individual 
                        children for purposes other than 
                        research, training, or technical 
                        assistance; and
                            ``(ii) providing rewards or 
                        sanctions for individual children or 
                        teachers.
                    ``(B) Results.--The Secretary shall not use 
                the results of a single assessment as the sole 
                method for assessing program effectiveness or 
                making agency funding determinations at the 
                national, regional, or local level under this 
                subchapter.
    ``(c) Monitoring of Local Agencies and Programs.--
            ``(1) In general.--To determine whether Head Start 
        agencies meet standards described in subsection (a)(1) 
        established under this subchapter with respect to 
        program, administrative, financial management, and 
        other requirements, and in order to help the programs 
        identify areas for improvement and areas of strength as 
        part of their ongoing self-assessment process, the 
        Secretary shall conduct the following reviews of Head 
        Start agencies, including the Head Start programs 
        operated by such agencies:
                    ``(A) A full review, including the use of a 
                risk-based assessment approach, of each such 
                agency at least once during each 3-year period.
                    ``(B) A review of each newly designated 
                Head Start agency immediately after the 
                completion of the first year such agency 
                carries out a Head Start program.
                    ``(C) Followup reviews, including--
                            ``(i) return visits to Head Start 
                        agencies with 1 or more findings of 
                        deficiencies, not later than 6 months 
                        after the Secretary provides 
                        notification of such findings, or not 
                        later than 12 months after such 
                        notification if the Secretary 
                        determines that additional time is 
                        necessary for an agency to address such 
                        a deficiency prior to the review; and
                            ``(ii) a review of Head Start 
                        agencies with significant areas of 
                        noncompliance.
                    ``(D) Other reviews, including unannounced 
                site inspections of Head Start centers, as 
                appropriate.
            ``(2) Conduct of reviews.--The Secretary shall 
        ensure that reviews described in subparagraphs (A) 
        through (C) of paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) are conducted by review teams that--
                            ``(i) include individuals who are 
                        knowledgeable about Head Start programs 
                        and, to the maximum extent practicable, 
                        individuals who are knowledgeable 
                        about--
                                    ``(I) other early childhood 
                                education and development 
                                programs, personnel management, 
                                financial accountability, and 
                                systems development and 
                                monitoring; and
                                    ``(II) the diverse 
                                (including linguistic and 
                                cultural) needs of eligible 
                                children (including children 
                                with disabilities, homeless 
                                children, children in foster 
                                care, and limited English 
                                proficient children) and their 
                                families;
                            ``(ii) include, to the maximum 
                        extent practicable, current or former 
                        employees of the Department of Health 
                        and Human Services who are 
                        knowledgeable about Head Start 
                        programs; and
                            ``(iii) shall receive periodic 
                        training to ensure quality and 
                        consistency across reviews;
                    ``(B) include as part of the reviews, a 
                review and assessment of program strengths and 
                areas in need of improvement;
                    ``(C) include as part of the reviews, a 
                review and assessment of whether programs have 
                adequately addressed population and community 
                needs (including those of limited English 
                proficient children and children of migrant or 
                seasonal farmworker families);
                    ``(D) include as part of the reviews, an 
                assessment of the extent to which the programs 
                address the communitywide strategic planning 
                and needs assessment described in section 
                640(g)(1)(C);
                    ``(E) include information on the innovative 
                and effective efforts of the Head Start 
                agencies to collaborate with the entities 
                providing early childhood and development 
                services or programs in the community and any 
                barriers to such collaboration that the 
                agencies encounter;
                    ``(F) include as part of the reviews, a 
                valid and reliable research-based observational 
                instrument, implemented by qualified 
                individuals with demonstrated reliability, that 
                assesses classroom quality, including assessing 
                multiple dimensions of teacher-child 
                interactions that are linked to positive child 
                development and later achievement;
                    ``(G) are conducted in a manner that 
                evaluates program performance, quality, and 
                overall operations with consistency and 
                objectivity, are based on a transparent and 
                reliable system of review, and are conducted in 
                a manner that includes periodic interrater 
                reliability checks, to ensure quality and 
                consistency, across and within regions, of the 
                reviews and of noncompliance and deficiency 
                determinations;
                    ``(H) in the case of reviews of Early Head 
                Start agencies and programs, are conducted by a 
                review team that includes individuals who are 
                knowledgeable about the development of infants 
                and toddlers;
                    ``(I) include as part of the reviews a 
                protocol for fiscal management that shall be 
                used to assess compliance with program 
                requirements for--
                            ``(i) using Federal funds 
                        appropriately;
                            ``(ii) using Federal funds 
                        specifically to purchase property 
                        (consistent with section 644(f)) and to 
                        compensate personnel;
                            ``(iii) securing and using 
                        qualified financial officer support; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) reporting financial 
                        information and implementing 
                        appropriate internal controls to 
                        safeguard Federal funds;
                    ``(J) include as part of the reviews of the 
                programs, a review and assessment of whether 
                the programs are in conformity with the 
                eligibility requirements under section 
                645(a)(1), including regulations promulgated 
                under such section and whether the programs 
                have met the requirements for the outreach and 
                enrollment policies and procedures, and 
                selection criteria, in such section, for the 
                participation of children in programs assisted 
                under this subchapter;
                    ``(K) include as part of the reviews, a 
                review and assessment of whether agencies have 
                adequately addressed the needs of children with 
                disabilities, including whether the agencies 
                involved have met the 10 percent minimum 
                enrollment requirement specified in section 
                640(d) and whether the agencies have made 
                sufficient efforts to collaborate with State 
                and local agencies providing services under 
                section 619 or part C of the Individuals with 
                Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 
                1431 et seq.); and
                    ``(L) include as part of the reviews, a 
                review and assessment of child outcomes and 
                performance as they relate to agency-determined 
                school readiness goals described in subsection 
                (g)(2), consistent with subsection (b)(5).
            ``(3) Standards relating to obligations to delegate 
        agencies.--In conducting a review described in 
        paragraph (1)(A) of a Head Start agency, the Secretary 
        shall determine whether the agency complies with the 
        obligations described in subsection (a)(3). The 
        Secretary shall consider such compliance in determining 
        whether to renew financial assistance to the Head Start 
        agency under this subchapter.
            ``(4) Use of review findings.--The findings of a 
        review described in paragraph (1) of a Head Start 
        agency shall, at a minimum--
                    ``(A) be presented to the agency in a 
                timely, transparent, and uniform manner that 
                conveys information of program strengths and 
                weaknesses and assists with program 
                improvement; and
                    ``(B) be used by the agency to inform the 
                development and implementation of its plan for 
                training and technical assistance.
    ``(d) Evaluations and Corrective Action for Delegate 
Agencies.--
            ``(1) Procedures.--Each Head Start agency shall 
        establish, subject to paragraph (4), procedures 
        relating to its delegate agencies, including--
                    ``(A) procedures for evaluating delegate 
                agencies;
                    ``(B) procedures for defunding delegate 
                agencies; and
                    ``(C) procedures for a delegate agency to 
                appeal a defunding decision.
            ``(2) Evaluation.--Each Head Start agency--
                    ``(A) shall evaluate its delegate agencies 
                using the procedures established under this 
                subsection; and
                    ``(B) shall inform the delegate agencies of 
                the deficiencies identified through the 
                evaluation that are required to be corrected.
            ``(3) Remedies to ensure corrective actions.--In 
        the event that the Head Start agency identifies a 
        deficiency for a delegate agency through the 
        evaluation, the Head Start agency shall take action, 
        which may include--
                    ``(A) initiating procedures to terminate 
                the designation of the agency unless the agency 
                corrects the deficiency;
                    ``(B) conducting monthly monitoring visits 
                to such delegate agency until all deficiencies 
                are corrected or the Head Start agency decides 
                to defund such delegate agency; and
                    ``(C) releasing funds to such delegate 
                agency--
                            ``(i) only as reimbursements except 
                        that, upon receiving a request from the 
                        delegate agency accompanied by 
                        assurances satisfactory to the Head 
                        Start agency that the funds will be 
                        appropriately safeguarded, the Head 
                        Start agency shall provide to the 
                        delegate agency a working capital 
                        advance in an amount sufficient to 
                        cover the estimated expenses involved 
                        during an agreed upon disbursing cycle; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) only if there is continuity 
                        of services.
            ``(4) Termination.--The Head Start agency may not 
        terminate a delegate agency's contract or reduce a 
        delegate agency's service area without showing cause or 
        demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of such a 
        decision.
            ``(5) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this 
        subsection shall be construed to limit the powers, 
        duties, or functions of the Secretary with respect to 
        Head Start agencies or delegate agencies that receive 
        financial assistance under this subchapter.
    ``(e) Corrective Action for Head Start Agencies.--
            ``(1) Determination.--If the Secretary determines, 
        on the basis of a review pursuant to subsection (c), 
        that a Head Start agency designated pursuant to this 
        subchapter fails to meet the standards described in 
        subsection (a)(1) or fails to address the communitywide 
        strategic planning and needs assessment, the Secretary 
        shall--
                    ``(A) inform the agency of the deficiencies 
                that shall be corrected and identify the 
                assistance to be provided consistent with 
                paragraph (3);
                    ``(B) with respect to each identified 
                deficiency, require the agency--
                            ``(i) to correct the deficiency 
                        immediately, if the Secretary finds 
                        that the deficiency threatens the 
                        health or safety of staff or program 
                        participants or poses a threat to the 
                        integrity of Federal funds;
                            ``(ii) to correct the deficiency 
                        not later than 90 days after the 
                        identification of the deficiency if the 
                        Secretary finds, in the discretion of 
                        the Secretary, that such a 90-day 
                        period is reasonable, in light of the 
                        nature and magnitude of the deficiency; 
                        or
                            ``(iii) in the discretion of the 
                        Secretary (taking into consideration 
                        the seriousness of the deficiency and 
                        the time reasonably required to correct 
                        the deficiency), to comply with the 
                        requirements of paragraph (2) 
                        concerning a quality improvement plan; 
                        and
                    ``(C) initiate proceedings to terminate the 
                designation of the agency unless the agency 
                corrects the deficiency.
            ``(2) Quality improvement plan.--
                    ``(A) Agency and program 
                responsibilities.--To retain a designation as a 
                Head Start agency under this subchapter, or in 
                the case of a Head Start program to continue to 
                receive funds from such agency, a Head Start 
                agency that is the subject of a determination 
                described in paragraph (1), or a Head Start 
                program that is determined to have a deficiency 
                under subsection (d)(2) (excluding an agency 
                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 that shall be 
                        subject to the approval of the 
                        Secretary, or in the case of a program, 
                        the sponsoring agency, and that 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) correct each deficiency 
                        identified, not later than the date for 
                        correction of such deficiency specified 
                        in such plan (which shall not be later 
                        than 1 year after the date the agency 
                        or Head Start program that is 
                        determined to have a deficiency 
                        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.--Not later 
                than 30 days after receiving from a Head Start 
                program a proposed quality improvement plan 
                pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Head Start 
                agency involved shall either approve such 
                proposed plan or specify the reasons why the 
                proposed plan cannot be approved.
            ``(3) Training and technical assistance.--The 
        Secretary shall provide training and technical 
        assistance to Head Start agencies and programs with 
        respect to the development or implementation of such 
        quality improvement plans to the extent the Secretary 
        finds such provision to be feasible and appropriate 
        given available funding and other statutory 
        responsibilities.
    ``(f) Summaries of Monitoring Outcomes.--
            ``(1) In general.--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 
        (e), during such fiscal year.
            ``(2) Report availability.--Such report shall be 
        made widely available to--
                    ``(A) parents with children receiving 
                assistance under this subchapter--
                            ``(i) in an understandable and 
                        uniform format; and
                            ``(ii) to the extent practicable, 
                        in a language that the parents 
                        understand; and
                    ``(B) the public through means such as--
                            ``(i) distribution through public 
                        agencies; and
                            ``(ii) posting such information on 
                        the Internet.
            ``(3) Report information.--Such report shall 
        contain detailed data--
                    ``(A) on compliance with specific standards 
                and measures; and
                    ``(B) sufficient to allow Head Start 
                agencies to use such data to improve the 
                quality of their programs.
    ``(g) Self-Assessments.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once 
        each program year, with the consultation and 
        participation of policy councils and, as applicable, 
        policy committees and, as appropriate, other community 
        members, each Head Start agency, and each delegate 
        agency, that receives financial assistance under this 
        subchapter shall conduct a comprehensive self-
        assessment of its effectiveness and progress in meeting 
        program goals and objectives and in implementing and 
        complying with standards described in subsection 
        (a)(1).
            ``(2) Goals, reports, and improvement plans.--
                    ``(A) Goals.--An agency conducting a self-
                assessment shall establish agency-determined 
                program goals for improving the school 
                readiness of children participating in a 
                program under this subchapter, including school 
                readiness goals that are aligned with the Head 
                Start Child Outcomes Framework, State early 
                learning standards as appropriate, and 
                requirements and expectations of the schools 
                the children will be attending.
                    ``(B) Improvement plan.--The agency shall 
                develop, and submit to the Secretary a report 
                containing, an improvement plan approved by the 
                governing body of the agency to strengthen any 
                areas identified in the self-assessment as 
                weaknesses or in need of improvement.
            ``(3) Ongoing monitoring.--Each Head Start agency 
        (including each Early Head Start agency) and each 
        delegate agency shall establish and implement 
        procedures for the ongoing monitoring of their 
        respective programs, to ensure that the operations of 
        the programs work toward meeting program goals and 
        objectives and standards described in subsection 
        (a)(1).
    ``(h) Reduction of Grants and Redistribution of Funds in 
Cases of Underenrollment.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Actual enrollment.--The term `actual 
                enrollment' means, with respect to the program 
                of a Head Start agency, the actual number of 
                children enrolled in such program and reported 
                by the agency (as required in paragraph (2)) in 
                a given month.
                    ``(B) Base grant.--The term `base grant' 
                has the meaning given the term in section 
                640(a)(7).
                    ``(C) Funded enrollment.--The term `funded 
                enrollment' means, with respect to the program 
                of a Head Start agency in a fiscal year, the 
                number of children that the agency is funded to 
                serve through a grant for the program during 
                such fiscal year, as indicated in the grant 
                agreement.
            ``(2) Enrollment reporting requirement.--Each 
        entity carrying out a Head Start program shall report 
        on a monthly basis to the Secretary and the relevant 
        Head Start agency--
                    ``(A) the actual enrollment in such 
                program; and
                    ``(B) if such actual enrollment is less 
                than the funded enrollment, any apparent reason 
                for such enrollment shortfall.
            ``(3) Secretarial review and plan.--The Secretary 
        shall--
                    ``(A) on a semiannual basis, determine 
                which Head Start agencies are operating with an 
                actual enrollment that is less than the funded 
                enrollment based on not less than 4 consecutive 
                months of data;
                    ``(B) for each such Head Start agency 
                operating a program with an actual enrollment 
                that is less than its funded enrollment, as 
                determined under subparagraph (A), develop, in 
                collaboration with such agency, a plan and 
                timetable for reducing or eliminating 
                underenrollment taking into consideration--
                            ``(i) the quality and extent of the 
                        outreach, recruitment, and 
                        communitywide strategic planning and 
                        needs assessment conducted by such 
                        agency;
                            ``(ii) changing demographics, 
                        mobility of populations, and the 
                        identification of new underserved low-
                        income populations;
                            ``(iii) facilities-related issues 
                        that may impact enrollment;
                            ``(iv) the ability to provide full-
                        working-day programs, where needed, 
                        through funds made available under this 
                        subchapter or through collaboration 
                        with entities carrying out other early 
                        childhood education and development 
                        programs, or programs with other 
                        funding sources (where available);
                            ``(v) the availability and use by 
                        families of other early childhood 
                        education and development options in 
                        the community served; and
                            ``(vi) agency management procedures 
                        that may impact enrollment; and
                    ``(C) provide timely and ongoing technical 
                assistance to each agency described in 
                subparagraph (B) for the purpose of assisting 
                the Head Start agency to implement the plan 
                described in such subparagraph.
            ``(4) Implementation.--Upon receipt of the 
        technical assistance described in paragraph (3)(C), a 
        Head Start agency shall immediately implement the plan 
        described in paragraph (3)(B). The Secretary shall, 
        where determined appropriate, continue to provide 
        technical assistance to such agency.
            ``(5) Secretarial review and adjustment for chronic 
        underenrollment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If, after receiving 
                technical assistance and developing and 
                implementing the plan as described in 
                paragraphs (3) and (4) for 12 months, a Head 
                Start agency is operating a program with an 
                actual enrollment that is less than 97 percent 
                of its funded enrollment, the Secretary may--
                            ``(i) designate such agency as 
                        chronically underenrolled; and
                            ``(ii) recapture, withhold, or 
                        reduce the base grant for the program 
                        by a percentage equal to the percentage 
                        difference between funded enrollment 
                        and actual enrollment for the program 
                        for the most recent year for which the 
                        agency is determined to be 
                        underenrolled under paragraph (3)(A).
                    ``(B) Waiver or limitation of reductions.--
                The Secretary may, as appropriate, waive or 
                reduce the percentage recapturing, withholding, 
                or reduction otherwise required by subparagraph 
                (A), if, after the implementation of the plan 
                described in paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary 
                finds that--
                            ``(i) the causes of the enrollment 
                        shortfall, or a portion of the 
                        shortfall, are related to the agency's 
                        serving significant numbers of highly 
                        mobile children, or are other 
                        significant causes as determined by the 
                        Secretary;
                            ``(ii) the shortfall can reasonably 
                        be expected to be temporary; or
                            ``(iii) the number of slots 
                        allotted to the agency is small enough 
                        that underenrollment does not create a 
                        significant shortfall.
            ``(6) Redistribution of funds.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Funds held by the 
                Secretary as a result of recapturing, 
                withholding, or reducing a base grant in a 
                fiscal year shall be redistributed by the end 
                of the following fiscal year as follows:
                            ``(i) Indian head start programs.--
                        If such funds are derived from an 
                        Indian Head Start program, then such 
                        funds shall be redistributed to 
                        increase enrollment by the end of the 
                        following fiscal year in 1 or more 
                        Indian Head Start programs.
                            ``(ii) Migrant and seasonal head 
                        start programs.--If such funds are 
                        derived from a migrant or seasonal Head 
                        Start program, then such funds shall be 
                        redistributed to increase enrollment by 
                        the end of the following fiscal year in 
                        1 or more programs of the type from 
                        which such funds are derived.
                            ``(iii) Early head start 
                        programs.--If such funds are derived 
                        from an Early Head Start program in a 
                        State, then such funds shall be 
                        redistributed to increase enrollment by 
                        the end of the following fiscal year in 
                        1 or more Early Head Start programs in 
                        that State. If such funds are derived 
                        from an Indian Early Head Start 
                        program, then such funds shall be 
                        redistributed to increase enrollment by 
                        the end of the following fiscal year in 
                        1 or more Indian Early Head Start 
                        programs.
                            ``(iv) Other head start programs.--
                        If such funds are derived from a Head 
                        Start program in a State (excluding 
                        programs described in clauses (i) 
                        through (iii)), then such funds shall 
                        be redistributed to increase enrollment 
                        by the end of the following fiscal year 
                        in 1 or more Head Start programs 
                        (excluding programs described in 
                        clauses (i) through (iii)) that are 
                        carried out in such State.
                    ``(B) Adjustment to funded enrollment.--The 
                Secretary shall adjust as necessary the 
                requirements relating to funded enrollment 
                indicated in the grant agreement of a Head 
                Start agency receiving redistributed funds 
                under this paragraph.''.

SEC. 9. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

    Section 642 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 642. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

    ``(a) Authority.--To be designated as a Head Start agency 
under this subchapter, an agency shall have authority under its 
charter or applicable law to receive and administer funds under 
this subchapter, funds and contributions from private or local 
public sources that may be used in support of a Head Start 
program, and funds under any Federal or State assistance 
program pursuant to which a public or private nonprofit or for-
profit agency (as the case may be) organized in accordance with 
this subchapter, could act as grantee, contractor, or sponsor 
of projects appropriate for inclusion in a Head Start program. 
Such an agency shall also be empowered to transfer funds so 
received, and to delegate powers to other agencies, subject to 
the powers of its governing board and its overall program 
responsibilities. The power to transfer funds and delegate 
powers shall include the power to make transfers and 
delegations covering component projects in all cases where this 
will contribute to efficiency and effectiveness or otherwise 
further program objectives.
    ``(b) Family and Community Involvement; Family Services.--
To be so designated, a Head Start agency shall, at a minimum, 
do all the following to involve and serve families and 
communities:
            ``(1) Provide for the regular and direct 
        participation of parents and community residents in the 
        implementation of the Head Start program, including 
        decisions that influence the character of such program, 
        consistent with paragraphs (2)(D) and (3)(C) of 
        subsection (c).
            ``(2) Seek the involvement of parents, community 
        residents, and local business in the design and 
        implementation of the program.
            ``(3) Establish effective procedures--
                    ``(A) to facilitate and 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
                    ``(B) to afford such parents the 
                opportunity to participate in the development 
                and overall conduct of the program at the local 
                level, including transportation assistance as 
                appropriate.
            ``(4) Offer (directly or through referral to local 
        entities, such as entities carrying out Even Start 
        programs under subpart 3 of part B of title I of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 6381 et seq.), public and school libraries, and 
        entities carrying out family support programs) to such 
        parents--
                    ``(A) family literacy services; and
                    ``(B) parenting skills training.
            ``(5) Offer to parents of participating children 
        substance abuse counseling (either directly or through 
        referral to local entities), if needed, including 
        information on the effect of drug exposure on infants 
        and fetal alcohol syndrome.
            ``(6) At the option of such agency, offer (directly 
        or through referral to local entities) to such 
        parents--
                    ``(A) training in basic child development 
                (including cognitive, social, and emotional 
                development);
                    ``(B) assistance in developing literacy and 
                communication skills;
                    ``(C) opportunities to share experiences 
                with other parents (including parent-mentor 
                relationships);
                    ``(D) health services, including 
                information on maternal depression;
                    ``(E) regular in-home visitation; or
                    ``(F) any other activity designed to help 
                such parents become full partners in the 
                education of their children.
            ``(7) Provide, with respect to each participating 
        family, a family needs assessment that includes 
        consultation with such parents (including foster 
        parents, grandparents, and kinship caregivers, where 
        applicable), in a manner and language that such parents 
        can understand (to the extent practicable), about the 
        benefits of parent involvement and about the activities 
        described in this subsection in which such parents may 
        choose to be involved (taking into consideration their 
        specific family needs, work schedules, and other 
        responsibilities).
            ``(8) Consider providing services to assist younger 
        siblings of children participating in its Head Start 
        program to obtain health services from other sources.
            ``(9) Perform community outreach to encourage 
        individuals previously unaffiliated with Head Start 
        programs to participate in its Head Start program as 
        volunteers.
            ``(10)(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.
            ``(B) Refer eligible parents to the child support 
        offices of State and local governments.
            ``(11) Provide to parents of limited English 
        proficient children outreach and information, in an 
        understandable and uniform format and, to the extent 
        practicable, in a language that the parents can 
        understand.
            ``(12) Provide technical and other support needed 
        to enable parents and community residents to secure, on 
        their own behalf, available assistance from public and 
        private sources.
            ``(13) Promote the continued involvement of the 
        parents (including foster parents, grandparents, and 
        kinship caregivers, as appropriate) of children that 
        participate in Head Start programs in the education of 
        their children upon transition of their children to 
        school, by working with the local educational agency--
                    ``(A) to provide training to the parents--
                            ``(i) to inform the parents about 
                        their rights and responsibilities 
                        concerning the education of their 
                        children; and
                            ``(ii) to enable the parents--
                                    ``(I) to understand and 
                                work with schools in order to 
                                communicate with teachers and 
                                other school personnel;
                                    ``(II) to support the 
                                schoolwork of their children; 
                                and
                                    ``(III) to participate as 
                                appropriate in decisions 
                                relating to the education of 
                                their children; and
                    ``(B) to take other actions, as appropriate 
                and feasible, to support the active involvement 
                of the parents with schools, school personnel, 
                and school-related organizations.
            ``(14) Establish effective procedures for timely 
        referral of children with disabilities to the State or 
        local agency providing services under section 619 or 
        part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
        Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.), and collaboration 
        with that agency, consistent with section 640(d)(3).
            ``(15) Establish effective procedures for providing 
        necessary early intervening services to children with 
        disabilities prior to an eligibility determination by 
        the State or local agency responsible for providing 
        services under section 619 or part C of such Act, 
        consistent with section 640(d)(2).
            ``(16) At the option of the Head Start agency, 
        partner with an institution of higher education and a 
        nonprofit organization to provide college students with 
        the opportunity to serve as mentors or reading partners 
        for Head Start participants.
    ``(c) Program Governance.--Upon receiving designation as a 
Head Start agency, the agency shall establish and maintain a 
formal structure for program governance, for the oversight of 
quality services for Head Start children and families and for 
making decisions related to program design and implementation. 
Such structure shall include the following:
            ``(1) Governing body.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The governing body shall 
                have legal and fiscal responsibility for the 
                Head Start agency.
                    ``(B) Composition.--The governing body 
                shall be composed as follows:
                            ``(i) Not less than 1 member shall 
                        have a background and expertise in 
                        fiscal management or accounting.
                            ``(ii) Not less than 1 member shall 
                        have a background and expertise in 
                        early childhood education and 
                        development.
                            ``(iii) Not less than 1 member 
                        shall be a licensed attorney familiar 
                        with issues that come before the 
                        governing body.
                            ``(iv) Additional members shall--
                                    ``(I) reflect the community 
                                to be served and include 
                                parents of children who are 
                                currently, or were formerly, 
                                enrolled in Head Start 
                                programs; and
                                    ``(II) are selected for 
                                their expertise in education, 
                                business administration, or 
                                community affairs.
                            ``(v) Exceptions shall be made to 
                        the requirements of clauses (i) through 
                        (iv) for members of a governing body 
                        when those members oversee a public 
                        entity and are selected to their 
                        positions with the public entity by 
                        public election or political 
                        appointment.
                            ``(vi) If a person described in 
                        clause (i), (ii), or (iii) is not 
                        available to serve as a member of the 
                        governing body, the governing body 
                        shall use a consultant, or an other 
                        individual with relevant expertise, 
                        with the qualifications described in 
                        that clause, who shall work directly 
                        with the governing body.
                    ``(C) Conflict of interest.--Members of the 
                governing body shall--
                            ``(i) not have a financial conflict 
                        of interest with the Head Start agency 
                        (including any delegate agency);
                            ``(ii) not receive compensation for 
                        serving on the governing body or for 
                        providing services to the Head Start 
                        agency;
                            ``(iii) not be employed, nor shall 
                        members of their immediate family be 
                        employed, by the Head Start agency 
                        (including any delegate agency); and
                            ``(iv) operate as an entity 
                        independent of staff employed by the 
                        Head Start agency.
                    ``(D) Exception.--If an individual holds a 
                position as a result of public election or 
                political appointment, and such position 
                carries with it a concurrent appointment to 
                serve as a member of a Head Start agency 
                governing body, and such individual has any 
                conflict of interest described in clause (ii) 
                or (iii) of subparagraph (C)--
                            ``(i) such individual shall not be 
                        prohibited from serving on such body 
                        and the Head Start agency shall report 
                        such conflict to the Secretary; and
                            ``(ii) if the position held as a 
                        result of public election or political 
                        appointment provides compensation, such 
                        individual shall not be prohibited from 
                        receiving such compensation.
                    ``(E) Responsibilities.--The governing body 
                shall--
                            ``(i) have legal and fiscal 
                        responsibility for administering and 
                        overseeing programs under this 
                        subchapter, including the safeguarding 
                        of Federal funds;
                            ``(ii) adopt practices that assure 
                        active, independent, and informed 
                        governance of the Head Start agency, 
                        including practices consistent with 
                        subsection (d)(1), and fully 
                        participate in the development, 
                        planning, and evaluation of the Head 
                        Start programs involved;
                            ``(iii) be responsible for ensuring 
                        compliance with Federal laws (including 
                        regulations) and applicable State, 
                        tribal, and local laws (including 
                        regulations); and
                            ``(iv) be responsible for other 
                        activities, including--
                                    ``(I) selecting delegate 
                                agencies and the service areas 
                                for such agencies;
                                    ``(II) establishing 
                                procedures and criteria for 
                                recruitment, selection, and 
                                enrollment of children;
                                    ``(III) reviewing all 
                                applications for funding and 
                                amendments to applications for 
                                funding for programs under this 
                                subchapter;
                                    ``(IV) establishing 
                                procedures and guidelines for 
                                accessing and collecting 
                                information described in 
                                subsection (d)(2);
                                    ``(V) reviewing and 
                                approving all major policies of 
                                the agency, including--
                                            ``(aa) the annual 
                                        self-assessment and 
                                        financial audit;
                                            ``(bb) such 
                                        agency's progress in 
                                        carrying out the 
                                        programmatic and fiscal 
                                        provisions in such 
                                        agency's grant 
                                        application, including 
                                        implementation of 
                                        corrective actions; and
                                            ``(cc) personnel 
                                        policies of such 
                                        agencies regarding the 
                                        hiring, evaluation, 
                                        termination, and 
                                        compensation of agency 
                                        employees;
                                    ``(VI) developing 
                                procedures for how members of 
                                the policy council are 
                                selected, consistent with 
                                paragraph (2)(B);
                                    ``(VII) approving financial 
                                management, accounting, and 
                                reporting policies, and 
                                compliance with laws and 
                                regulations related to 
                                financial statements, including 
                                the--
                                            ``(aa) approval of 
                                        all major financial 
                                        expenditures of the 
                                        agency;
                                            ``(bb) annual 
                                        approval of the 
                                        operating budget of the 
                                        agency;
                                            ``(cc) selection 
                                        (except when a 
                                        financial auditor is 
                                        assigned by the State 
                                        under State law or is 
                                        assigned under local 
                                        law) of independent 
                                        financial auditors who 
                                        shall report all 
                                        critical accounting 
                                        policies and practices 
                                        to the governing body; 
                                        and
                                            ``(dd) monitoring 
                                        of the agency's actions 
                                        to correct any audit 
                                        findings and of other 
                                        action necessary to 
                                        comply with applicable 
                                        laws (including 
                                        regulations) governing 
                                        financial statement and 
                                        accounting practices;
                                    ``(VIII) reviewing results 
                                from monitoring conducted under 
                                section 641A(c), including 
                                appropriate followup 
                                activities;
                                    ``(IX) approving personnel 
                                policies and procedures, 
                                including policies and 
                                procedures regarding the 
                                hiring, evaluation, 
                                compensation, and termination 
                                of the Executive Director, Head 
                                Start Director, Director of 
                                Human Resources, Chief Fiscal 
                                Officer, and any other person 
                                in an equivalent position with 
                                the agency;
                                    ``(X) establishing, 
                                adopting, and periodically 
                                updating written standards of 
                                conduct that establish 
                                standards and formal procedures 
                                for disclosing, addressing, and 
                                resolving--
                                            ``(aa) any conflict 
                                        of interest, and any 
                                        appearance of a 
                                        conflict of interest, 
                                        by members of the 
                                        governing body, 
                                        officers and employees 
                                        of the Head Start 
                                        agency, and consultants 
                                        and agents who provide 
                                        services or furnish 
                                        goods to the Head Start 
                                        agency; and
                                            ``(bb) complaints, 
                                        including 
                                        investigations, when 
                                        appropriate; and
                                    ``(XI) to the extent 
                                practicable and appropriate, at 
                                the discretion of the governing 
                                body, establishing advisory 
                                committees to oversee key 
                                responsibilities related to 
                                program governance and 
                                improvement of the Head Start 
                                program involved.
            ``(2) Policy council.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Consistent with 
                paragraph (1)(E), each Head Start agency shall 
                have a policy council responsible for the 
                direction of the Head Start program, including 
                program design and operation, and long- and 
                short-term planning goals and objectives, 
                taking into account the annual communitywide 
                strategic planning and needs assessment and 
                self-assessment.
                    ``(B) Composition and selection.--
                            ``(i) The policy council shall be 
                        elected by the parents of children who 
                        are currently enrolled in the Head 
                        Start program of the Head Start agency.
                            ``(ii) The policy council shall be 
                        composed of--
                                    ``(I) parents of children 
                                who are currently enrolled in 
                                the Head Start program of the 
                                Head Start agency (including 
                                any delegate agency), who shall 
                                constitute a majority of the 
                                members of the policy council; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) members at large of 
                                the community served by the 
                                Head Start agency (including 
                                any delegate agency), who may 
                                include parents of children who 
                                were formerly enrolled in the 
                                Head Start program of the 
                                agency.
                    ``(C) Conflict of interest.--Members of the 
                policy council shall--
                            ``(i) not have a conflict of 
                        interest with the Head Start agency 
                        (including any delegate agency); and
                            ``(ii) not receive compensation for 
                        serving on the policy council or for 
                        providing services to the Head Start 
                        agency.
                    ``(D) Responsibilities.--The policy council 
                shall approve and submit to the governing body 
                decisions about each of the following 
                activities:
                            ``(i) Activities to support the 
                        active involvement of parents in 
                        supporting program operations, 
                        including policies to ensure that the 
                        Head Start agency is responsive to 
                        community and parent needs.
                            ``(ii) Program recruitment, 
                        selection, and enrollment priorities.
                            ``(iii) Applications for funding 
                        and amendments to applications for 
                        funding for programs under this 
                        subchapter, prior to submission of 
                        applications described in this clause.
                            ``(iv) Budget planning for program 
                        expenditures, including policies for 
                        reimbursement and participation in 
                        policy council activities.
                            ``(v) Bylaws for the operation of 
                        the policy council.
                            ``(vi) Program personnel policies 
                        and decisions regarding the employment 
                        of program staff, consistent with 
                        paragraph (1)(E)(iv)(IX), including 
                        standards of conduct for program staff, 
                        contractors, and volunteers and 
                        criteria for the employment and 
                        dismissal of program staff.
                            ``(vii) Developing procedures for 
                        how members of the policy council of 
                        the Head Start agency will be elected.
                            ``(viii) Recommendations on the 
                        selection of delegate agencies and the 
                        service areas for such agencies.
            ``(3) Policy committees.--Each delegate agency 
        shall create a policy committee, which shall--
                    ``(A) be elected and composed of members, 
                consistent with paragraph (2)(B) (with respect 
                to delegate agencies);
                    ``(B) follow procedures to prohibit 
                conflict of interest, consistent with clauses 
                (i) and (ii) of paragraph (2)(C) (with respect 
                to delegate agencies); and
                    ``(C) be responsible for approval and 
                submission of decisions about activities as 
                they relate to the delegate agency, consistent 
                with paragraph (2)(D) (with respect to delegate 
                agencies).
    ``(d) Program Governance Administration.--
            ``(1) Impasse policies.--The Secretary shall 
        develop policies, procedures, and guidance for Head 
        Start agencies concerning--
                    ``(A) the resolution of internal disputes, 
                including any impasse in the governance of Head 
                Start programs; and
                    ``(B) the facilitation of meaningful 
                consultation and collaboration about decisions 
                of the governing body and policy council.
            ``(2) Conduct of responsibilities.--Each Head Start 
        agency shall ensure the sharing of accurate and regular 
        information for use by the governing body and the 
        policy council, about program planning, policies, and 
        Head Start agency operations, including--
                    ``(A) monthly financial statements, 
                including credit card expenditures;
                    ``(B) monthly program information 
                summaries;
                    ``(C) program enrollment reports, including 
                attendance reports for children whose care is 
                partially subsidized by another public agency;
                    ``(D) monthly reports of meals and snacks 
                provided through programs of the Department of 
                Agriculture;
                    ``(E) the financial audit;
                    ``(F) the annual self-assessment, including 
                any findings related to such assessment;
                    ``(G) the communitywide strategic planning 
                and needs assessment of the Head Start agency, 
                including any applicable updates;
                    ``(H) communication and guidance from the 
                Secretary; and
                    ``(I) the program information reports.
            ``(3) Training and technical assistance.--
        Appropriate training and technical assistance shall be 
        provided to the members of the governing body and the 
        policy council to ensure that the members understand 
        the information the members receive and can effectively 
        oversee and participate in the programs of the Head 
        Start agency.
    ``(e) Collaboration and Coordination.--To be so designated, 
a Head Start agency shall collaborate and coordinate with 
public and private entities, to the maximum extent practicable, 
to improve the availability and quality of services to Head 
Start children and families, including carrying out the 
following activities:
            ``(1) Conduct outreach to schools in which children 
        participating in the Head Start program will enroll 
        following the program, 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.
            ``(2)(A) In communities where both a public 
        prekindergarten program and a Head Start program 
        operate, collaborate and coordinate activities with the 
        local educational agency or other public agency 
        responsible for the operation of the prekindergarten 
        program and providers of prekindergarten, including 
        outreach activities to identify eligible children.
            ``(B) With the permission of the parents of 
        children enrolled in the Head Start program, regularly 
        communicate with the schools in which the children will 
        enroll following the program, to--
                    ``(i) share information about such 
                children;
                    ``(ii) collaborate with the teachers in 
                such schools regarding professional development 
                and instructional strategies, as appropriate; 
                and
                    ``(iii) ensure a smooth transition to 
                school for such children.
            ``(3) Coordinate activities and collaborate with 
        programs under the Child Care and Development Block 
        Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), the 
        agencies responsible for administering section 106 of 
        the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 
        5106a) and parts B and E of title IV of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq., 670 et seq.), 
        programs under subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-
        Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et 
        seq.), Even Start programs under subpart 3 of part B of 
        title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381 et seq.), programs under 
        section 619 and part C of the Individuals with 
        Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et 
        seq.), and other entities providing early childhood 
        education and development programs or services, serving 
        the children and families served by the Head Start 
        agency.
            ``(4) Take steps to coordinate activities with the 
        local educational agency serving the community involved 
        and with schools in which children participating in the 
        Head Start program will enroll following the program, 
        including--
                    ``(A) collaborating on the shared use of 
                transportation and facilities, in appropriate 
                cases;
                    ``(B) collaborating to reduce the 
                duplication and enhance the efficiency of 
                services while increasing the program 
                participation of underserved populations of 
                eligible children; and
                    ``(C) exchanging information on the 
                provision of noneducational services to such 
                children.
            ``(5) Enter into a memorandum of understanding, not 
        later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the 
        Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, 
        with the appropriate local entity responsible for 
        managing publicly funded preschool programs in the 
        service area of the Head Start agency, that shall--
                    ``(A)(i) provide for a review of each of 
                the activities described in clause (ii); and
                    ``(ii) include plans to coordinate, as 
                appropriate, activities regarding--
                            ``(I) educational activities, 
                        curricular objectives, and instruction;
                            ``(II) public information 
                        dissemination and access to programs 
                        for families contacting the Head Start 
                        program or any of the preschool 
                        programs;
                            ``(III) selection priorities for 
                        eligible children to be served by 
                        programs;
                            ``(IV) service areas;
                            ``(V) staff training, including 
                        opportunities for joint staff training 
                        on topics such as academic content 
                        standards, instructional methods, 
                        curricula, and social and emotional 
                        development;
                            ``(VI) program technical 
                        assistance;
                            ``(VII) provision of additional 
                        services to meet the needs of working 
                        parents, as applicable;
                            ``(VIII) communications and parent 
                        outreach for smooth transitions to 
                        kindergarten as required in paragraphs 
                        (3) and (6) of section 642A(a);
                            ``(IX) provision and use of 
                        facilities, transportation, and other 
                        program elements; and
                            ``(X) other elements mutually 
                        agreed to by the parties to such 
                        memorandum;
                    ``(B) be submitted to the Secretary and the 
                State Director of Head Start Collaboration not 
                later than 30 days after the parties enter into 
                such memorandum, except that--
                            ``(i) where there is an absence of 
                        publicly funded preschool programs in 
                        the service area of a Head Start 
                        agency, this paragraph shall not apply; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) where the appropriate local 
                        entity responsible for managing the 
                        publicly funded preschool programs is 
                        unable or unwilling to enter into such 
                        a memorandum, this paragraph shall not 
                        apply and the Head Start agency shall 
                        inform the Secretary and the State 
                        Director of Head Start Collaboration of 
                        such inability or unwillingness; and
                    ``(C) be revised periodically and renewed 
                biennially by the parties to such memorandum, 
                in alignment with the beginning of the school 
                year.
    ``(f) Quality Standards, Curricula, and Assessment.--To be 
so designated, each Head Start agency shall--
            ``(1) take steps to ensure, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, that children maintain the developmental 
        and educational gains achieved in Head Start programs 
        and build upon such gains in further schooling;
            ``(2) establish a program with the standards set 
        forth in section 641A(a)(1), with particular attention 
        to the standards set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) 
        of such section;
            ``(3) implement a research-based early childhood 
        curriculum that--
                    ``(A) promotes young children's school 
                readiness in the areas of language and 
                cognitive development, early reading and 
                mathematics skills, socio-emotional 
                development, physical development, and 
                approaches to learning;
                    ``(B) is based on scientifically valid 
                research and has standardized training 
                procedures and curriculum materials to support 
                implementation;
                    ``(C) is comprehensive and linked to 
                ongoing assessment, with developmental and 
                learning goals and measurable objectives;
                    ``(D) is focused on improving the learning 
                environment, teaching practices, family 
                involvement, and child outcomes across all 
                areas of development; and
                    ``(E) is aligned with the Head Start Child 
                Outcomes Framework developed by the Secretary 
                and, as appropriate, State early learning 
                standards;
            ``(4) implement effective interventions and support 
        services that help promote the school readiness of 
        children participating in the program;
            ``(5) use research-based assessment methods that 
        reflect the characteristics described in section 
        641A(b)(2) in order to support the educational 
        instruction and school readiness of children in the 
        program;
            ``(6) use research-based developmental screening 
        tools that have been demonstrated to be standardized, 
        reliable, valid, and accurate for the child being 
        assessed, to the maximum extent practicable, for the 
        purpose of meeting the relevant standards described in 
        section 641A(a)(1);
            ``(7) adopt, in consultation with experts in child 
        development and with classroom teachers, an evaluation 
        to assess whether classroom teachers have mastered the 
        functions discussed in section 648A(a)(1);
            ``(8) use the information provided from the 
        assessment conducted under section 641A(c)(2)(F) to 
        inform professional development plans, as appropriate, 
        that lead to improved teacher effectiveness;
            ``(9) establish goals and measurable objectives for 
        the provision of health, educational, nutritional, and 
        social services provided under this subchapter and 
        related to the program mission and to promote school 
        readiness; and
            ``(10) develop procedures for identifying children 
        who are limited English proficient, and informing the 
        parents of such children about the instructional 
        services used to help children make progress towards 
        acquiring the knowledge and skills described in section 
        641A(a)(1)(B) and acquisition of the English language.
    ``(g) Funded Enrollment; Waiting List.--Each Head Start 
agency shall enroll 100 percent of its funded enrollment and 
maintain an active waiting list at all times with ongoing 
outreach to the community and activities to identify 
underserved populations.
    ``(h) Technical Assistance and Training Plan.--In order to 
receive funds under this subchapter, a Head Start agency shall 
develop an annual technical assistance and training plan. Such 
plan shall be based on the agency's self-assessment, the 
communitywide strategic planning and needs assessment, the 
needs of parents and children to be served by such agency, and 
the results of the reviews conducted under section 641A(c).
    ``(i) Financial Management.--In order to receive funds 
under this subchapter, a Head Start agency shall document 
strong fiscal controls, including the employment of well-
qualified fiscal staff with a history of successful management 
of a public or private organization.''.

SEC. 10. HEAD START TRANSITION AND ALIGNMENT WITH K-12 EDUCATION.

    Section 642A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837a) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 642A. HEAD START TRANSITION AND ALIGNMENT WITH K-12 EDUCATION.

    ``(a) In General.--Each Head Start agency shall take steps 
to coordinate with the local educational agency serving the 
community involved and with schools in which children 
participating in a Head Start program operated by such agency 
will enroll following such program to promote continuity of 
services and effective transitions, including--
            ``(1) developing and implementing a systematic 
        procedure for transferring, with parental consent, Head 
        Start program records for each participating child to 
        the school in which such child will enroll;
            ``(2) establishing ongoing channels of 
        communication between Head Start staff and their 
        counterparts in the schools (including teachers, social 
        workers, local educational agency liaisons designated 
        under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento 
        Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), 
        and health staff) to facilitate coordination of 
        programs;
            ``(3) establishing ongoing communications between 
        the Head Start agency and local educational agency for 
        developing continuity of developmentally appropriate 
        curricular objectives (which for the purpose of the 
        Head Start program shall be aligned with the Head Start 
        Child Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate, State 
        early learning standards) and for shared expectations 
        for children's learning and development as the children 
        transition to school;
            ``(4) organizing and participating in joint 
        training, including transition-related training for 
        school staff and Head Start staff;
            ``(5) establishing comprehensive transition 
        policies and procedures that support children 
        transitioning to school, including by engaging the 
        local educational agency in the establishment of such 
        policies;
            ``(6) conducting outreach to parents and elementary 
        school (such as kindergarten) teachers to discuss the 
        educational, developmental, and other needs of 
        individual children;
            ``(7) helping parents of limited English proficient 
        children understand--
                    ``(A) the instructional and other services 
                provided by the school in which such child will 
                enroll after participation in Head Start; and
                    ``(B) as appropriate, the information 
                provided to parents of limited English 
                proficient children under section 3302 of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 7012);
            ``(8) developing and implementing a family outreach 
        and support program, in cooperation with entities 
        carrying out parental involvement efforts under title I 
        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), and family outreach and 
        support efforts under subtitle B of title VII of the 
        McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 
        et seq.), taking into consideration the language needs 
        of parents of limited English proficient children;
            ``(9) assisting families, administrators, and 
        teachers in enhancing educational and developmental 
        continuity and continuity of parental involvement in 
        activities between Head Start services and elementary 
        school classes;
            ``(10) linking the services provided in such Head 
        Start program with educational services, including 
        services relating to language, literacy, and numeracy, 
        provided by such local educational agency;
            ``(11) helping parents (including grandparents and 
        kinship caregivers, as appropriate) 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;
            ``(12) helping parents understand the instructional 
        and other services provided by the school in which 
        their child will enroll after participation in the Head 
        Start program;
            ``(13) developing and implementing a system to 
        increase program participation of underserved 
        populations of eligible children; and
            ``(14) coordinating activities and collaborating to 
        ensure that curricula used in the Head Start program 
        are aligned with--
                    ``(A) the Head Start Child Outcomes 
                Framework, as developed by the Secretary; and
                    ``(B) State early learning standards, as 
                appropriate, with regard to cognitive, social, 
                emotional, and physical competencies that 
                children entering kindergarten are expected to 
                demonstrate.
    ``(b) Construction.--In this section, a reference to a Head 
Start agency, or its program, services, facility, or personnel, 
shall not be construed to be a reference to an Early Head Start 
agency, or its program, services, facility, or personnel.
    ``(c) Dissemination and Technical Assistance.--The 
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, 
shall--
            ``(1) disseminate to Head Start agencies 
        information on effective policies and activities 
        relating to the transition of children from Head Start 
        programs to public schools; and
            ``(2) provide technical assistance to such agencies 
        to promote and assist such agencies to adopt and 
        implement such effective policies and activities.''.

SEC. 11. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, COORDINATION, AND IMPROVEMENT.

    (a) Head Start Collaboration.--The Head Start Act (42 
U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 642A 
the following:

       ``HEAD START COLLABORATION; STATE EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE

    ``Sec. 642B. (a)(1) From amounts made available under 
section 640(a)(2)(B)(vi), the Secretary shall award the 
collaboration grants described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4).
    ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall award, upon submission of a 
written request, a collaboration grant to each State and to 
each national administrative office serving Indian Head Start 
programs and migrant or seasonal Head Start programs to 
facilitate collaboration among Head Start agencies (including 
Early Head Start agencies) and entities that carry out 
activities designed to benefit low-income children from birth 
to school entry, and their families. The national 
administrative offices shall use the funds made available 
through the grants to carry out the authorities and 
responsibilities described in subparagraph (B) and paragraphs 
(3) and (4), as appropriate.
    ``(B) Grants described in subparagraph (A) shall be used 
to--
            ``(i) assist Head Start agencies to collaborate 
        with entities involved in State and local planning 
        processes to better meet the needs of low-income 
        children from birth to school entry, and their 
        families;
            ``(ii) assist Head Start agencies to coordinate 
        activities with the State agency responsible for 
        administering the State program carried out under the 
        Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 
        U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) and entities providing resource 
        and referral services in the State, to make full-
        working-day and full calendar year services available 
        to children;
            ``(iii) promote alignment of curricula used in Head 
        Start programs and continuity of services with the Head 
        Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate, 
        State early learning standards;
            ``(iv) promote better linkages between Head Start 
        agencies and other child and family agencies, including 
        agencies that provide health, mental health, or family 
        services, or other child or family supportive services, 
        such as services provided under section 619 or part C 
        of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
        U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.); and
            ``(v) carry out the activities of the State 
        Director of Head Start Collaboration authorized in 
        paragraph (4).
    ``(3) In order to improve coordination and delivery of 
early childhood education and development to children in the 
State, a State that receives a collaboration grant under 
paragraph (2) shall--
            ``(A) appoint or designate an individual to serve 
        as, or carry out the responsibilities of, the State 
        Director of Head Start Collaboration;
            ``(B) ensure that the State Director of Head Start 
        Collaboration holds a position with sufficient 
        authority and access to ensure that the collaboration 
        described in paragraph (2) is effective and involves a 
        range of State agencies; and
            ``(C) involve the State Head Start Association in 
        the selection of the Director and involve the 
        Association in determinations relating to the ongoing 
        direction of the collaboration office involved.
    ``(4) The State Director of Head Start Collaboration 
shall--
            ``(A) not later than 1 year after the State 
        receives a collaboration grant under paragraph (2), 
        conduct an assessment that--
                    ``(i) addresses the needs of Head Start 
                agencies in the State with respect to 
                collaboration, coordination and alignment of 
                services, and alignment of curricula and 
                assessments used in Head Start programs with 
                the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as 
                appropriate, State early learning standards;
                    ``(ii) shall be updated on an annual basis; 
                and
                    ``(iii) shall be made available to the 
                general public within the State;
            ``(B) develop a strategic plan that is based on the 
        assessment described in subparagraph (A) that will--
                    ``(i) enhance collaboration and 
                coordination of Head Start services by Head 
                Start agencies with other entities providing 
                early childhood education and development (such 
                as child care or services offered by museums), 
                health care, mental health care, welfare, child 
                protective services, education and community 
                service activities, family literacy services, 
                reading readiness programs (including such 
                programs offered by public and school 
                libraries), services relating to children with 
                disabilities, other early childhood education 
                and development for limited English proficient 
                children and homeless children, and services 
                provided for children in foster care and 
                children referred to Head Start programs by 
                child welfare agencies, including agencies and 
                State officials responsible for services 
                described in this clause;
                    ``(ii) assist Head Start agencies to 
                develop a plan for the provision of full 
                working-day, full calendar year services for 
                children enrolled in Head Start programs who 
                need such services;
                    ``(iii) assist Head Start agencies to align 
                curricula and assessments used in Head Start 
                programs with the Head Start Child Outcomes 
                Framework and, as appropriate, State early 
                learning standards; and
                    ``(iv) enable Head Start agencies to better 
                access professional development opportunities 
                for Head Start staff, such as by working with 
                Head Start agencies to enable the agencies to 
                meet the degree requirements described in 
                section 648A(a)(2)(A), including providing 
                distance learning opportunities for Head Start 
                staff, where needed to make higher education 
                more accessible to Head Start staff; and
                    ``(v) enable the Head Start agencies to 
                better conduct outreach to eligible families;
            ``(C) promote partnerships between Head Start 
        agencies, State and local governments, and the private 
        sector to help ensure that children from low-income 
        families, who are in Head Start programs or are 
        preschool age, are receiving comprehensive services to 
        prepare the children for elementary school;
            ``(D) consult with the chief State school officer, 
        local educational agencies, and providers of early 
        childhood education and development, at both the State 
        and local levels;
            ``(E) promote partnerships between Head Start 
        agencies, schools, law enforcement, relevant community-
        based organizations, and substance abuse and mental 
        health treatment agencies to strengthen family and 
        community environments and to reduce the impact on 
        child development of substance abuse, child abuse, 
        domestic violence, and other high-risk behaviors that 
        compromise healthy development;
            ``(F) promote partnerships between Head Start 
        agencies and other organizations in order to enhance 
        Head Start program quality, including partnerships to 
        promote inclusion of more books in Head Start 
        classrooms;
            ``(G) identify other resources and organizations 
        (both public and private) for the provision of in-kind 
        services to Head Start agencies in the State; and
            ``(H) serve on the State Advisory Council in order 
        to assist the efforts of Head Start agencies to engage 
        in effective coordination and collaboration.''.
    (b) State Early Education and Care.--Section 642B of the 
Head Start Act, as added by subsection (a), is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(b)(1)(A) The Governor of the State shall--
            ``(i) designate or establish a council to serve as 
        the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education 
        and Care for children from birth to school entry (in 
        this subchapter referred to as the `State Advisory 
        Council'); and
            ``(ii) designate an individual to coordinate 
        activities of the State Advisory Council, as described 
        in subparagraph (D)(i).
    ``(B) The Governor may designate an existing entity in the 
State to serve as the State Advisory Council, and shall appoint 
representatives to the State Advisory Council at the Governor's 
discretion. In designating an existing entity, the Governor 
shall take steps to ensure that its membership includes, to the 
extent possible, representatives consistent with subparagraph 
(C).
    ``(C) Members of the State Advisory Council shall include, 
to the maximum extent possible--
            ``(i) a representative of the State agency 
        responsible for child care;
            ``(ii) a representative of the State educational 
        agency;
            ``(iii) a representative of local educational 
        agencies;
            ``(iv) a representative of institutions of higher 
        education in the State;
            ``(v) a representative of local providers of early 
        childhood education and development services;
            ``(vi) a representative from Head Start agencies 
        located in the State, including migrant and seasonal 
        Head Start programs and Indian Head Start programs;
            ``(vii) the State Director of Head Start 
        Collaboration;
            ``(viii) a representative of the State agency 
        responsible for programs under section 619 or part C of 
        the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
        U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
            ``(ix) a representative of the State agency 
        responsible for health or mental health care; and
            ``(x) representatives of other entities determined 
        to be relevant by the Governor of the State.
    ``(D)(i) The State Advisory Council shall, in addition to 
any responsibilities assigned to the Council by the Governor of 
the State--
            ``(I) conduct a periodic statewide needs assessment 
        concerning the quality and availability of early 
        childhood education and development programs and 
        services for children from birth to school entry, 
        including an assessment of the availability of high-
        quality pre-kindergarten services for low-income 
        children in the State;
            ``(II) identify opportunities for, and barriers to, 
        collaboration and coordination among Federally-funded 
        and State-funded child development, child care, and 
        early childhood education programs and services, 
        including collaboration and coordination among State 
        agencies responsible for administering such programs;
            ``(III) develop recommendations for increasing the 
        overall participation of children in existing Federal, 
        State, and local child care and early childhood 
        education programs, including outreach to 
        underrepresented and special populations;
            ``(IV) develop recommendations regarding the 
        establishment of a unified data collection system for 
        public early childhood education and development 
        programs and services throughout the State;
            ``(V) develop recommendations regarding statewide 
        professional development and career advancement plans 
        for early childhood educators in the State;
            ``(VI) assess the capacity and effectiveness of 2- 
        and 4-year public and private institutions of higher 
        education in the State toward supporting the 
        development of early childhood educators, including the 
        extent to which such institutions have in place 
        articulation agreements, professional development and 
        career advancement plans, and practice or internships 
        for students to spend time in a Head Start or 
        prekindergarten program; and
            ``(VII) make recommendations for improvements in 
        State early learning standards and undertake efforts to 
        develop high-quality comprehensive early learning 
        standards, as appropriate.
    ``(ii) The State Advisory Council shall hold public 
hearings and provide an opportunity for public comment on the 
activities described in clause (i). The State Advisory Council 
shall submit a statewide strategic report addressing the 
activities described in clause (i) to the State Director of 
Head Start Collaboration and the Governor of the State.
    ``(iii) After submission of a statewide strategic report 
under clause (ii), the State Advisory Council shall meet 
periodically to review any implementation of the 
recommendations in such report and any changes in State and 
local needs.
    ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall use the portion reserved under 
section 640(a)(4)(A)(iii) to award, on a competitive basis, 
one-time startup grants of not less than $500,000 to eligible 
States to enable such States to pay for the Federal share of 
developing and implementing a plan pursuant to the 
responsibilities included under paragraph (1)(D)(i). A State 
that receives funds under this paragraph shall use such funds 
to facilitate the development or enhancement of high-quality 
systems of early childhood education and care designed to 
improve school preparedness through one or more of the 
following activities--
            ``(i) promoting school preparedness of children 
        from birth through school entry, including activities 
        to encourage families and caregivers to engage in 
        highly interactive, developmentally and age-appropriate 
        activities to improve children's early social, 
        emotional, and cognitive development, support the 
        transition of young children to school, and foster 
        parental and family involvement in the early education 
        of young children;
            ``(ii) supporting professional development, 
        recruitment, and retention initiatives for early 
        childhood educators;
            ``(iii) enhancing existing early childhood 
        education and development programs and services (in 
        existence on the date on which the grant involved is 
        awarded), including quality improvement activities 
        authorized under the Child Care and Development Block 
        Grant Act of 1990; and
            ``(iv) carrying out other activities consistent 
        with the State's plan and application, pursuant to 
        subparagraph (B).
    ``(B) To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
paragraph, a State shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a 
plan and application, for a 3-year period, at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
shall require, including--
            ``(i) the statewide strategic report described in 
        paragraph (1)(D)(ii), including a description of the 
        State Advisory Council's responsibilities under 
        paragraph (1)(D)(i);
            ``(ii) a description, for each fiscal year, of how 
        the State will make effective use of funds available 
        under this paragraph, with funds described in 
        subparagraph (C), to create an early childhood 
        education and care system, by developing or enhancing 
        programs and activities consistent with the statewide 
        strategic report described in paragraph (1)(D)(i);
            ``(iii) a description of the State early learning 
        standards and the State's goals for increasing the 
        number of children entering kindergarten ready to 
        learn;
            ``(iv) information identifying the agency or joint 
        interagency office, and individual, designated to carry 
        out the activities under this paragraph, which may be 
        the individual designated under paragraph (1)(A)(ii); 
        and
            ``(v) a description of how the State plans to 
        sustain activities under this paragraph beyond the 
        grant period.
    ``(C) The Federal share of the cost of activities proposed 
to be conducted under subparagraph (A) shall be 30 percent, and 
the State shall provide the non-Federal share.
    ``(D) Funds made available under this paragraph shall be 
used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and 
local funds expended to carry out activities related to early 
childhood education and care in the State.
    ``(E) Not later than 18 months after the date a State 
receives a grant under this paragraph, the State shall submit 
an interim report to the Secretary. A State that receives a 
grant under this paragraph shall submit a final report to the 
Secretary at the end of the grant period. Each report shall 
include--
            ``(i) a description of the activities and services 
        carried out under the grant, including the outcomes of 
        such activities and services in meeting the needs 
        described in the periodic needs assessment and 
        statewide strategic report;
            ``(ii) information about how the State used such 
        funds to meet the goals of this subsection through 
        activities to develop or enhance high-quality systems 
        of early childhood education and care, increase 
        effectiveness of delivery systems and use of funds, and 
        enhance existing programs and services;
            ``(iii) information regarding the remaining needs 
        described in the periodic statewide needs assessment 
        and statewide strategic report that have not yet been 
        addressed by the State; and
            ``(iv) any other information that the Secretary may 
        require.
    ``(F) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
provide the State Advisory Council with authority to modify, 
supersede, or negate the requirements of this subchapter.''.

SEC. 12. SUBMISSION OF PLANS.

    Section 643 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9838) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: ``This section 
shall not apply to contracts, agreements, grants, loans, or 
other assistance for Indian Head Start programs or migrant or 
seasonal Head Start programs.''

SEC. 13. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS.

    Section 644 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9839) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(a)(1) Each Head Start agency shall observe standards of 
organization, management, and administration that will ensure, 
so far as reasonably possible, that all program activities are 
conducted in a manner consistent with the purposes of this 
subchapter and the objective of providing assistance 
effectively, efficiently, and free of any taint of partisan 
political bias or personal or family favoritism. Each such 
agency shall establish or adopt rules to carry out this 
section, which shall include rules to assure full staff 
accountability in matters governed by law, regulations, or 
agency policy. Each agency shall also provide for reasonable 
public access to information, including public hearings at the 
request of appropriate community groups and reasonable public 
access to books and records of the agency or other agencies 
engaged in program activities or operations involving the use 
of authority or funds for which it is responsible.
    ``(2) Each Head Start agency shall make available to the 
public a report published at least once in each fiscal year 
that discloses the following information from the most recently 
concluded fiscal year, except that reporting such information 
shall not reveal personally identifiable information about an 
individual child or parent:
            ``(A) The total amount of public and private funds 
        received and the amount from each source.
            ``(B) An explanation of budgetary expenditures and 
        proposed budget for the fiscal year.
            ``(C) The total number of children and families 
        served, the average monthly enrollment (as a percentage 
        of funded enrollment), and the percentage of eligible 
        children served.
            ``(D) The results of the most recent review by the 
        Secretary and the financial audit.
            ``(E) The percentage of enrolled children that 
        received medical and dental exams.
            ``(F) Information about parent involvement 
        activities.
            ``(G) The agency's efforts to prepare children for 
        kindergarten.
            ``(H) Any other information required by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(3) Each such agency shall adopt for itself and other 
agencies using funds or exercising authority for which it is 
responsible, rules designed to--
            ``(A) establish specific standards governing 
        salaries, salary increases, travel and per diem 
        allowances, and other employee benefits;
            ``(B) assure that only persons capable of 
        discharging their duties with competence and integrity 
        are employed and that employees are promoted or 
        advanced under impartial procedures calculated to 
        improve agency performance and effectiveness;
            ``(C) guard against personal or financial conflicts 
        of interest; and
            ``(D) define employee duties in an appropriate 
        manner that will in any case preclude employees from 
        participating, in connection with the performance of 
        their duties, in any form of picketing, protest, or 
        other direct action that is in violation of law.''; and
            (2) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by redesignating subparagraphs 
                        (A) through (E) as subparagraphs (B) 
                        through (F), respectively; and
                            (ii) by inserting before 
                        subparagraph (B), as redesignated by 
                        clause (i), the following:
            ``(A) a description of the efforts by the agency to 
        coordinate or collaborate with other providers in the 
        community to seek assistance, including financial 
        assistance, prior to the use of funds under this 
        section;''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``, from 
                the amount reserved under section 
                640(a)(2)(A),''.

SEC. 14. PARTICIPATION IN HEAD START PROGRAMS.

    Section 645 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting 
                the following:
    ``(a)(1)(A) The Secretary shall by regulation prescribe 
eligibility for the participation of persons in Head Start 
programs assisted under this subchapter.
    ``(B) Except as provided in paragraph (2), such regulation 
shall provide--
            ``(i) that children from low-income families shall 
        be eligible for participation in programs assisted 
        under this subchapter if their families' incomes are 
        below the poverty line, or if their families are 
        eligible or, in the absence of child care, would 
        potentially be eligible for public assistance;
            ``(ii) that homeless children shall be deemed to be 
        eligible for such participation;
            ``(iii) that programs assisted under this 
        subchapter may include--
                    ``(I) to a reasonable extent (but not to 
                exceed 10 percent of participants), 
                participation of children in the area served 
                who would benefit from such programs but who 
                are not eligible under clause (i) or (ii); and
                    ``(II) from the area served, an additional 
                35 percent of participants who are not eligible 
                under clause (i) or (ii) and whose families 
                have incomes below 130 percent of the poverty 
                line, if--
                            ``(aa) the Head Start agency 
                        involved establishes and implements 
                        outreach and enrollment policies and 
                        procedures that ensure such agency is 
                        meeting the needs of children eligible 
                        under clause (i) or (ii) (or subclause 
                        (I) if the child involved has a 
                        disability) prior to meeting the needs 
                        of children eligible under this 
                        subclause; and
                            ``(bb) in prioritizing the 
                        selection of children to be served, the 
                        Head Start agency establishes criteria 
                        that provide that the agency will serve 
                        children eligible under clause (i) or 
                        (ii) prior to serving the children 
                        eligible under this subclause;
            ``(iv) that any Head Start agency serving children 
        eligible under clause (iii)(II) shall report annually 
        to the Secretary information on--
                    ``(I) how such agency is meeting the needs 
                of children eligible under clause (i) or (ii), 
                in the area served, including local demographic 
                data on families of children eligible under 
                clause (i) or (ii);
                    ``(II) the outreach and enrollment policies 
                and procedures established by the agency that 
                ensure the agency is meeting the needs of 
                children eligible under clause (i) or (ii) (or 
                clause (iii)(I) if the child involved has a 
                disability) prior to meeting the needs of 
                children eligible under clause (iii)(II);
                    ``(III) the efforts, including outreach 
                efforts (that are appropriate to the community 
                involved), of such agency to be fully enrolled 
                with children eligible under clause (i) or 
                (ii);
                    ``(IV) the policies, procedures, and 
                selection criteria such agency is implementing 
                to serve eligible children, consistent with 
                clause (iii)(II);
                    ``(V) the agency's enrollment level, and 
                enrollment level over the fiscal year prior to 
                the fiscal year in which the report is 
                submitted;
                    ``(VI) the number of children served by the 
                agency, disaggregated by whether such children 
                are eligible under clause (i), clause (ii), 
                clause (iii)(I), or clause (iii)(II); and
                    ``(VII) the eligibility criteria category 
                of the children on the agency's waiting list;
            ``(v) that a child who has been determined to meet 
        the eligibility criteria described in this subparagraph 
        and who is participating in a Head Start program in a 
        program year shall be considered to continue to meet 
        the eligibility criteria through the end of the 
        succeeding program year.
    ``(C) In determining, for purposes of this paragraph, 
whether a child who has applied for enrollment in a Head Start 
program meets the eligibility criteria, an entity may consider 
evidence of family income during the 12 months preceding the 
month in which the application is submitted, or during the 
calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the 
application is submitted, whichever more accurately reflects 
the needs of the family at the time of application.''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(3)(A) In this paragraph:
            ``(i) The term `dependent' has the meaning given 
        the term in paragraphs (2)(A) and (4)(A)(i) of section 
        401(a) of title 37, United States Code.
            ``(ii) The terms `member' and `uniformed services' 
        have the meanings given the terms in paragraphs (23) 
        and (3), respectively, of section 101 of title 37, 
        United States Code.
    ``(B) The following amounts of pay and allowance of a 
member of the uniformed services shall not be considered to be 
income for purposes of determining the eligibility of a 
dependent of such member for programs funded under this 
subchapter:
            ``(i) The amount of any special pay payable under 
        section 310 of title 37, United States Code, relating 
        to duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger.
            ``(ii) The amount of basic allowance payable under 
        section 403 of such title, including any such amount 
        that is provided on behalf of the member for housing 
        that is acquired or constructed under the alternative 
        authority for the acquisition and improvement of 
        military housing under subchapter IV of chapter 169 of 
        title 10, United States Code, or any other related 
        provision of law.
    ``(4) After demonstrating a need through a communitywide 
strategic planning and needs assessment, a Head Start agency 
may apply to the Secretary to convert part-day sessions, 
particularly consecutive part-day sessions, into full-working-
day sessions.
    ``(5)(A) Upon written request and pursuant to the 
requirements of this paragraph, a Head Start agency may use 
funds that were awarded under this subchapter to serve children 
age 3 to compulsory school age, in order to serve infants and 
toddlers if the agency submits an application to the Secretary 
containing, as specified in rules issued by the Secretary, all 
of the following information:
            ``(i) The amount of such funds that are proposed to 
        be used in accordance with section 645A(b).
            ``(ii) A communitywide strategic planning and needs 
        assessment demonstrating how the use of such funds 
        would best meet the needs of the community.
            ``(iii) A description of how the needs of pregnant 
        women, and of infants and toddlers, will be addressed 
        in accordance with section 645A(b), and with 
        regulations prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to 
        section 641A in areas including the agency's approach 
        to child development and provision of health services, 
        approach to family and community partnerships, and 
        approach to program design and management.
            ``(iv) A description of how the needs of eligible 
        children will be met in the community.
            ``(v) Assurances that the agency will participate 
        in technical assistance activities (including planning, 
        start-up site visits, and national training activities) 
        in the same manner as recipients of grants under 
        section 645A.
            ``(vi) Evidence that the agency meets the same 
        eligibility criteria as recipients of grants under 
        section 645A.
    ``(B) An application that satisfies the requirements 
specified in subparagraph (A) shall be approved by the 
Secretary unless the Secretary finds that--
            ``(i) the agency lacks adequate capacity and 
        capability to carry out an effective Early Head Start 
        program; or
            ``(ii) the information provided under subparagraph 
        (A) is inadequate.
    ``(C) In approving such applications, the Secretary shall 
take into account the costs of serving persons under section 
645A.
    ``(D) Any Head Start agency with an application approved 
under subparagraph (B) shall be considered to be an Early Head 
Start agency and shall be subject to the same rules, 
regulations, and conditions as apply to recipients of grants 
under section 645A, with respect to activities carried out 
under this paragraph.'';
            (2) in the first sentence of subsection (c), by 
        striking ``(age 3 to compulsory school attendance)''; 
        and
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (3); and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an 
Indian tribe or tribes that operates both an Early Head Start 
program under section 645A and a Head Start program may, at its 
discretion, at any time during the grant period involved, 
reallocate funds between the Early Head Start program and the 
Head Start program in order to address fluctuations in client 
populations, including pregnant women and children from birth 
to compulsory school age. The reallocation of such funds 
between programs by an Indian tribe or tribes during a year 
shall not serve as the basis for the Secretary to reduce a base 
grant (as defined in section 640(a)(7)) for either program in 
succeeding years.''.

SEC. 15. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS.

    Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840a) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking the section heading and inserting 
        the following:

``SEC. 645A. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS.'';

            (2) in subsection (a) by striking ``The Secretary'' 
        and all that follows through ``for programs'' and 
        inserting ``The Secretary shall make grants to entities 
        (referred to in this subchapter as `Early Head Start 
        agencies') in accordance with this section for programs 
        (referred to in this subchapter as `Early Head Start 
        programs')'';
            (3) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting 
                the following:
            ``(4) provide services to parents to support their 
        role as parents (including parenting skills training 
        and training in basic child development) and services 
        to help the families move toward self-sufficiency 
        (including educational and employment services, as 
        appropriate);'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting 
                the following:
            ``(5) coordinate services with services provided by 
        programs in the State (including home-based services) 
        and programs in the community (including programs for 
        infants and toddlers with disabilities and programs for 
        homeless infants and toddlers) to ensure a 
        comprehensive array of services (such as health and 
        mental health services and family support services);'';
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (6), (7), 
                (8), and (9), as paragraphs (7), (10), (11), 
                and (12), respectively;
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (5) the 
                following:
            ``(6) ensure that children with documented 
        behavioral problems, including problems involving 
        behavior related to prior or existing trauma, receive 
        appropriate screening and referral;'';
                    (E) by inserting after paragraph (7), as 
                redesignated by subparagraph (C), the 
                following:
            ``(8) develop and implement a systematic procedure 
        for transitioning children and parents from an Early 
        Head Start program to a Head Start program or other 
        local early childhood education and development 
        program;
            ``(9) establish channels of communication between 
        staff of the Early Head Start program, and staff of a 
        Head Start program or other local providers of early 
        childhood education and development programs, to 
        facilitate the coordination of programs;''; and
                    (F) by striking paragraph (11), as 
                redesignated by subparagraph (C), and inserting 
                the following:
            ``(11) ensure formal linkages with 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.), 
        with the State interagency coordinating council, as 
        established in part C of the Individuals with 
        Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), 
        and with the agency responsible for administering 
        section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a);'';
            (4) in subsection (c), by striking ``income 
        criteria specified for families in section 645(a)(1)'' 
        and inserting ``eligibility criteria specified in 
        section 645(a)(1), including the criteria specified in 
        section 645(a)(1)(B)(ii)'';
            (5) in subsection (d), by striking paragraphs (1) 
        and (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) entities operating Head Start programs under 
        this subchapter;
            ``(2) entities operating Indian Head Start programs 
        or migrant or seasonal Head Start programs; and
            ``(3) other public entities, and nonprofit or for-
        profit private entities, including community-based and 
        faith-based organizations, capable of providing child 
        and family services that meet the standards for 
        participation in programs under this subchapter and 
        meet such other appropriate requirements relating to 
        the activities under this section as the Secretary may 
        establish.'';
            (6) in subsection (e), by striking ``From'' and all 
        that follows through ``under this subsection'' and 
        inserting ``The Secretary shall award grants under this 
        section'';
            (7) by striking subsection (g) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(g) Monitoring, Training, Technical Assistance, and 
Evaluation.--
            ``(1) Requirement.--In order to ensure the 
        successful operation of programs assisted under this 
        section, the Secretary shall use funds made available 
        under section 640(a)(2)(E) to monitor the operation of 
        such programs, and funds made available under section 
        640(a)(2)(C)(i)(I) to provide training and technical 
        assistance tailored to the particular needs of such 
        programs, consistent with section 640(c).
            ``(2) Training and technical assistance.--
                    ``(A) Activities.--Of the portion set aside 
                under section 640(a)(2)(C)(i)(I)--
                            ``(i) not less than 50 percent 
                        shall be made available to Early Head 
                        Start agencies to use directly, which 
                        may include, at their discretion, the 
                        establishment of local or regional 
                        agreements with community experts, 
                        institutions of higher education, or 
                        private consultants, for training and 
                        technical assistance activities in 
                        order to make program improvements 
                        identified by such agencies;
                            ``(ii) not less than 25 percent 
                        shall be available to the Secretary to 
                        support a State-based training and 
                        technical assistance system, or a 
                        national system, described in section 
                        648(e), including infant and toddler 
                        specialists, to support Early Head 
                        Start agencies, consistent with 
                        subparagraph (B); and
                            ``(iii) the remainder of such 
                        amount shall be made available to the 
                        Secretary to assist Early Head Start 
                        agencies in meeting and exceeding the 
                        standards described in section 
                        641A(a)(1) (directly, or through 
                        grants, contracts, or other agreements 
                        or arrangements with an entity with 
                        demonstrated expertise relating to 
                        infants, toddlers, and families) by--
                                    ``(I) providing ongoing 
                                training and technical 
                                assistance to Early Head Start 
                                agencies, including developing 
                                training and technical 
                                assistance materials and 
                                resources to support program 
                                development and improvement and 
                                best practices in providing 
                                services to children and 
                                families served by Early Head 
                                Start programs;
                                    ``(II) supporting a 
                                national network of infant and 
                                toddler specialists designed to 
                                improve the quality of Early 
                                Head Start programs;
                                    ``(III) providing ongoing 
                                training and technical 
                                assistance on Early Head Start 
                                program development and 
                                improvement for regional staff 
                                charged with monitoring and 
                                overseeing the administration 
                                of the program carried out 
                                under this section; and
                                    ``(IV) if funds remain 
                                after the activities described 
                                in subclauses (I), (II), and 
                                (III) are carried out, carry 
                                out 1 or more of the following 
                                activities:
                                            ``(aa) Providing 
                                        support and program 
                                        planning and 
                                        implementation 
                                        assistance for new 
                                        Early Head Start 
                                        agencies, including for 
                                        agencies who want to 
                                        use funds as described 
                                        in section 645(a)(5) to 
                                        serve infants and 
                                        toddlers.
                                            ``(bb) Creating 
                                        special training and 
                                        technical assistance 
                                        initiatives targeted to 
                                        serving high-risk 
                                        populations, such as 
                                        children in the child 
                                        welfare system and 
                                        homeless children.
                                            ``(cc) Providing 
                                        professional 
                                        development designed to 
                                        increase program 
                                        participation for 
                                        underserved populations 
                                        of eligible children.
                    ``(B) Contracts.--For the purposes of 
                supporting a State-based system, as described 
                in subparagraph (A)(ii), that will meet the 
                needs of Early Head Start agencies and provide 
                high-quality, sustained, and intensive training 
                and technical assistance on programming for 
                infants and toddlers to Early Head Start 
                agencies, and in order to help such agencies 
                meet or exceed the standards described in 
                section 641A(a)(1), the Secretary shall--
                            ``(i) use funds reserved under 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii) in combination 
                        with funds reserved under section 
                        640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(bb) to ensure the 
                        contracts described in section 
                        648(e)(1) provide for a minimum of 1 
                        full-time specialist with demonstrated 
                        expertise in the development of infants 
                        and toddlers; and
                            ``(ii) ensure that such contracts 
                        and the services provided in the 
                        contracts are integrated with and 
                        augment the contracts awarded and 
                        services provided under section 
                        648(e);''; and
            (8) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Center-Based Staff.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) ensure that, not later than September 30, 
        2010, all teachers providing direct services to 
        children and families participating in Early Head Start 
        programs located in Early Head Start centers, have a 
        minimum of a child development associate credential, 
        and have been trained (or have equivalent coursework) 
        in early childhood development; and
            ``(2) establish staff qualification goals to ensure 
        that not later than September 30, 2012, all such 
        teachers have been trained (or have equivalent 
        coursework) in early childhood development with a focus 
        on infant and toddler development.
    ``(i) Staff Qualifications and Development.--
            ``(1) Home visitor staff standards.--In order to 
        further enhance the quality of home visiting services 
        provided to families of children participating in home-
        based, center-based, or combination program options 
        under this subchapter, the Secretary shall establish 
        standards for training, qualifications, and the conduct 
        of home visits for home visitor staff in Early Head 
        Start programs.
            ``(2) Contents of standards.--The standards for 
        training, qualifications, and the conduct of home 
        visits shall include content related to--
                    ``(A) structured child-focused home 
                visiting that promotes parents' ability to 
                support the child's cognitive, social, 
                emotional, and physical development;
                    ``(B) effective strengths-based parent 
                education, including methods to encourage 
                parents as their child's first teachers;
                    ``(C) early childhood development with 
                respect to children from birth through age 3;
                    ``(D) methods to help parents promote 
                emergent literacy in their children from birth 
                through age 3, including use of research-based 
                strategies to support the development of 
                literacy and language skills for children who 
                are limited English proficient;
                    ``(E) ascertaining what health and 
                developmental services the family receives and 
                working with providers of these services to 
                eliminate gaps in service by offering annual 
                health, vision, hearing, and developmental 
                screening for children from birth to entry into 
                kindergarten, when needed;
                    ``(F) strategies for helping families 
                coping with crisis; and
                    ``(G) the relationship of health and well-
                being of pregnant women to prenatal and early 
                child development.''.

SEC. 16. APPEALS, NOTICE, AND HEARING.

    Section 646(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9841(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
        striking ``procedures to assure that'';
            (2) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by inserting 
        ``procedures to assure that'' after the paragraph 
        designation;
            (3) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(3) procedures to assure that financial 
        assistance under this subchapter may be terminated or 
        reduced, and an application for refunding may be 
        denied, after the recipient has been afforded 
        reasonable notice and opportunity for a full and fair 
        hearing, including--
                    ``(A) a right to file a notice of appeal of 
                a decision not later than 30 days after notice 
                of the decision from the Secretary; and
                    ``(B) access to a full and fair hearing of 
                the appeal, not later than 120 days after 
                receipt by the Secretary of the notice of 
                appeal;
            ``(4) procedures (including mediation procedures) 
        are developed and published, to be used in order to--
                    ``(A) resolve in a timely manner conflicts 
                potentially leading to an adverse action 
                between--
                            ``(i) recipients of financial 
                        assistance under this subchapter; and
                            ``(ii) delegate agencies, or policy 
                        councils of Head Start agencies;
                    ``(B) avoid the need for an administrative 
                hearing on an adverse action; and
                    ``(C) prohibit a Head Start agency from 
                expending financial assistance awarded under 
                this subchapter for the purpose of paying legal 
                fees, or other costs incurred, pursuant to an 
                appeal under paragraph (3);
            ``(5) procedures to assure that the Secretary may 
        suspend financial assistance to a recipient under this 
        subchapter--
                    ``(A) except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), for not more than 30 days; or
                    ``(B) in the case of a recipient under this 
                subchapter that has multiple and recurring 
                deficiencies for 180 days or more and has not 
                made substantial and significant progress 
                toward meeting the goals of the grantee's 
                quality improvement plan or eliminating all 
                deficiencies identified by the Secretary, 
                during the hearing of an appeal described in 
                paragraph (3), for any amount of time; and
            ``(6) procedures to assure that in cases where a 
        Head Start agency prevails in a decision under 
        paragraph (4), the Secretary may determine and provide 
        a reimbursement to the Head Start agency for fees 
        deemed reasonable and customary.''.

SEC. 17. RECORDS AND AUDITS.

    Section 647 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9842) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Each recipient of financial assistance under this 
subchapter shall--
            ``(1) maintain, and annually submit to the 
        Secretary, a complete accounting of the recipient's 
        administrative expenses (including a detailed statement 
        identifying the amount of financial assistance provided 
        under this subchapter used to pay expenses for salaries 
        and compensation and the amount (if any) of other funds 
        used to pay such expenses);
            ``(2) not later than 30 days after the date of 
        completion of an audit conducted in the manner and to 
        the extent provided in chapter 75 of title 31, United 
        States Code (commonly known as the `Single Audit Act of 
        1984'), submit to the Secretary a copy of the audit 
        management letter and of any audit findings as they 
        relate to the Head Start program; and
            ``(3) provide such additional documentation as the 
        Secretary may require.''.

SEC. 18. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.

    Section 648 of the of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 648. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.

    ``(a) Secretarial Training and Technical Assistance.--
            ``(1) Authority.--From the funds provided under 
        section 640(a)(2)(C)(i), the Secretary shall provide, 
        directly or through grants, contracts, or other 
        agreements or arrangements as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate, technical assistance and training for Head 
        Start programs for the purposes of improving program 
        quality and helping prepare children to succeed in 
        school.
            ``(2) Process.--The process for determining the 
        technical assistance and training activities to be 
        carried out under this section shall--
                    ``(A) ensure that the needs of local Head 
                Start agencies and programs relating to 
                improving program quality and to program 
                expansion are addressed to the maximum extent 
                practicable; and
                    ``(B) incorporate mechanisms to ensure 
                responsiveness to local needs, including an 
                ongoing procedure for obtaining input from the 
                individuals and agencies carrying out Head 
                Start programs.
            ``(3) Activities.--In providing training and 
        technical assistance and for allocating resources for 
        such assistance under this section, the Secretary 
        shall--
                    ``(A) give priority consideration to--
                            ``(i) activities to correct program 
                        and management deficiencies identified 
                        through reviews carried out pursuant to 
                        section 641A(c) (including the 
                        provision of assistance to local 
                        programs in the development of quality 
                        improvement plans under section 
                        641A(d)(2));
                            ``(ii) assisting Head Start 
                        agencies in ensuring the school 
                        readiness of children; and
                            ``(iii) activities that supplement 
                        those funded with amounts provided 
                        under section 640(a)(5)(B) to address 
                        the training and career development 
                        needs of classroom staff (including 
                        instruction for providing services to 
                        children with disabilities, and for 
                        activities described in section 1222(d) 
                        of the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965), and non-
                        classroom staff, including home 
                        visitors and other staff working 
                        directly with families, including 
                        training relating to increasing parent 
                        involvement and services designed to 
                        increase family literacy and improve 
                        parenting skills; and
                    ``(B) to the maximum extent practicable--
                            ``(i) assist Head Start agencies in 
                        the development of collaborative 
                        initiatives with States and other 
                        entities within the States, to foster 
                        effective professional development 
                        systems for early childhood education 
                        and development services;
                            ``(ii) provide technical assistance 
                        and training, either directly or 
                        through a grant, contract, or 
                        cooperative agreement with an entity 
                        that has experience in the development 
                        and operation of successful family 
                        literacy services programs, for the 
                        purpose of--
                                    ``(I) assisting Head Start 
                                agencies providing family 
                                literacy services, in order to 
                                improve the quality of such 
                                family literacy services; and
                                    ``(II) enabling those Head 
                                Start agencies that demonstrate 
                                effective provision of family 
                                literacy services, based on 
                                improved outcomes for children 
                                and their parents, to provide 
                                technical assistance and 
                                training to other Head Start 
                                agencies and to service 
                                providers that work in 
                                collaboration with such 
                                agencies to provide family 
                                literacy services;
                            ``(iii) assist Head Start agencies 
                        and programs in conducting and 
                        participating in communitywide 
                        strategic planning and needs 
                        assessments, including the needs of 
                        homeless children and their families, 
                        and in conducting self-assessments;
                            ``(iv) assist Head Start agencies 
                        and programs in developing and 
                        implementing full-working-day and full 
                        calendar year programs where community 
                        need is clearly identified and making 
                        the transition to such programs, with 
                        particular attention to involving 
                        parents and programming for children 
                        throughout the day, and assist the 
                        agencies and programs in expediting the 
                        sharing of information about innovative 
                        models for providing full-working-day, 
                        full calendar year services for 
                        children;
                            ``(v) assist Head Start agencies in 
                        better serving the needs of families 
                        with very young children, including 
                        providing support and program planning 
                        and implementation assistance for Head 
                        Start agencies that apply to serve or 
                        are serving additional infants and 
                        toddlers, in accordance with section 
                        645(a)(5);
                            ``(vi) assist Head Start agencies 
                        and programs in the development of 
                        sound management practices, including 
                        financial management procedures;
                            ``(vii) assist in efforts to secure 
                        and maintain adequate facilities for 
                        Head Start programs;
                            ``(viii) assist Head Start agencies 
                        in developing innovative program 
                        models, including mobile and home-based 
                        programs;
                            ``(ix) provide support for Head 
                        Start agencies (including policy 
                        councils and policy committees) that 
                        meet the standards described in section 
                        641A(a) but that have, as documented by 
                        the Secretary through reviews conducted 
                        pursuant to section 641A(c), 
                        programmatic, quality, and fiscal 
                        issues to address;
                            ``(x) assist Head Start agencies 
                        and programs in improving outreach to, 
                        increasing program participation of, 
                        and improving the quality of services 
                        available to meet the unique needs of--
                                    ``(I) homeless children;
                                    ``(II) limited English 
                                proficient children and their 
                                families, particularly in 
                                communities that have 
                                experienced a large percentage 
                                increase in the population of 
                                limited English proficient 
                                individuals, as measured by the 
                                Bureau of the Census; and
                                    ``(III) children with 
                                disabilities, particularly if 
                                such program's enrollment 
                                opportunities or funded 
                                enrollment for children with 
                                disabilities is less than 10 
                                percent;
                            ``(xi) assist Head Start agencies 
                        and programs to increase the capacity 
                        of classroom staff to meet the needs of 
                        eligible children in Head Start 
                        classrooms that are serving both 
                        children with disabilities and children 
                        without disabilities;
                            ``(xii) assist Head Start agencies 
                        and programs to address the unique 
                        needs of programs located in rural 
                        communities, including--
                                    ``(I) removing barriers 
                                related to the recruitment and 
                                retention of Head Start 
                                teachers in rural communities;
                                    ``(II) developing 
                                innovative and effective models 
                                of professional development for 
                                improving staff qualifications 
                                and skills for staff living in 
                                rural communities;
                                    ``(III) removing barriers 
                                related to outreach efforts to 
                                eligible families in rural 
                                communities;
                                    ``(IV) removing barriers to 
                                parent involvement in Head 
                                Start programs in rural 
                                communities;
                                    ``(V) removing barriers to 
                                providing home visiting 
                                services in rural communities; 
                                and
                                    ``(VI) removing barriers to 
                                obtaining health screenings for 
                                Head Start participants in 
                                rural communities;
                            ``(xiii) provide training and 
                        technical assistance to members of 
                        governing bodies, policy councils, and, 
                        as appropriate, policy committees, to 
                        ensure that the members can fulfill 
                        their functions;
                            ``(xiv) provide activities that 
                        help ensure that Head Start programs 
                        have qualified staff who can promote 
                        prevention of childhood obesity by 
                        integrating developmentally appropriate 
                        research-based initiatives that stress 
                        the importance of physical activity and 
                        healthy, nutritional choices in daily 
                        classroom and family routines;
                            ``(xv) assist Indian Head Start 
                        agencies to provide on-site and off-
                        site training to staff, using 
                        approaches that identify and enhance 
                        the positive resources and strengths of 
                        Indian children and families, to 
                        improve parent and family engagement 
                        and staff development, particularly 
                        with regard to child and family 
                        development; and
                            ``(xvi) assisting Head Start 
                        agencies in selecting and using the 
                        measures described in section 641A(b).
    ``(b) Additional Support.--The Secretary shall provide, 
either directly or through grants, contracts or other 
arrangements, funds from section 640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(cc) to--
            ``(1) support an organization to administer a 
        centralized child development and national assessment 
        program leading to recognized credentials for personnel 
        working in early childhood education and development 
        programs; and
            ``(2) support training for personnel--
                    ``(A) providing services to limited English 
                proficient children and their families 
                (including services to promote the acquisition 
                of the English language);
                    ``(B) providing services to children 
                determined to be abused or neglected or 
                children referred by or receiving child welfare 
                services;
                    ``(C) in helping children cope with 
                community violence;
                    ``(D) to recognize common health, including 
                mental health, problems in children for 
                appropriate referral;
                    ``(E) to address the needs of children with 
                disabilities and their families;
                    ``(F) to address the needs of migrant and 
                seasonal farmworker families; and
                    ``(G) to address the needs of homeless 
                families.
    ``(c) Outreach.--The Secretary shall develop and implement 
a program of outreach to recruit and train professionals from 
diverse backgrounds to become Head Start teachers in order to 
reflect the communities in which Head Start children live and 
to increase the provision of quality services and instruction 
to children with diverse backgrounds.
    ``(d) Funds to Agencies.--Funds made available under 
section 640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(aa) shall be used by a Head Start 
agency to provide high-quality, sustained, and intensive 
training and technical assistance as follows:
            ``(1) For 1 or more of the following:
                    ``(A) Activities that ensure that Head 
                Start programs meet or exceed the standards 
                described in section 641A(a)(1).
                    ``(B) Activities that ensure that Head 
                Start programs have adequate numbers of 
                trained, qualified staff who have skills in 
                working with children and families, including 
                children and families who are limited English 
                proficient and children with disabilities and 
                their families.
                    ``(C) Activities to improve the management 
                and implementation of Head Start services and 
                systems, including direct training for expert 
                consultants working with staff.
                    ``(D) Activities that help ensure that Head 
                Start programs have qualified staff who can 
                promote language skills and literacy growth of 
                children and who can provide children with a 
                variety of skills that have been identified as 
                predictive of later reading achievement, school 
                success, and the skills, knowledge, abilities, 
                development, and progress described in section 
                641A(a)(1)(B)(ii).
                    ``(E) Activities to improve staff 
                qualifications and to assist with the 
                implementation of career development programs 
                and to encourage the staff to continually 
                improve their skills and expertise, including 
                developing partnerships with programs that 
                recruit, train, place, and support college 
                students in Head Start centers to deliver an 
                innovative early learning program to preschool 
                children.
                    ``(F) Activities that help local programs 
                ensure that the arrangement, condition, and 
                implementation of the learning environments in 
                Head Start programs are conducive to providing 
                effective program services to children and 
                families.
                    ``(G) Activities to provide training 
                necessary to improve the qualifications of Head 
                Start staff and to support staff training, 
                child counseling, health services, and other 
                services necessary to address the needs of 
                children enrolled in Head Start programs, 
                including children from families in crises, 
                children who experience chronic violence or 
                homelessness, children who experience substance 
                abuse in their families, and children under 3 
                years of age, where applicable.
                    ``(H) Activities to provide classes or in-
                service-type programs to improve or enhance 
                parenting skills, job skills, and adult and 
                family literacy, including financial literacy, 
                or training to become a classroom aide or bus 
                driver in a Head Start program.
                    ``(I) Additional activities deemed 
                appropriate to the improvement of Head Start 
                programs, as determined by the technical 
                assistance and training plans of the Head Start 
                agencies.
            ``(2) To support enhanced early language and 
        literacy development of children in Head Start 
        programs, and to provide the children with high-quality 
        oral language skills and with environments that are 
        rich in literature in which to acquire language and 
        early literacy skills. Each Head Start agency, in 
        consultation with the State-based training and 
        technical assistance system, as appropriate, shall 
        ensure that--
                    ``(A) all of the agency's Head Start 
                teachers receive ongoing training in language 
                and emergent literacy (referred to in this 
                subsection as `literacy training'), including 
                appropriate curricula and assessment to improve 
                instruction and learning;
                    ``(B) such literacy training shall include 
                training in methods to promote vocabulary 
                development and phonological awareness 
                (including phonemic awareness) in a 
                developmentally, culturally, and linguistically 
                appropriate manner and support children's 
                development in their native language;
                    ``(C) the literacy training shall include 
                training in how to work with parents to enhance 
                positive language and early literacy 
                development at home;
                    ``(D) the literacy training shall include 
                specific methods to best address the needs of 
                children who are limited English proficient;
                    ``(E) the literacy training shall include 
                training on how to best address the language 
                and literacy needs of children with 
                disabilities, including training on how to work 
                with specialists in language development; and
                    ``(F) the literacy training shall be 
                tailored to the early childhood literacy 
                background and experience of the teachers 
                involved;

        except that funds made available under section 
        640(a)(2)(C)(i) 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.
    ``(e) State-Based Training and Technical Assistance 
System.--For the purposes of delivering a State-based training 
and technical assistance system (which may include a consortium 
of 2 or more States within a region) or a national system in 
the case of migrant or seasonal Head Start and Indian Head 
Start programs, as described in section 
640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(bb), that will meet the needs of local 
grantees, as determined by such grantees, and provide high-
quality, sustained, and intensive training and technical 
assistance to Head Start agencies and programs in order to 
improve their capacity to deliver services that meet or exceed 
the standards described in section 641A(a)(1), the Secretary 
shall--
            ``(1) enter into contracts in each State with 1 or 
        more entities that have a demonstrated expertise in 
        supporting the delivery of high-quality early childhood 
        education and development programs, except that 
        contracts for a consortium of 2 or more States within a 
        geographic region may be entered into if such a system 
        is more appropriate to better meet the needs of local 
        grantees within a region, as determined by such 
        grantees;
            ``(2) ensure that the entities described in 
        subparagraph (1) determine the types of services to be 
        provided through consultation with--
                    ``(A) local Head Start agencies (including 
                Indian Head Start agencies and migrant or 
                seasonal Head Start agencies, as appropriate);
                    ``(B) the State Head Start collaboration 
                office; and
                    ``(C) the State Head Start Association;
            ``(3) encourage States to supplement the funds 
        authorized in section 640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(bb) with 
        Federal, State, or local funds other than funds made 
        available under this subchapter, to expand training and 
        technical assistance activities beyond Head Start 
        agencies to include other providers of other early 
        childhood education and development programs within a 
        State;
            ``(4) provide a report to the Committee on 
        Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and 
        the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
        of the Senate, not later than 90 days after the end of 
        the fiscal year, summarizing the funding for such 
        contracts and the activities carried out thereunder;
            ``(5) periodically evaluate the effectiveness of 
        the delivery of services in each State in promoting 
        program quality; and
            ``(6) ensure that in entering into such contracts 
        as described in paragraph (1), such entities will 
        address the needs of grantees in both urban and rural 
        communities.
    ``(f) Indoor Air Quality.--The Secretary shall consult with 
appropriate Federal agencies and other experts, as appropriate, 
on issues of air quality related to children's health and 
inform Head Start agencies of existing programs or combination 
of programs that provide methods for improving indoor air 
quality.
    ``(g) Career Advancement Partnership Program.--
            ``(1) Authority.--From amounts allocated under 
        section 640(a)(2)(C) the Secretary is authorized to 
        award demonstration grants, for a period of not less 
        than 5 years, to historically Black colleges and 
        universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and Tribal 
        Colleges and Universities--
                    ``(A) to implement education programs that 
                increase the number of associate, 
                baccalaureate, and graduate degrees in early 
                childhood education and related fields that are 
                earned by Head Start agency staff members, 
                parents of children served by such agencies, 
                and members of the communities involved;
                    ``(B) to provide assistance for stipends 
                and costs related to tuition, fees, and books 
                for enrolling Head Start agency staff members, 
                parents of children served by such an agency, 
                and members of the communities involved in 
                courses required to complete the degree and 
                certification requirement to become teachers in 
                early childhood education and related fields;
                    ``(C) to develop program curricula to 
                promote high-quality services and instruction 
                to children with diverse backgrounds, 
                including--
                            ``(i) in the case of historically 
                        Black colleges and universities, to 
                        help Head Start Agency staff members 
                        develop skills and expertise needed to 
                        teach in programs serving large numbers 
                        of African American children;
                            ``(ii) in the case of Hispanic-
                        serving institutions, programs to help 
                        Head Start Agency staff members develop 
                        skills and expertise needed to teach in 
                        programs serving large numbers of 
                        Hispanic children, including programs 
                        to develop the linguistic skills and 
                        expertise needed to teach in programs 
                        serving a large number of children with 
                        limited English proficiency; and
                            ``(iii) in the case of Tribal 
                        Colleges and Universities, to help Head 
                        Start Agency staff members develop 
                        skills and expertise needed to teach in 
                        programs serving large numbers of 
                        Indian children, including programs 
                        concerning tribal culture and language;
                    ``(D) to provide other activities to 
                upgrade the skills and qualifications of 
                educational personnel to meet the professional 
                standards in subsection (a) to better promote 
                high-quality services and instruction to 
                children and parents from populations served by 
                historically Black colleges and universities, 
                Hispanic-serving institutions, or Tribal 
                Colleges and Universities;
                    ``(E) to provide technology literacy 
                programs for Indian Head Start agency staff 
                members and families of children served by such 
                agency; and
                    ``(F) to develop and implement the programs 
                described under subparagraph (A) in technology-
                mediated formats, including through such means 
                as distance learning and use of advanced 
                technology, as appropriate.
            ``(2) Other assistance.--The Secretary shall, using 
        resources within the Department of Health and Human 
        Services--
                    ``(A) provide appropriate technical 
                assistance to historically Black colleges and 
                universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, 
                and Tribal Colleges and Universities receiving 
                grants under this section, including 
                coordinating with the White House Initiative on 
                historically Black colleges and universities; 
                and
                    ``(B) ensure that the American Indian 
                Programs Branch of the Office of Head Start of 
                the Administration for Children and Families of 
                the Department of Health and Human Services can 
                effectively administer the programs under this 
                section and provide appropriate technical 
                assistance to Tribal Colleges and Universities 
                under this section.
            ``(3) Application.--Each historically Black college 
        or university, Hispanic-serving institution, or Tribal 
        College or University desiring a grant under this 
        section shall submit an application, in partnership 
        with at least 1 Head Start agency enrolling large 
        numbers of students from the populations served by 
        historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-
        serving institutions, or Tribal Colleges and 
        Universities, to the Secretary, at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information as the 
        Secretary may require, including a certification that 
        the institution of higher education has established a 
        formal partnership with 1 or more Head Start agencies 
        for the purposes of conducting the activities described 
        in paragraph (1).
            ``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) The term `Hispanic-serving 
                institution' has the meaning given such term in 
                section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 1101a).
                    ``(B) The term `historically Black college 
                or university' has the meaning given the term 
                `part B institution' in section 322(2) of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1061(2)).
                    ``(C) The term `Tribal College or 
                University' has the meaning given such term in 
                section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)).
            ``(5) Teaching requirement.--A student at an 
        institution receiving a grant under this subsection who 
        receives assistance under a program funded under this 
        subsection shall teach in a center-based Head Start 
        program for a period of time equivalent to the period 
        for which they received assistance or shall repay such 
        assistance.''.

SEC. 19. STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT.

    Section 648A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843a) is 
amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) Classroom Teachers.--
            ``(1) Professional requirements.--The Secretary 
        shall ensure that each Head Start classroom in a 
        center-based program is assigned 1 teacher who has 
        demonstrated competency to perform functions that 
        include--
                    ``(A) planning and implementing learning 
                experiences that advance the intellectual and 
                physical development of children, including 
                improving the readiness of children for school 
                by developing their literacy, phonemic, and 
                print awareness, their understanding and use of 
                language, their understanding and use of 
                increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, 
                their appreciation of books, their 
                understanding of early math and early science, 
                their problem-solving abilities, and their 
                approaches to learning;
                    ``(B) establishing and maintaining a safe, 
                healthy learning environment;
                    ``(C) supporting the social and emotional 
                development of children; and
                    ``(D) encouraging the involvement of the 
                families of the children in a Head Start 
                program and supporting the development of 
                relationships between children and their 
                families.
            ``(2) Degree requirements.--
                    ``(A) Head start teachers.--The Secretary 
                shall ensure that not later than September 30, 
                2013, at least 50 percent of 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 and coursework equivalent to a 
                        major relating to early childhood 
                        education, with experience teaching 
                        preschool-age children.
                    ``(B) Additional staff.--The Secretary 
                shall ensure that, not later than September 30, 
                2013, all--
                            ``(i) Head Start education 
                        coordinators, including those that 
                        serve as curriculum specialists, 
                        nationwide in center-based programs--
                                    ``(I) have the capacity to 
                                offer assistance to other 
                                teachers in the implementation 
                                and adaptation of curricula to 
                                the group and individual needs 
                                of children in a Head Start 
                                classroom; and
                                    ``(II) have--
                                            ``(aa) a 
                                        baccalaureate or 
                                        advanced degree in 
                                        early childhood 
                                        education; or
                                            ``(bb) a 
                                        baccalaureate or 
                                        advanced degree and 
                                        coursework equivalent 
                                        to a major relating to 
                                        early childhood 
                                        education, with 
                                        experience teaching 
                                        preschool-age children; 
                                        and
                            ``(ii) Head Start teaching 
                        assistants nationwide in center-based 
                        programs have--
                                    ``(I) at least a child 
                                development associate 
                                credential;
                                    ``(II) enrolled in a 
                                program leading to an associate 
                                or baccalaureate degree; or
                                    ``(III) enrolled in a child 
                                development associate 
                                credential program to be 
                                completed within 2 years.
                    ``(C) Progress.--
                            ``(i) Implementation.--The 
                        Secretary shall--
                                    ``(I) require Head Start 
                                agencies to--
                                            ``(aa) describe 
                                        continuing progress 
                                        each year toward 
                                        achieving the goals 
                                        described in 
                                        subparagraphs (A) and 
                                        (B); and
                                            ``(bb) annually 
                                        submit to the Secretary 
                                        a report indicating the 
                                        number and percentage 
                                        of classroom personnel 
                                        described in 
                                        subparagraphs (A) and 
                                        (B) in center-based 
                                        programs with child 
                                        development associate 
                                        credentials or 
                                        associate, 
                                        baccalaureate, or 
                                        advanced degrees;
                                    ``(II) compile and submit a 
                                summary of all program reports 
                                described in subclause (I)(bb) 
                                to the Committee on Education 
                                and Labor of the House of 
                                Representatives and the 
                                Committee on Health, Education, 
                                Labor, and Pensions of the 
                                Senate; and
                                    ``(III) not impose any 
                                penalties or sanctions on any 
                                individual Head Start agency, 
                                program, or staff in the 
                                monitoring of local agencies 
                                and programs under this 
                                subchapter not meeting the 
                                requirements of subparagraph 
                                (A) or (B).
                    ``(D) Construction.--In this paragraph a 
                reference to a Head Start agency, or its 
                program, services, facility, or personnel, 
                shall not be considered to be a reference to an 
                Early Head Start agency, or its program, 
                services, facility, or personnel.
            ``(3) Alternative credentialing and degree 
        requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure that, for 
        center-based programs, each Head Start classroom that 
        does not have a teacher who meets the qualifications 
        described in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (2)(A) is 
        assigned one teacher who has the following during the 
        period specified:
                    ``(A) Through September 30, 2011--
                            ``(i) a child development associate 
                        credential that is appropriate to the 
                        age of children being served in center-
                        based programs;
                            ``(ii) a State-awarded certificate 
                        for preschool teachers that meets or 
                        exceeds the requirements for a child 
                        development associate credential;
                            ``(iii) an associate degree in 
                        early childhood education;
                            ``(iv) an associate degree in a 
                        related field and coursework equivalent 
                        to a major relating to early childhood 
                        education, with experience teaching 
                        preschool-age children; or
                            ``(v) a baccalaureate degree and 
                        has been admitted into the Teach For 
                        America program, passed a rigorous 
                        early childhood content exam, such as 
                        the Praxis II, participated in a Teach 
                        For America summer training institute 
                        that includes teaching preschool 
                        children, and is receiving ongoing 
                        professional development and support 
                        from Teach For America's professional 
                        staff.
                    ``(B) As of October 1, 2011--
                            ``(i) an associate degree in early 
                        childhood education;
                            ``(ii) an associate degree in a 
                        related field and coursework equivalent 
                        to a major relating to early childhood 
                        education, with experience teaching 
                        preschool-age children; or
                            ``(iii) a baccalaureate degree and 
                        has been admitted into the Teach For 
                        America program, passed a rigorous 
                        early childhood content exam, such as 
                        the Praxis II, participated in a Teach 
                        For America summer training institute 
                        that includes teaching preschool 
                        children, and is receiving ongoing 
                        professional development and support 
                        from Teach For America's professional 
                        staff.
            ``(4) Waiver.--On request, the Secretary shall 
        grant--
                    ``(A) through September 30, 2011, a 180-day 
                waiver ending on or before September 30, 2011, 
                of the requirements of paragraph (3)(A) for a 
                Head Start agency that can demonstrate that the 
                agency has attempted unsuccessfully to recruit 
                an individual who has the qualifications 
                described in any of clauses (i) through (iv) of 
                paragraph (3)(A) with respect to an individual 
                who--
                            ``(i) is enrolled in a program that 
                        grants a credential, certificate, or 
                        degree described in clauses (i) through 
                        (iv) of paragraph (3)(A); and
                            ``(ii) will receive such 
                        credential, certificate, or degree 
                        under the terms of such program not 
                        later than 180 days after beginning 
                        employment as a teacher with such 
                        agency; and
                    ``(B) as of October 1, 2011, a 3-year 
                waiver of the requirements of paragraph (3)(B) 
                for a Head Start agency that can demonstrate 
                that--
                            ``(i) the agency has attempted 
                        unsuccessfully to recruit an individual 
                        who has the qualifications described in 
                        clause (i) or (ii) of such paragraph, 
                        with respect to an individual who is 
                        enrolled in a program that grants a 
                        degree described in clause (i) or (ii) 
                        of such paragraph and will receive such 
                        degree in a reasonable time; and
                            ``(ii) each Head Start classroom 
                        has a teacher who has, at a minimum--
                                    ``(I) a child development 
                                associate credential that is 
                                appropriate to the age of 
                                children being served in 
                                center-based programs; or
                                    ``(II) a State-awarded 
                                certificate for preschool 
                                teachers that meets or exceeds 
                                the requirements for a child 
                                development associate 
                                credential.
            ``(5) Teacher in-service requirement.--Each Head 
        Start teacher shall attend not less than 15 clock hours 
        of professional development per year. Such professional 
        development shall be high-quality, sustained, 
        intensive, and classroom-focused in order to have a 
        positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction 
        and the teacher's performance in the classroom, and 
        regularly evaluated by the program for effectiveness.
            ``(6) Service requirements.--The Secretary shall 
        establish requirements to ensure that, in order to 
        enable Head Start agencies to comply with the 
        requirements of paragraph (2)(A), individuals who 
        receive financial assistance under this subchapter to 
        pursue a degree described in paragraph (2)(A) shall--
                    ``(A) teach or work in a Head Start program 
                for a minimum of 3 years after receiving the 
                degree; or
                    ``(B) repay the total or a prorated amount 
                of the financial assistance received based on 
                the length of service completed after receiving 
                the degree.
            ``(7) Use of funds.--The Secretary shall require 
        that any Federal funds provided directly or indirectly 
        to comply with paragraph (2)(A) shall be used toward 
        degrees awarded by an institution of higher education, 
        as defined by section 101 or 102 of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002).'';
            (2) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
    ``(c) Family Service Workers.--To improve the quality and 
effectiveness of staff providing in-home and other services 
(including needs assessment, development of service plans, 
family advocacy, and coordination of service delivery) to 
families of children participating in Head Start programs, the 
Secretary, in coordination with concerned public and private 
agencies and organizations examining the issues of standards 
and training for family service workers, shall--
            ``(1) review and, as necessary, revise or develop 
        new qualification standards for Head Start staff 
        providing such services;
            ``(2) review, and as necessary, revise or develop 
        maximum caseload requirements, as suggested by best 
        practices;
            ``(3) promote the development of model curricula 
        (on subjects including parenting training and family 
        literacy) designed to ensure the attainment of 
        appropriate competencies by individuals working or 
        planning to work in the field of early childhood and 
        family services;
            ``(4) promote the establishment of a credential 
        that indicates attainment of the competencies and that 
        is accepted nationwide; and
            ``(5) promote the use of appropriate strategies to 
        meet the needs of special populations (including 
        populations of limited English proficient children).'';
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting 
                ``(including a center)'' after ``agency''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (6), by striking ``amounts 
                appropriated under this subchapter and allotted 
                under section 640(a)(2)(D)'' and inserting 
                ``amounts made available under section 
                640(a)(2)(E)''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Professional Development Plans.--Each Head Start 
agency and program shall create, in consultation with an 
employee, a professional development plan for all full-time 
Head Start employees who provide direct services to children 
and shall ensure that such plans are regularly evaluated for 
their impact on teacher and staff effectiveness. The agency and 
the employee shall implement the plan to the extent feasible 
and practicable.
    ``(g) Staff Recruitment and Selection Procedures.--Before a 
Head Start agency employs an individual, such agency shall--
            ``(1) conduct an interview of such individual;
            ``(2) verify the personal and employment references 
        provided by such individual; and
            ``(3) obtain--
                    ``(A) a State, tribal, or Federal criminal 
                record check covering all jurisdictions where 
                the grantee provides Head Start services to 
                children;
                    ``(B) a State, tribal, or Federal criminal 
                record check as required by the law of the 
                jurisdiction where the grantee provides Head 
                Start services; or
                    ``(C) a criminal record check as otherwise 
                required by Federal law.''.

SEC. 20. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUATION.

    Section 649 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844) is 
amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (a)(1)(B) to read as 
        follows:
                    ``(B) use the Head Start programs to 
                develop, test, and disseminate new ideas based 
                on existing scientifically valid research, for 
                addressing the needs of low-income preschool 
                children (including children with disabilities, 
                homeless children, children who have been 
                abused or neglected, and children in foster 
                care) 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.'';
            (2) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (8), by adding ``and'' at 
                the end;
                    (B) by striking paragraphs (9) and (10), 
                and inserting the following:
            ``(10)(A) contribute to understanding the impact of 
        Head Start services delivered in classrooms which 
        include both children with disabilities and children 
        without disabilities, on all of the children; and
            ``(B) disseminate promising practices for 
        increasing the availability and quality of such 
        services and such classrooms.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (5), by striking ``early 
                childhood education, or child development 
                services'' and inserting ``early childhood 
                education and development or services 
                programs'';
                    (D) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through 
                (8) as paragraphs (6) through (9), 
                respectively;
                    (E) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
                following:
            ``(5)(A) identify successful strategies that 
        promote good oral health and provide effective linkages 
        to quality dental services through pediatric dental 
        referral networks, for infants and toddlers 
        participating in Early Head Start programs and children 
        participating in other Head Start programs; and
            ``(B) identify successful strategies that promote 
        good vision health through vision screenings for such 
        infants, toddlers, and children, and referrals for 
        appropriate followup care for those identified as 
        having a vision problem;''; and
                    (F) by striking the last sentence; and
            (3) in subsection (e)(3), by striking ``child care, 
        early childhood education, or child development 
        services'' and inserting ``early childhood education 
        and development services or programs'';
            (4) in subsection (g) by amending paragraph (7)(C) 
        to read as follows:
                    ``(C) Transmittal of report to congress.--
                Not later than September 30, 2009, the 
                Secretary shall transmit the final report to 
                the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
                House of Representatives and the Committee on 
                Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
                Senate.''; and
            (5) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(h) Limited English Proficient Children.--
            ``(1) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        of enactment of the Improving Head Start for School 
        Readiness Act of 2007, the Secretary shall conduct a 
        study on the status of limited English proficient 
        children and their families participating in Head Start 
        programs (including Early Head Start programs).
            ``(2) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and 
        submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, not later 
        than September 30, 2010, a report containing the 
        results of the study, including information on--
                    ``(A) the demographics of limited English 
                proficient children from birth through age 5, 
                including the number of such children receiving 
                Head Start services and Early Head Start 
                services, and the geographic distribution of 
                children described in this subparagraph;
                    ``(B) the nature of the Head Start services 
                and of the Early Head Start services provided 
                to limited English proficient children and 
                their families, including the types, content, 
                duration, intensity, and costs of family 
                services, language assistance, and educational 
                services;
                    ``(C) procedures in Head Start programs and 
                Early Head Start programs for the assessment of 
                language needs and the transition of limited 
                English proficient children to kindergarten, 
                including the extent to which such programs 
                meet the requirements of section 642A for 
                limited English proficient children;
                    ``(D) the qualifications and training 
                provided to Head Start teachers and Early Head 
                Start teachers who serve limited English 
                proficient children and their families;
                    ``(E) the languages in which Head Start 
                teachers and Early Head Start teachers are 
                fluent, in relation to the population, and 
                instructional needs, of the children served;
                    ``(F) the rate of progress made by limited 
                English proficient children and their families 
                in Head Start programs and in Early Head Start 
                programs, including--
                            ``(i) the rate of progress made by 
                        limited English proficient children 
                        toward meeting the additional 
                        educational standards described in 
                        section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii) while 
                        enrolled in such programs;
                            ``(ii) a description of the type of 
                        assessment or assessments used to 
                        determine the rate of progress made by 
                        limited English proficient children;
                            ``(iii) the correlation between 
                        such progress and the type and quality 
                        of instruction and educational programs 
                        provided to limited English proficient 
                        children; and
                            ``(iv) the correlation between such 
                        progress and the health and family 
                        services provided by such programs to 
                        limited English proficient children and 
                        their families; and
                    ``(G) the extent to which Head Start 
                programs and Early Head Start programs make use 
                of funds under section 640(a)(2)(D) to improve 
                the quality of such services provided to 
                limited English proficient children and their 
                families.
    ``(i) Research and Evaluation Activities Relevant to 
Diverse Communities.--For purposes of conducting the study 
described in subsection (h), activities described in section 
640(l)(5)(A), and other research and evaluation activities 
relevant to limited English proficient children and their 
families, migrant and seasonal farmworker families, and other 
families from diverse populations served by Head Start 
programs, the Secretary shall award, on a competitive basis, 
funds from amounts made available under section 640(a)(2)(D) to 
1 or more organizations with a demonstrated capacity for 
serving and studying the populations involved.
    ``(j) Review of Assessments.--
            ``(1) Application of study.--When the study on 
        Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young 
        Children by the National Academy of Sciences is made 
        available to the Secretary, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) integrate the results of the study, 
                as appropriate and in accordance with 
                paragraphs (2) and (3), into each assessment 
                used in Head Start programs; and
                    ``(B) use the results of the study to 
                develop, inform, and revise as appropriate the 
                standards and measures described in section 
                641A, consistent with section 
                641A(a)(2)(C)(ii).
            ``(2) Inform and revise.--In informing and revising 
        any assessment used in the Head Start programs, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) receive recommendations from the 
                Panel on Developmental Outcomes and Assessments 
                for Young Children of the National Academy of 
                Sciences; and
                    ``(B) with respect to the development or 
                refinement of such assessment, ensure--
                            ``(i) consistency with relevant, 
                        nationally recognized professional and 
                        technical standards;
                            ``(ii) validity and reliability for 
                        all purposes for which assessments 
                        under this subchapter are designed and 
                        used;
                            ``(iii) developmental and 
                        linguistic appropriateness of such 
                        assessments for children assessed, 
                        including children who are limited 
                        English proficient; and
                            ``(iv) that the results can be used 
                        to improve the quality of, 
                        accountability of, and training and 
                        technical assistance in, Head Start 
                        programs.
            ``(3) Additional requirements.--The Secretary, in 
        carrying out the process described in paragraph (2), 
        shall ensure that--
                    ``(A) staff administering any assessments 
                under this subchapter have received appropriate 
                training to administer such assessments;
                    ``(B) appropriate accommodations for 
                children with disabilities and children who are 
                limited English proficient are made;
                    ``(C) the English and Spanish (and any 
                other language, as appropriate) forms of such 
                assessments are valid and reliable in the 
                languages in which they are administered; and
                    ``(D) such assessments are not used to 
                exclude children from Head Start programs.
            ``(4) Suspended implementation of national 
        reporting system.--The Secretary shall suspend 
        implementation and terminate further development and 
        use of the National Reporting System.
    ``(k) Indian Head Start Study.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) work in collaboration with the Head Start 
        agencies that carry out Indian Head Start programs, the 
        Indian Head Start collaboration director, and other 
        appropriate entities, including tribal governments and 
        the National Indian Head Start Directors Association--
                    ``(A) to undertake a study or set of 
                studies designed to focus on the American 
                Indian and Alaska Native Head Start-eligible 
                population, with a focus on issues such as 
                curriculum development, availability and need 
                for services, appropriate research 
                methodologies and measures for these 
                populations, and best practices for teaching 
                and educating American Indian and Alaska Native 
                Head Start Children;
                    ``(B) to accurately determine the number of 
                children nationwide who are eligible to 
                participate in Indian Head Start programs each 
                year;
                    ``(C) to document how many of these 
                children are receiving Head Start services each 
                year;
                    ``(D) to the extent practicable, to ensure 
                that access to Indian Head Start programs for 
                eligible children is comparable to access to 
                other Head Start programs for other eligible 
                children; and
                    ``(E) to make the funding decisions 
                required in section 640(a)(4)(D)(ii), after 
                completion of the studies required in that 
                section, taking into account:
                            ``(i) the Federal government's 
                        unique trust responsibility to American 
                        Indians and Alaska Natives;
                            ``(ii) limitations faced by tribal 
                        communities in accessing non-Federal 
                        sources of funding to supplement 
                        Federal funding for early childhood 
                        programs; and
                            ``(iii) other factors that uniquely 
                        and adversely impact children in 
                        American Indian and Alaska Native 
                        communities such as highly elevated 
                        poverty, unemployment and violent crime 
                        rates, as well as depressed levels of 
                        educational achievement and limited 
                        access to non-Federal health, social 
                        and educational resources;
            ``(2) in carrying out paragraph (1), consult with 
        the Secretary of Education about the Department of 
        Education's systems for collecting and reporting data 
        about, and maintaining records on, American Indian and 
        Alaska Native students;
            ``(3) not later than 9 months after the effective 
        date of this subsection, publish in the Federal 
        Register a notice of how the Secretary plans to carry 
        out paragraph (1) and shall provide a period for public 
        comment. To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall 
        consider comments received before submitting a report 
        to the Congress;
            ``(4) not later than 1 year after the effective 
        date of this subsection, submit a report to the 
        Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
        Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, detailing how the 
        Department of Health and Human Services plans to carry 
        out paragraph (1);
            ``(5) through regulation, ensure the 
        confidentiality of any personally identifiable data, 
        information, and records collected or maintained by the 
        Secretary, by Head Start agencies that carry out Indian 
        Head Start programs, and by State Directors of Head 
        Start Collaboration, by the Indian Head Start 
        Collaboration Project Director and by other appropriate 
        entities pursuant to this subsection (such regulations 
        shall provide the policies, protections, and rights 
        equivalent to those provided a parent, student, or 
        educational agency or institution under section 444 of 
        the General Education Provisions Act.); and
            ``(6) ensure that nothing in this subsection shall 
        be construed to authorize the development of a 
        nationwide database of personally identifiable 
        information on individuals involved in studies or other 
        collections of data under this subsection.
    ``(l) Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Program Study.--
            ``(1) Data.--In order to increase access to Head 
        Start services for children of migrant and seasonal 
        farmworkers, the Secretary shall work in collaboration 
        with providers of migrant and seasonal Head Start 
        programs, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary 
        of Labor, the Bureau of Migrant Health, and the 
        Secretary of Education to--
                    ``(A) collect, report, and share data, 
                within a coordinated system, on children of 
                migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their 
                families, including health records and 
                educational documents of such children, in 
                order to adequately account for the number of 
                children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers 
                who are eligible for Head Start services and 
                determine how many of such children receive the 
                services; and
                    ``(B) identify barriers that prevent 
                children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers 
                who are eligible for Head Start services from 
                accessing Head Start services, and develop a 
                plan for eliminating such barriers, including 
                certain requirements relating to tracking, 
                health records, and educational documents, and 
                increasing enrollment.
            ``(2) Publication of plan.--Not later than 1 year 
        after the date of enactment of the Improving Head Start 
        for School Readiness Act of 2007, the Secretary shall 
        publish in the Federal Register a notice about how the 
        Secretary plans to implement the activities identified 
        in paragraph (1) and shall provide a period for public 
        comment. To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall 
        consider comments received before implementing any of 
        the activities identified in paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the 
        date of enactment of the Improving Head Start for 
        School Readiness Act of 2007, and annually thereafter, 
        the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on 
        Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and 
        the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
        of the Senate detailing how the Secretary plans to 
        implement the activities identified in paragraph (1), 
        including the progress made in reaching out to and 
        serving eligible children of migrant and seasonal 
        farmworkers, and information on States where such 
        children are still underserved.
            ``(4) Protection of confidentiality.--The Secretary 
        shall, through regulation, ensure the protection of the 
        confidentiality of any personally identifiable data, 
        information, and records collected or maintained by the 
        Secretary, by Head Start agencies that carry out 
        migrant or seasonal Head Start programs, by the State 
        director of Head Start Collaboration, and by the 
        Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Collaboration project 
        Director (such regulations shall provide the policies, 
        protections, and rights equivalent to those provided a 
        parent, student, or educational agency or institution 
        under section 444 of the General Education Provisions 
        Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g)).
            ``(5) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this 
        subsection shall be construed to authorize the 
        development of a nationwide database of personally 
        identifiable data, information, or records on 
        individuals involved in studies or other collections of 
        data under this subsection.
    ``(m) Program Emergency Preparedness.--
            ``(1) Purpose.--The purpose of this subsection is 
        to evaluate the emergency preparedness of the Head 
        Start programs, including Early Head Start programs, 
        and make recommendations for how Head Start shall 
        enhance its readiness to respond to an emergency.
            ``(2) Study.--The Secretary shall evaluate the 
        Federal, State, and local preparedness of Head Start 
        programs, including Early Head Start programs, to 
        respond appropriately in the event of a large-scale 
        emergency, such as the hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and 
        Wilma, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, or 
        other incidents where assistance may be warranted under 
        the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).
            ``(3) Report to congress.--Not later than 18 months 
        after the date of the enactment of the Improving Head 
        Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, the Secretary 
        shall prepare and submit to Committee on Education and 
        Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
        on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate 
        a report containing the results of the evaluation 
        required under paragraph (2), including--
                    ``(A) recommendations for improvements to 
                Federal, State, and local preparedness and 
                response capabilities to large-scale 
                emergencies, including those that were 
                developed in response to hurricanes Katrina, 
                Rita, and Wilma, as they relate to Head Start 
                programs, including Early Head Start programs, 
                and the Secretary's plan to implement such 
                recommendations;
                    ``(B) an evaluation of the procedures for 
                informing families of children in Head Start 
                programs about the program protocols for 
                response to a large-scale emergency, including 
                procedures for communicating with such families 
                in the event of a large-scale emergency;
                    ``(C) an evaluation of such procedures for 
                staff training on State and local evacuation 
                and emergency protocols; and
                    ``(D) an evaluation of procedures for Head 
                Start agencies and the Secretary to coordinate 
                with appropriate Federal, State, and local 
                emergency management agencies in the event of a 
                large scale emergency and recommendations to 
                improve such procedures.''.

SEC. 21. REPORTS.

    Section 650 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9846) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``Education and the 
                        Workforce'' and inserting ``Education 
                        and Labor'';
                            (ii) by striking ``Labor and Human 
                        Resources'' and inserting ``Health, 
                        Education, Labor, and Pensions''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``(including 
                        disabled and non-English language 
                        background children)'' and inserting 
                        ``(including children with 
                        disabilities, limited English 
                        proficient children, homeless children, 
                        children in foster care, and children 
                        participating in Indian Head Start 
                        programs and migrant or seasonal Head 
                        Start programs)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting before 
                the semicolon the following: ``, and 
                information on the number of children served 
                under this subsection, disaggregated by type of 
                eligibility criterion'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``funds 
                expended'' and all that follows through 
                ``640(a)(3),'' and inserting ``funds made 
                available under section 640(a)'';
                    (D) in paragraph (8), by inserting 
                ``homelessness, whether the child is in foster 
                care or was referred by a child welfare 
                agency,'' after ``background,'';
                    (E) in paragraph (12), by inserting 
                ``vision care,'' after ``dental care,'';
                    (F) in paragraph (14)--
                            (i) by striking ``Alaskan Natives'' 
                        and inserting ``Alaska Natives''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``seasonal 
                        farmworkers'' and inserting ``seasonal 
                        farmworker families''; and
                    (G) in the flush matter at the end--
                            (i) by striking ``Education and the 
                        Workforce'' and inserting ``Education 
                        and Labor''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``Labor and Human 
                        Resources'' and inserting ``Health, 
                        Education, Labor, and Pensions'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``Education and the 
                Workforce'' and inserting ``Education and 
                Labor'';
                    (B) by striking ``Labor and Human 
                Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education, 
                Labor, and Pensions''; and
                    (C) by striking ``Native Alaskan'' and 
                inserting ``Alaska Native''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Fiscal Protocol.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct an 
        annual review to assess whether the design and 
        implementation of the triennial reviews described in 
        section 641A(c) include compliance procedures that 
        provide reasonable assurances that Head Start agencies 
        are complying with applicable fiscal laws and 
        regulations.
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the 
        date the Secretary completes the annual review under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall report the findings 
        and conclusions of the annual review to the Committee 
        on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives 
        and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
        Pensions of the Senate.
    ``(d) Disability-Related Services.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall track the 
        provision of disability-related services for children, 
        in order to--
                    ``(A) determine whether Head Start agencies 
                are making timely referrals to the State or 
                local agency responsible for providing services 
                under section 619 or part C of the Individuals 
                with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
                1419, 1431 et seq.);
                    ``(B) identify barriers to timely 
                evaluations and eligibility determinations by 
                the State or local agency responsible for 
                providing services under section 619 or part C 
                of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
                Act; and
                    ``(C) determine under what circumstances 
                and for what length of time Head Start agencies 
                are providing disability-related services for 
                children who have not been determined under the 
                Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
                U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) to be children with 
                disabilities.
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        of enactment of the Improving Head Start for School 
        Readiness Act of 2007, the Secretary shall provide a 
        report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on the 
        activities described in paragraph (1).
    ``(e) Evaluation and Recommendations Regarding Obesity 
Prevention.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Education and 
Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report 
on the Secretary's progress in assisting program efforts to 
prevent and reduce obesity in children who participate in Head 
Start programs, including progress on implementing initiatives 
within the Head Start program to prevent and reduce obesity in 
such children.''.

SEC. 22. COMPARABILITY OF WAGES.

    Section 653 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9848) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Secretary shall take'' and 
        inserting ``(a) Comparability of Wages.--The Secretary 
        shall take''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Limitation.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, no Federal funds may be used to pay 
        any part of the compensation of an individual employed 
        by a Head Start agency, if such compensation, including 
        non-Federal funds, exceeds an amount equal to the rate 
        payable for level II of the Executive Schedule under 
        section 5313 of title 5, United States Code.
            ``(2) Compensation.--In this subsection, the term 
        `compensation'--
                    ``(A) includes salary, bonuses, periodic 
                payments, severance pay, the value of any 
                vacation time, the value of a compensatory or 
                paid leave benefit not excluded by subparagraph 
                (B), and the fair market value of any employee 
                perquisite or benefit not excluded by 
                subparagraph (B); and
                    ``(B) excludes any Head Start agency 
                expenditure for a health, medical, life 
                insurance, disability, retirement, or any other 
                employee welfare or pension benefit.''.

SEC. 23. LIMITATION WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES.

    Section 655 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9850) is 
amended by inserting ``or in'' after ``assigned by''.

SEC. 24. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.

    Section 656 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9851) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking all that precedes ``chapter 15'' 
        and inserting the following:

``SEC. 656. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) State or Local Agency.--For purposes of''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(b) Restrictions.--
            ``(1) In general.--A program assisted under this 
        subchapter, and any individual employed by, or assigned 
        to or in, a program assisted under this subchapter 
        (during the hours in which such individual is working 
        on behalf of such program), shall not engage in--
                    ``(A) any partisan or nonpartisan political 
                activity or any other political activity 
                associated with a candidate, or contending 
                faction or group, in an election for public or 
                party office; or
                    ``(B) any activity to provide voters or 
                prospective voters with transportation to the 
                polls or similar assistance in connection with 
                any such election.
            ``(2) Registration.--No funds appropriated under 
        this subchapter may be used to conduct voter 
        registration activities. Nothing in this subchapter 
        prohibits the availability of Head Start facilities 
        during hours of operation for the use of any 
        nonpartisan organization to increase the number of 
        eligible citizens who register to vote in elections for 
        Federal office.
            ``(3) Rules and regulations.--The Secretary, after 
        consultation with the Director of the Office of 
        Personnel Management, may issue rules and regulations 
        to provide for the enforcement of this section, which 
        may include provisions for summary suspension of 
        assistance or other action necessary to permit 
        enforcement on an emergency basis.''.

SEC. 25. PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR HEALTH SERVICES.

    The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 657A. PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR NONEMERGENCY INTRUSIVE 
                    PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS.

    ``(a) Definition.--The term `nonemergency intrusive 
physical examination' means, with respect to a child, a 
physical examination that--
            ``(1) is not immediately necessary to protect the 
        health or safety of the child involved or the health or 
        safety of another individual; and
            ``(2) requires incision or is otherwise invasive, 
        or involves exposure of private body parts.
    ``(b) Requirement.--A Head Start agency shall obtain 
written parental consent before administration of any 
nonemergency intrusive physical examination of a child in 
connection with participation in a program under this 
subchapter.
    ``(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall 
be construed to prohibit agencies from using established 
methods, for handling cases of suspected or known child abuse 
and neglect, that are in compliance with applicable Federal, 
State, or tribal law.''.

SEC. 26. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.

    The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), as amended by 
section 25, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 657B. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.

    ``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `center of 
excellence' means a Center of Excellence in Early Childhood 
designated under subsection (b).
    ``(b) Designation and Bonus Grants.--The Secretary shall, 
subject to the availability of funds under this section, 
establish a program under which the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) designate not more than 200 exemplary Head 
        Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies, 
        Indian Head Start agencies, and migrant and seasonal 
        Head Start agencies) as Centers of Excellence in Early 
        Childhood; and
            ``(2) make bonus grants to the centers of 
        excellence to carry out the activities described in 
        subsection (d).
    ``(c) Application and Designation.--
            ``(1) Application.--
                    ``(A) Nomination and submission.--
                            ``(i) In general.--To be eligible 
                        to receive a designation as a center of 
                        excellence under subsection (b), except 
                        as provided in clause (ii), a Head 
                        Start agency in a State shall be 
                        nominated by the Governor of the State, 
                        after selection for nomination by such 
                        Governor through a competitive process, 
                        and shall submit an application to the 
                        Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
                        and containing such information as the 
                        Secretary may require.
                            ``(ii) Indian and migrant and 
                        seasonal head start programs.--In the 
                        case of an Indian Head Start agency or 
                        a migrant or seasonal Head Start 
                        agency, to be eligible to receive a 
                        designation as a center of excellence 
                        under subsection (b), such an agency 
                        shall be nominated by the head of the 
                        appropriate regional office of the 
                        Department of Health and Human Services 
                        and shall submit an application to the 
                        Secretary in accordance with clause 
                        (i).
                    ``(B) Contents.--At a minimum, the 
                application shall include--
                            ``(i) evidence that the Head Start 
                        program carried out by the agency 
                        involved has significantly improved the 
                        school readiness of children who have 
                        participated in the program;
                            ``(ii) evidence that the program 
                        meets or exceeds standards described in 
                        section 641A(a)(1), as evidenced by the 
                        results of monitoring reviews described 
                        in section 641A(c), and has no findings 
                        of deficiencies in the preceding 3 
                        years;
                            ``(iii) evidence that the program 
                        is making progress toward meeting the 
                        requirements described in section 648A;
                            ``(iv) an assurance that the Head 
                        Start agency will develop a 
                        collaborative partnership with the 
                        State (or a State agency) and other 
                        providers of early childhood education 
                        and development programs and services 
                        in the local community involved to 
                        conduct activities under subsection 
                        (d);
                            ``(v) a nomination letter from the 
                        Governor, or appropriate regional 
                        office, demonstrating the agency's 
                        ability to provide the coordination, 
                        transition, and training services of 
                        the program to be carried out under the 
                        bonus grant involved, including 
                        coordination of activities with State 
                        and local agencies that provide early 
                        childhood education and development to 
                        children and families in the community 
                        served by the agency, and carry out the 
                        activities described under subsection 
                        (d)(1); and
                            ``(vi) a description of how the 
                        center involved, in order to expand 
                        accessibility and continuity of quality 
                        early childhood education and 
                        development services and programs, will 
                        coordinate activities, as appropriate, 
                        assisted under this section with--
                                    ``(I) programs carried out 
                                under the Child Care and 
                                Development Block Grant Act of 
                                1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.);
                                    ``(II) the Early Head Start 
                                programs carried out under 
                                section 645A;
                                    ``(III) Early Reading First 
                                and Even Start programs carried 
                                out under subparts 2 and 3 of 
                                part B of title I of the 
                                Elementary and Secondary 
                                Education Act of 1965 (20 
                                U.S.C. 6371 et seq., 6381 et 
                                seq.);
                                    ``(IV) other preschool 
                                programs carried out under 
                                title I of that Act (20 U.S.C. 
                                6301 et seq.);
                                    ``(V) programs carried out 
                                under section 619 and part C of 
                                the Individuals with 
                                Disabilities Education Act (20 
                                U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
                                    ``(VI) State 
                                prekindergarten programs; and
                                    ``(VII) other programs of 
                                early childhood education and 
                                development.
            ``(2) Selection.--In selecting agencies to 
        designate as centers of excellence under subsection 
        (b), the Secretary shall designate not less than 1 from 
        each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, an 
        Indian Head Start program, a migrant or seasonal Head 
        Start program, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
            ``(3) Priority.--In making bonus grant 
        determinations under this section, the Secretary shall 
        give priority to agencies that, through their 
        applications, demonstrate that their programs are of 
        exceptional quality and would serve as exemplary models 
        for programs in the same geographic region. The 
        Secretary may also consider the populations served by 
        the applicants, such as agencies that serve large 
        proportions of families of limited English proficient 
        children or other underserved populations, and may make 
        bonus grants to agencies that do an exceptional job 
        meeting the needs of children in such populations.
            ``(4) Term of designation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph 
                (B), the Secretary shall designate a Head Start 
                agency as a center of excellence for a 5-year 
                term. During the period of that designation, 
                subject to the availability of appropriations, 
                the agency shall be eligible to receive a bonus 
                grant under subsection (b).
                    ``(B) Revocation.--The Secretary may revoke 
                an agency's designation under subsection (b) if 
                the Secretary determines that the agency is not 
                demonstrating adequate performance or has had 
                findings of deficiencies described in paragraph 
                (1)(B)(ii).
            ``(5) Amount of bonus grant.--The Secretary shall 
        base the amount of funding provided through a bonus 
        grant made under subsection (b) to a center of 
        excellence on the number of children eligible for Head 
        Start services in the community involved. The Secretary 
        shall, subject to the availability of funding, make 
        such a bonus grant in an amount of not less than 
        $200,000 per year.
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--A center of excellence that receives a 
bonus grant under subsection (b)--
            ``(1) shall use not less than 15 percent of the 
        funds made available through the bonus grant to 
        disseminate to other Head Start agencies in the State 
        involved, best practices for achieving early academic 
        success, including--
                    ``(A) best practices for achieving school 
                readiness, including developing early literacy 
                and mathematics skills, for children at risk 
                for school difficulties;
                    ``(B) best practices for achieving the 
                acquisition of the English language for limited 
                English proficient children, if appropriate to 
                the population served; and
                    ``(C) best practices for providing high-
                quality comprehensive services for eligible 
                children and their families;
            ``(2) may use the funds made available through the 
        bonus grant--
                    ``(A) to provide Head Start services to 
                additional eligible children;
                    ``(B) to better meet the needs of working 
                families in the community served by the center 
                by serving more children in existing Early Head 
                Start programs (existing as of the date the 
                center is designated under this section) or in 
                full-working-day, full calendar year Head Start 
                programs;
                    ``(C) to further coordinate early childhood 
                education and development programs and services 
                and social services available in the community 
                served by the center for at-risk children 
                (birth through age 8), their families, and 
                pregnant women;
                    ``(D) to provide professional development 
                for Head Start teachers and staff, including 
                joint training for Head Start teachers and 
                staff, child care providers, public and private 
                preschool and elementary school teachers, and 
                other providers of early childhood education 
                and development programs;
                    ``(E) to provide effective transitions 
                between Head Start programs and elementary 
                schools and to facilitate ongoing communication 
                between Head Start and elementary school 
                teachers concerning children receiving Head 
                Start services to improve the teachers' ability 
                to work effectively with low-income, at-risk 
                children and their families;
                    ``(F) to develop or maintain partnerships 
                with institutions of higher education and 
                nonprofit organizations, including community-
                based organizations, that recruit, train, 
                place, and support college students to serve as 
                mentors and reading partners to preschool 
                children in Head Start programs; and
                    ``(G) to carry out other activities 
                determined by the center to improve the overall 
                quality of the Head Start program carried out 
                by the agency and the program carried out under 
                the bonus grant involved.
    ``(e) Research and Reports.--
            ``(1) Research.--The Secretary shall, subject to 
        the availability of funds to carry out this subsection, 
        award a grant or contract to an independent 
        organization to conduct research on the ability of the 
        centers of excellence to use the funds received under 
        this section to improve the school readiness of 
        children receiving Head Start services, and to 
        positively impact school results in the earliest 
        grades. The organization shall also conduct research to 
        measure the success of the centers of excellence at 
        encouraging the center's delegate agencies, additional 
        Head Start agencies, and other providers of early 
        childhood education and development programs in the 
        communities involved to meet measurable improvement 
        goals, particularly in the area of school readiness.
            ``(2) Research report.--Not later than 48 months 
        after the date of enactment of the Improving Head Start 
        for School Readiness Act of 2007, the organization 
        shall prepare and submit to the Secretary and Congress 
        a report containing the results of the research 
        described in paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Reports to the secretary.--Each center of 
        excellence shall submit an annual report to the 
        Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the 
        Secretary may require, that contains a description of 
        the activities the center carried out with funds 
        received under this section, including a description of 
        how such funds improved services for children and 
        families.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to make bonus grants to 
centers of excellence under subsection (b) to carry out 
activities described in subsection (d) and research and report 
activities described in subsection (e).''.

SEC. 27. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

    The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), as amended by 
section 26, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 657C. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

    ``(a) Limitation.--Nothing in this subchapter shall be 
construed to authorize or permit the Secretary or any employee 
or contractor of the Department of Health and Human Services to 
mandate, direct, or control, the selection of a curriculum, a 
program of instruction, or instructional materials, for a Head 
Start program.
    ``(b) Special Rule.--Nothing in this subchapter shall be 
construed to authorize a Head Start program or a local 
educational agency to require the other to select or implement 
a specific curriculum or program of instruction.
    ``(c) Definition.--In this subchapter, the term `health', 
when used to refer to services or care provided to enrolled 
children, their parents, or their siblings, shall be 
interpreted to refer to both physical and mental health.''.

SEC. 28. COMPLIANCE WITH IMPROPER PAYMENTS INFORMATION ACT OF 2002.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section, the term--
            (1) ``appropriate committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Health, Education, 
                Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Education and Labor of 
                the House of Representatives; and
            (2) ``improper payment'' has the meaning given that 
        term under section 2(d)(2) of the Improper Payments 
        Information Act of 2002 (31 U.S.C. 3321 note).
    (b) Requirement for Compliance Certification and Report.--
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a 
report to the appropriate committees that--
            (1) contains a certification that the Department of 
        Health and Human Services has, for each program and 
        activity of the Administration for Children and 
        Families, performed and completed a risk assessment to 
        determine programs and activities that are at 
        significant risk of making improper payments; and
            (2) describes the actions to be taken to reduce 
        improper payments for the programs and activities 
        determined to be at significant risk of making improper 
        payments.

SEC. 29. REFERENCES IN OTHER ACTS.

    (a) Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.--
Section 1112(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6312(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(G), by striking ``performance 
        standards established under section 641A(a) of the Head 
        Start Act'' and inserting ``education performance 
        standards in effect under section 641A(a)(1)(B) of the 
        Head Start Act''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``Head Start 
        performance standards as in effect under section 
        641A(a) of the Head Start Act'' and inserting 
        ``education performance standards in effect under 
        section 641A(a)(1)(B) of the Head Start Act''.
    (b) Early Learning Opportunities Act.--Section 810(b)(1) of 
the Early Learning Opportunities Act (20 U.S.C. 9409(b)(1)) is 
amended by striking ``entities funded under section 640(a)(5) 
of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(a)(5))'' and inserting 
``entities funded under section 640(a)(2)(B)(vi) of the Head 
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(a)(2)(B)(vi))''.
    (c) Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.--
            (1) Section 9(b)(12)(A)(iii) of the Richard B. 
        Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1758(b)(12)(A)(iii)) is amended by striking ``the child 
        is a member of a family that meets the low-income 
        criteria prescribed under section 645(a)(1)(A) of the 
        Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840(a)(1)(A))'' and 
        inserting ``the child meets the eligibility criteria 
        prescribed under section 645(a)(1)(B) of the Head Start 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 9840(a)(1)(B))''.
            (2) Section 17(c)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1766(c)(5)) is amended by striking ``the child is a 
        member of a family that meets the low-income criteria 
        prescribed under section 645(a)(1)(A) of the Head Start 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 9840(a)(1)(A))'' and inserting ``the 
        child meets the eligibility criteria prescribed under 
        section 645(a)(1)(B) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
        9840(a)(1)(B))''.

    And the Senate agree to the same.

                                   George Miller,
                                   Dale E. Kildee,
                                   Lynn Woolsey,
                                   Danny K. Davis,
                                   Raul M. Grijalva,
                                   Linda T. Sanchez,
                                   John P. Sarbanes,
                                   Joe Sestak,
                                   David Loebsack,
                                   Mazie K. Hirono,
                                   Carol Shea-Porter,
                                   Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
                                   Michael N. Castle,
                                   Luis Fortuno,
                                   Ric Keller,
                                   Joe Wilson,
                                   C. W. Boustany,
                                   Dean Heller,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Ted Kennedy,
                                   Chris Dodd,
                                   Tom Harkin,
                                   Barbara A. Mikulski,
                                   Jeff Bingaman,
                                   Patty Murray,
                                   Jack Reed,
                                   Hillary Rodham Clinton,
                                   Barack Obama,
                                   Bernard Sanders,
                                   Sherrod Brown,
                                   Michael B. Enzi,
                                   Judd Gregg,
                                   Lamar Alexander,
                                   Richard Burr,
                                   Johnny Isakson,
                                   Lisa Murkowski,
                                   Orrin Hatch,
                                   Pat Roberts,
                                   Wayne Allard,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.
       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

      The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at 
the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on 
the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 1429), to 
reauthorize the Head Start Act, to improve program quality, to 
expand access, and for other purposes, submit the following 
joint statement to the House and the Senate in explanation of 
the effect of the action agreed upon by the managers and 
recommended in the accompanying conference report:
      The Senate amendment struck all of the House bill after 
the enacting clause and inserted a substitute text.
      The House recedes from its disagreement to the amendment 
of the Senate with an amendment that is a substitute for the 
House bill and the Senate amendment. The differences between 
the House bill, the Senate amendment, and the substitute agreed 
to in conference are noted below, except for clerical 
corrections, conforming changes made necessary by agreements 
reached by the Conferees, and minor drafting and clarifying 
changes.
Section 1. Short title
      1. The House bill and the Senate amendment have different 
titles.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to insert 
``Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007''.
      2. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
tables of contents.
      House recedes/Senate recedes.
      3. The House bill includes a Sense of Congress. The 
Senate amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
Section 2. Statement of purpose
      4. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment refers to enhancing 
children's cognitive and social development in the lead-in and 
the House references cognitive, social and emotional 
development in note 5.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``and social'' 
and insert ``social, and emotional''.
      5. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``by enhancing 
their cognitive, social, and emotional development'' and insert 
``creative arts'' before ``physical''.
      6. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
Section 3. Definitions
      7. The Senate amendment makes changes to ``delegate 
agency'' definition. The House bill maintains current law.
      House recedes
      8. The Senate amendment makes changes to ``family 
literacy services'' definition. The House bill maintains 
current law.
      House recedes with an amendment to insert ``and financial 
literacy.'' after ``self sufficiency'' in subparagraph (C).
      9. The House bill uses ``significant''. The Senate 
amendment uses ``substantial''.
      House recedes.
      10. The House bill references ``program governance''. The 
Senate amendment references ``program operations''.
      House recedes.
      11. The House bill references sections with additional 
performance standards.
      House recedes with an amendment to insert ``(as 
determined by the Secretary)'' after ``status''.
      12. The Senate amendment adds additional clarification.
      House recedes.
      13. The House bill uses ``material failure''. The Senate 
amendment uses ``systemic failure''.
      House recedes with an amendment to insert ``or material'' 
after ``systematic''.
      14. The Senate amendment has additional provisions (C), 
(D), (E).
      House recedes with an amendment to insert ``or;'' after 
``responsibilities'' in (B) and to strike subparagraphs (C) and 
(D), and to strike ``having'' in part (E).
      15. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill defines ``homeless 
children''. The Senate amendment defines ``homeless child''.
      Senate recedes.
      16. The House bill defines homeless family. The Senate 
amendment refers to families of homeless children, but does not 
contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      17. The House bill defines inclusive classroom. The 
Senate amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      18. The Senate amendment defines institution of higher 
education. The House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      19. The Senate amendment defines interrater reliability. 
The House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      20. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike subparagraph 
``(A)''.
      21. The Senate amendment defines unresolved area of 
noncompliance. The House bill does not include a similar 
provision.
      House recedes.
      22. The House bill defines professional development. The 
Senate amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
``scientifically-based research'' and insert ``scientifically 
valid research''.
      23. The House bill defines scientifically based research. 
The Senate amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``(23) The term `principles of scientific research' means 
principles of research that--
            ``(A) applies rigorous, systematic, and objective 
        methodology to obtain reliable and valid knowledge 
        relevant to education activities and programs;
            ``(B) presents findings and makes claims that are 
        appropriate to and supported by methods that have been 
        employed; and
            ``(C) includes, appropriate to the research being 
        conducted--
                    ``(i) use of systematic, empirical methods 
                that draw on observation or experiment;
                    ``(ii) use of data analyses that are 
                adequate to support the general findings;
                    ``(iii) reliance on measurements or 
                observational methods that provide reliable and 
                generalizable findings;
                    ``(iv) strong claims of causal 
                relationships only with research designs that 
                eliminate plausible competing explanations for 
                observed results, such as but not limited to 
                random assignment experiments;
                    ``(v) presentation of studies and methods 
                in sufficient detail and clarity to allow for 
                replication or at a minimum, to offer the 
                opportunity to build systematically on the 
                findings of the research;
                    ``(vi) acceptance by a peer-reviewed 
                journal or critique by a panel of independent 
                experts through a comparably rigorous, 
                objective, and scientific review; and
                    ``(vii) consistency of findings across 
                multiple studies or sites to support the 
                generality of results and conclusions.
      ``(25) The term `scientifically valid research' includes 
applied research, basic research, and field-initiated research 
in which the rationale, design, and interpretation are soundly 
developed in accordance with principles of scientific 
research.''
      24. The House bill and Senate amendment make similar 
changes to the definition of a State.
      Senate recedes.
Section 4. Financial assistance for Head Start programs
      25. The Senate amendment requires grants terms continue 
for a period of 5 years. The House bill does not contain a 
similar provision in section 638 but makes a similar change in 
section 641.
      House recedes.
Section 5. Authorization of appropriations
      26. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
different amounts authorized to be appropriated for Head Start.
      House recedes.
      27. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical language except the House bill uses parenthesis.
      House recedes.
Section 6. Allotment of funds; limitations on assistance
      28. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill adds a heading and strikes a 
date from current law. The Senate amendment maintains current 
law.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
subsection (a) and insert--
      ``(a) Allotment of Funds.--Section 640(a) of the Head 
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(a)) is amended to read as follows:
      ``(a)(1) Using the sums appropriated pursuant to section 
639 for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allocate such sums 
in accordance with paragraphs (2) through (5).
      ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall determine an amount for each 
fiscal year for each State that is equal to the amount received 
through base grants for the prior fiscal year by the Head Start 
agencies (including Early Head Start agencies) in the State 
that are not described in clause (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph 
(B).
      ``(B) The Secretary shall reserve for each fiscal year 
such sums as are necessary--
            ``(i) to provide each amount determined for a State 
        under subparagraph (A) to the Head Start agencies 
        (including Early Head Start agencies) in the State that 
        are not described in clause (ii) or (iii), by allotting 
        to each agency described in this clause an amount equal 
        to that agency's base grant for the prior fiscal year;
            ``(ii) to provide an amount for the Indian Head 
        Start programs that is equal to the amount provided for 
        base grants for such programs under this subchapter for 
        the prior fiscal year, by allotting to each Head Start 
        agency (including each Early Head Start agency) 
        administering an Indian Head Start program an amount 
        equal to that agency's base grant for the prior fiscal 
        year;
            ``(iii) to provide an amount for the migrant and 
        seasonal Head Start programs on a nationwide basis that 
        is equal to the amount provided for base grants for 
        such programs nationwide under this subchapter for the 
        prior fiscal year, by allotting to each Head Start 
        agency administering a migrant or seasonal Head Start 
        program an amount equal to that agency's base grant for 
        the prior fiscal year;
            ``(iv) to provide an amount for each of Guam, 
        American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
        Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands of the United 
        States (for Head Start agencies (including Early Head 
        Start agencies) in the jurisdiction) that is equal to 
        the amount provided for base grants for such 
        jurisdiction under this subchapter for the prior fiscal 
        year, by allotting to each agency described in this 
        clause an amount equal to that agency's base grant for 
        the prior fiscal year;
            ``(v) to provide an amount for the Republic of 
        Palau (for Head Start agencies (including Early Head 
        Start agencies) in the jurisdiction) for each of fiscal 
        years 2008 and 2009, and (if legislation approving a 
        new agreement regarding United States assistance for 
        the Republic of Palau has not been enacted by September 
        30, 2009) for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2012, 
        that is equal to the amount provided for base grants 
        for such jurisdiction under this subchapter for the 
        prior fiscal year, by allotting to each agency 
        described in this clause an amount equal to that 
        agency's base grant for the prior fiscal year; and
            ``(vi) to provide an amount for a collaboration 
        grant under 642(B)(a) for each State, for the Indian 
        Head Start programs, and for the migrant and seasonal 
        Head Start programs, in the same amount as the 
        corresponding collaboration grant provided under this 
        subchapter for fiscal year 2007.
      ``(C)(i) The Secretary shall reserve for each fiscal year 
an amount that is not less than 2.5 percent and not more than 3 
percent of the sums appropriated pursuant to section 639 for 
that fiscal year, to fund training and technical assistance 
activities, from which reserved amount--
            ``(I) the Secretary shall set aside a portion, but 
        not less than 20 percent, to be used to fund training 
        and technical assistance activities for Early Head 
        Start programs, in accordance with section 645A(g)(2); 
        and
            ``(II) the Secretary shall set aside a portion, 
        equal to the rest of the reserved amount, to fund 
        training and technical assistance activities for other 
        Head Start programs, in accordance with section 648, of 
        which portion--
                    ``(aa) not less than 50 percent shall be 
                made available to Head Start agencies to use 
                directly, which may include at their discretion 
                the establishment of local or regional 
                agreements with community experts, institutions 
                of higher education, or private consultants, to 
                make program improvements identified by such 
                agencies, by carrying out the training and 
                technical assistance activities described in 
                section 648(d);
                    ``(bb) not less than 25 percent shall be 
                available to the Secretary to support a State-
                based training and technical assistance system, 
                or a national system of training and technical 
                assistance in the case of Indian Head Start 
                programs and migrant and seasonal Head Start 
                programs, as described in section 648(e) for 
                supporting program quality; and
                    ``(cc) the remainder of the portion set 
                aside under this subclause shall be available 
                to the Secretary to assist Head Start agencies 
                in meeting and exceeding the standards 
                described in section 641A(a)(1) by carrying out 
                activities described in subsections (a), (b), 
                (c), (f), and (g) of section 648, including 
                helping Head Start programs address weaknesses 
                identified by monitoring activities conducted 
                by the Secretary under section 641A(c), except 
                that not less than $3,000,000 of the remainder 
                shall be made available to carry out activities 
                described in section 648(a)(3)(B)(ii).
      ``(ii) In determining the portion set aside under clause 
(i)(I) and the amount reserved under this subparagraph, the 
Secretary shall consider the number of Early Head Start 
programs newly funded for that fiscal year.
      ``(D) The Secretary shall reserve not more than 
$20,000,000 to fund research, demonstration, and evaluation 
activities under section 649.
      ``(E) The Secretary shall reserve not more than 
$42,000,000 for discretionary payments by the Secretary, 
including payments for all costs (other than compensation of 
Federal employees) for activities carried out under subsection 
(c) or (e) of section 641A.
      ``(F) If the sums appropriated under section 639 are not 
sufficient to provide the amounts required to be reserved under 
subparagraphs (B) through (E), the amounts shall be reduced 
proportionately.
      ``(G) Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny 
the Secretary the authority, consistent with sections 641, 
641A, and 646 to terminate, suspend, or reduce funding to a 
Head Start agency.
      ``(3)(A) From any amount remaining for a fiscal year 
after the Secretary carries out paragraph (2) (referred to in 
this paragraph as the `remaining amount'), the Secretary 
shall--
            ``(i) subject to clause (ii)--
                    ``(I) provide a cost of living increase for 
                each Head Start agency (including each Early 
                Head Start agency) funded under this subchapter 
                for that fiscal year, to maintain the level of 
                services provided during the prior year; and
                    ``(II) subject to subparagraph (B), provide 
                $10,000,000 for Indian Head Start programs 
                (including Early Head Start programs) and 
                $10,000,000 for migrant and seasonal Head Start 
                programs, to increase enrollment in the 
                programs involved;
            ``(ii) subject to clause (iii), if the remaining 
        amount is not sufficient to carry out clause (i)--
                    ``(I) for each of fiscal years 2008, 2009, 
                and 2010--
                            ``(aa) subject to subparagraph (B), 
                        provide 5 percent of that amount for 
                        Indian Head Start programs (including 
                        Early Head Start programs), and 5 
                        percent of that amount for migrant and 
                        seasonal Head Start programs, to 
                        increase enrollment in the programs 
                        involved; and
                            ``(bb) use 90 percent of that 
                        amount to provide, for each Head Start 
                        agency (including each Early Head Start 
                        agency) funded as described in clause 
                        (i)(I), the same percentage (but not 
                        less than 50 percent) of the cost of 
                        living increase described in clause 
                        (i); and
                    ``(II) for fiscal year 2011 and each 
                subsequent fiscal year--
                            ``(aa) provide, for each Head Start 
                        agency (including each Early Head Start 
                        agency) funded as described in clause 
                        (i)(I), the cost of living increase 
                        described in clause (i); and
                            ``(bb) subject to subparagraph (B), 
                        with any portion of the remaining 
                        amount that is not used under item 
                        (aa), provide equal amounts for Indian 
                        Head Start programs, and for migrant 
                        and seasonal Head Start programs, to 
                        increase enrollment in the programs 
                        involved (including Early Head Start 
                        programs); and
            ``(iii) if the remaining amount is not sufficient 
        to carry out clause (ii) for the fiscal year involved, 
        use that amount to provide, for each Head Start agency 
        (including each Early Head Start agency) funded as 
        described in clause (i)(I), the same percentage of the 
        cost of living increase described in clause (i).
      ``(B)(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
paragraph, the Indian Head Start programs shall not receive 
more than a total cumulative amount of $50,000,000 for all 
fiscal years, and the migrant and seasonal Head Start programs 
shall not receive more than a total cumulative amount of 
$50,000,000 for all fiscal years, under clause (i)(II), and 
subclauses (I)(aa) and (II)(bb) of clause (ii), of subparagraph 
(A) (referred to in this subsection as the `special expansion 
provisions'), to increase enrollment in the programs involved.
      ``(ii) Funds that are appropriated under section 639 for 
a fiscal year, and made available to Indian Head Start programs 
or migrant or seasonal Head Start programs under the special 
expansion provisions, shall remain available until the end of 
the following fiscal year.
      ``(iii) Of the funds made available as described in 
clause (ii), the Secretary shall reallocate the portion that 
the Secretary determines is unobligated 18 months after the 
funds are made available. The Secretary shall add that portion 
to the balance described in paragraph (4), and reallocate the 
portion in accordance with paragraph (4), for the following 
fiscal year referred to in clause (ii).
      ``(4)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), from any 
amount remaining for a fiscal year after the Secretary carries 
out paragraphs (2) and (3) (referred to in this paragraph as 
the `balance'), the Secretary shall--
            ``(i) reserve 40 percent to carry out subparagraph 
        (C) and paragraph (5);
            ``(ii) reserve 45 percent to carry out subparagraph 
        (D); and
            ``(iii) reserve 15 percent (which shall remain 
        available through the end of fiscal year 2012) to carry 
        out subparagraph (E).
      ``(B)(i) Under the circumstances described in clause 
(ii), from the balance, the Secretary shall--
            ``(I) reserve 45 percent to carry out subparagraph 
        (C) and paragraph (5); and
            ``(II) reserve 55 percent to carry out subparagraph 
        (D).
      ``(ii) The Secretary shall make the reservations 
described in clause (i) for a fiscal year if--
            ``(I) the total cumulative amount reserved under 
        subparagraph (A)(iii) for all preceding fiscal years 
        equals $100,000,000; or
            ``(II) if in the 2-year period preceding such 
        fiscal year funds were reserved under subparagraph 
        (A)(iii) in an amount that totals not less than 
        $15,000,000 and the Secretary received no approvable 
        applications from States for such funds.
      ``(C) The Secretary shall fund the quality improvement 
activities described in paragraph (5) using the amount reserved 
under subparagraph (A)(i) or subparagraph (B)(i)(I), as 
appropriate, of which--
            ``(i) a portion that is less than 10 percent may be 
        reserved by the Secretary to provide funding to Head 
        Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies) 
        that demonstrate the greatest need for additional 
        funding for such activities, as determined by the 
        Secretary; and
            ``(ii) a portion that is not less than 90 percent 
        shall be reserved by the Secretary to allot, to each 
        Head Start agency (including each Early Head Start 
        agency), an amount that bears the same ratio to such 
        portion as the number of enrolled children served by 
        the agency involved bears to the number of enrolled 
        children served by all the Head Start agencies 
        (including Early Head Start agencies), except that the 
        Secretary shall account for the additional costs of 
        serving children in Early Head Start programs and may 
        consider whether an agency is providing a part-day 
        program.
      ``(D) The Secretary shall fund expansion of Head Start 
programs (including Early Head Start programs) using the amount 
reserved under subparagraph (A)(ii) or subparagraph (B)(i)(II), 
as appropriate, of which the Secretary shall--
            ``(i) use 0.2 percent for Head Start programs 
        funded under clause (iv) or (v) of paragraph (2)(B) 
        (other than Early Head Start programs);
            ``(ii) for any fiscal year after the last fiscal 
        year for which Indian Head Start programs receive funds 
        under the special expansion provisions, use 3 percent 
        for Head Start programs funded under paragraph 
        (2)(B)(ii) (other than Early Head Start programs), 
        except that the Secretary may increase that percentage 
        if the Secretary determines that the results of the 
        study conducted under section 649(k) indicate that the 
        percentage should be increased;
            ``(iii) for any fiscal year after the last fiscal 
        year for which migrant or seasonal Head Start programs 
        receive funds under the special expansion provisions, 
        use 4.5 percent for Head Start programs funded under 
        paragraph (2)(B)(iii) (other than Early Head Start 
        programs), except that the Secretary may increase that 
        percentage if the Secretary determines that the results 
        of the study conducted under section 649(l) indicate 
        that the percentage should be increased; and
            ``(iv) from the remainder of the reserved amount--
                    ``(I) use 50 percent for Head Start 
                programs funded under paragraph (2)(B)(i) 
                (other than Early Head Start programs), of 
                which--
                            ``(aa) the covered percentage shall 
                        be allocated among the States serving 
                        less than 60 percent (as determined by 
                        the Secretary) of children who are 3 or 
                        4 years of age from families whose 
                        income is below the poverty line, by 
                        allocating to each of those States an 
                        amount that bears the same relationship 
                        to that covered percentage as the 
                        number of children who are less than 5 
                        years of age from families whose income 
                        is below the poverty line (referred to 
                        in this subclause as `young low-income 
                        children') in that State bears to the 
                        number of young low-income children in 
                        all those States; and
                            ``(bb) the remainder shall be 
                        allocated proportionately among the 
                        States on the basis of the number of 
                        young low-income children; and
                    ``(II) use 50 percent for Early Head Start 
                programs.
      ``(E) In this paragraph, the term `covered percentage' 
means--
            ``(i) for fiscal year 2008, 30 percent;
            ``(ii) for fiscal year 2009, 40 percent;
            ``(iii) for fiscal year 2010, 50 percent;
            ``(iv) for fiscal year 2011, 55 percent; and
            ``(v) for fiscal year 2012, 55 percent.
      ``(5)(A) Not less than 50 percent of the amount reserved 
under subparagraph (A)(i) or subparagraph (B)(i)(I), as 
appropriate, of paragraph (4) to carry out quality improvement 
activities under paragraph (4)(C) and this paragraph shall be 
used to improve the compensation (including benefits) of 
educational personnel, family service workers, and child 
counselors, as described in sections 644(a) and 653, in the 
manner determined by the Head Start agencies (including Early 
Head Start agencies) involved, to--
            ``(i) ensure that compensation is adequate to 
        attract and retain qualified staff for the programs 
        involved in order to enhance program quality;
            ``(ii) improve staff qualifications and assist with 
        the implementation of career development programs for 
        staff that support ongoing improvement of their skills 
        and expertise; and
            ``(iii) provide education and professional 
        development to enable teachers to be fully competent to 
        meet the professional standards established under 
        section 648A(a)(1), including--
                    ``(I) providing assistance to complete 
                postsecondary course work;
                    ``(II) improving the qualifications and 
                skills of educational personnel to become 
                certified and licensed as bilingual education 
                teachers, or as teachers of English as a second 
                language; and
                    ``(III) improving the qualifications and 
                skills of educational personnel to teach and 
                provide services to children with disabilities.
      ``(B) Any remaining funds from the reserved amount 
described in subparagraph (A) shall be used to carry out any of 
the following activities:
            ``(i) Supporting staff training, child counseling, 
        and other services, necessary to address the challenges 
        of children from immigrant, refugee, and asylee 
        families, homeless children, children in foster care, 
        limited English proficient children, children of 
        migrant or seasonal farmworker families, children from 
        families in crisis, children referred to Head Start 
        programs (including Early Head Start programs) by child 
        welfare agencies, and children who are exposed to 
        chronic violence or substance abuse.
            ``(ii) 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 
        other individuals with disabilities.
            ``(iii) Employing additional qualified classroom 
        staff to reduce the child-to-teacher ratio in the 
        classroom and additional qualified family service 
        workers to reduce the family-to-staff ratio for those 
        workers.
            ``(iv) Ensuring that Head Start programs have 
        qualified staff that promote the language skills and 
        literacy growth of children and that provide children 
        with a variety of skills that have been identified, 
        through scientifically based reading research, as 
        predictive of later reading achievement.
            ``(v) Increasing hours of program operation, 
        including--
                    ``(I) conversion of part-day programs to 
                full-working-day programs; and
                    ``(II) increasing the number of weeks of 
                operation in a calendar year.
            ``(vi) Improving communitywide strategic planning 
        and needs assessments for Head Start programs and 
        collaboration efforts for such programs, including 
        outreach to children described in clause (i).
            ``(vii) Transporting children in Head Start 
        programs safely, except that not more than 10 percent 
        of funds made available to carry out this paragraph may 
        be used for such purposes.
            ``(viii) Improving the compensation and benefits of 
        staff of Head Start agencies, in order to improve the 
        quality of Head Start programs.
      ``(6) No sums appropriated under this subchapter may be 
combined with funds appropriated under any provision other than 
this subchapter if the purpose of combining funds is to make a 
single discretionary grant or a single discretionary payment, 
unless such sums appropriated under this subchapter are 
separately identified in such grant or payment and are used for 
the purposes of this subchapter.
      ``(7) In this subsection:
            ``(A) The term `base grant', used with respect to a 
        fiscal year, means the amount of permanent ongoing 
        funding (other than funding described in sections 
        645A(g)(2)(A)(i) and [paragraph (2)(C)(i)(II)(aa)]) 
        provided to a Head Start agency (including an Early 
        Head Start agency) under this subchapter for that 
        fiscal year.
            ``(B) The term `cost-of-living increase', used with 
        respect to an agency for a fiscal year, means an 
        increase in the funding for that agency, based on the 
        percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All 
        Urban Consumers (issued by the Bureau of Labor 
        Statistics) for the prior fiscal year, calculated on 
        the amount of the base grant for that agency for the 
        prior fiscal year.
            ``(C) For the purposes of [paragraphs (2)(B), 
        (4)(B)(ii), (4)(E), and (6)], the term `State' does not 
        include Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the 
        United States, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
        Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the 
        Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of 
        Palau.''.
      The Conferees intend for the Secretary to work with the 
Indian Head Start and migrant and seasonal Head Start 
communities to enable the funds described in section 
640(a)(3)(A)(i)(II) to be obligated to the maximum possible 
extent. The Conferees intend for the Secretary to allow Indian 
Head Start agencies, in using the funds described in section 
640(a)(3)(A)(i)(II) to increase enrollment, to use such funds 
for conversion of programs from part-day to full-day and from 
home-based to center-based, and to allow Migrant and Seasonal 
Head Start agencies, in using such funds, to increase services 
to migrant and seasonal farmworker children from birth to age 
three and to expand the length of the service day. The 
Conferees encourage the Secretary to make available from the 
funds described in section 640(a)(3)(A)(i)(II) for increasing 
enrollment in Indian Head Start programs, significant portions 
both for Indian Head Start programs and for provision of 
services for additional infants and toddlers in Indian Early 
Head Start programs. Wherever the term ``Migrant or Seasonal 
Head Start'' occurs, it is the Conferees' intent that the 
Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program preserve its name in 
its entirety. Nowhere in the bill shall the language be 
interpreted that the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program's 
name has been changed. Moreover, the Conferees urge the 
Secretary to maintain ``Migrant and Seasonal Head Start'' as 
the name of that program.
      29. The House bill adds a heading to current law. Senate 
amendment maintains current law.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      30. The House bill and the Senate amendment require 
differing amounts for Indian Head Start programs.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      31. The House bill sunsets payments to Palau at FY2009. 
The House bill strikes reference to Federal States of 
Micronesia and Republic of Marshall Islands from current law. 
The House bill adds a heading.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      32. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill references ``program 
quality''; the Senate amendment references ``program 
expansion''.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      33. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment requires specific 
activities for the use of training and technical assistance 
funds in section 640. The House bill activities are listed in 
section 648(j). See note 405.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      34. The Senate amendment allocates 50 percent to locals. 
The House bill allocates not less than 50 percent.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      35. The House bill reserves not less than 30 percent of 
training and technical assistance funds for a State-based 
system. The Senate amendment reserves 50 percent of funds for 
such efforts plus additional Secretary activities.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      36. The House bill reserves a remaining amount for the 
Secretary to assist local agencies address weaknesses. The 
Senate amendment reserves such funds in note 35.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      37. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      38. The Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision. The House bill reserves $5 million for State 
councils. The Senate amendment funds councils differently. See 
note 340.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      39. The House bill adds a heading and makes grammatical 
change to lead-in to current law. The Senate amendment 
maintains current law with technical correction and does not 
add a heading.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      40. House bill adds a heading to current law. Senate 
amendment maintains current law but does not add a heading.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      41. House bill maintains current law and the Senate 
amendment maintains and adds conditions to the MSHS and Indian 
set-asides.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      42. The House bill reserves 60 percent of excess funds 
for quality improvement activities, for each fiscal year 2008-
2012. The Senate amendment reserves 30 percent of excess funds 
for quality improvement activities, and increases such amount 
to 40 percent for fiscal years 2009-2012. The House bill adds 
headings.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      43. The House bill strikes current subparagraph (B) on 
quality improvement goals. The Senate amendment maintains this 
subparagraph and makes modifications.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      44. The Senate amendment adds reference to language and 
literacy, and expands to additional subgroups. The House bill 
strikes paragraph.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      45. The Senate amendment adds reference to salary and 
benefit requirements. The House bill strikes paragraph.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      46. The Senate amendment adds reference to language and 
literacy skills. The House bill strikes paragraph.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      47. The Senate amendment adds reference to highly mobile 
children. The House bill strikes paragraph.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      48. The Senate amendment and House bill make different 
modifications to current law.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      49. The House bill adds a heading. The House bill and the 
Senate amendment maintain current law of subparagraph.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      50. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. House bill adds a heading. The House bill 
and the Senate amendment make identical changes to date.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      51. House bill maintains a formula under current law. 
Senate amendment makes changes to formula.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      52. The House bill and the Senate amendment both maintain 
current law.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      53. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill and Senate amendment make 
conforming changes to existing law. House bill adds a heading.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      54. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill requires a submission from 
States prior to the awarding of a collaboration grant.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      55. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      56. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill refers to early education 
services. The Senate amendment refers to early childhood 
education and care (throughout collaboration section).
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``services'' 
and insert ``and development services or programs''.
      The Conferees intend for the terminology ``early 
childhood education and development services or programs'' to 
encompass the diverse range of child care and early education 
and learning programs, recognizing that these settings 
contribute to children's development and growth, regardless of 
setting or program label.
      57. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to--
            use House (i)(I) with ``used in Head Start 
        Programs'' after ``assessments''
            strike ``and care'' and insert ``and development 
        services or programs'' in both places it appears
      58. The House bill refers to curricula and assessments. 
The Senate amendment refers to services.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      59. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      60. The House bill makes reference to succeed. The Senate 
amendment makes reference to learn. House bill references 
children in Head Start programs and Senate amendment references 
a broader population of children.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      61. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment includes a reference 
to the Free to Grow Initiative.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      62. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment makes reference to 
curriculum in Head Start programs, and references the Ready to 
Learn program. The House bill references program quality.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      63. The House bill requires the collaboration office to 
work with the State Early Learning Council. The Senate 
amendment does not include a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      64. The Senate amendment includes conforming language. 
The House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      65. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions and the House bill adds a heading.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      66. The Senate amendment strikes subparagraph (B). The 
House bill maintains current law and adds a heading.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      67. The Senate amendment makes changes to the hold 
harmless. The House bill does not include similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, into note 28.
      68. The House bill includes technical conforming 
language. The Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision.
      Senate recedes.
      69. The Senate amendment makes changes to 640(d). The 
House bill maintains current law.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike section 640(d) 
and insert:
      ``(d)(1) The Secretary shall establish policies and 
procedures to assure that, for fiscal year 2009 and thereafter, 
not less than 10 percent of the total number of children 
actually enrolled by each Head Start agency and each delegate 
agency will be children with disabilities who are determined to 
be eligible for special education and related services, or 
early intervention services, as appropriate, as determined 
under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), by the State or local agency providing 
services under section 619 or part C of Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.).
      ``(2) Such policies and procedures shall ensure the 
provision of early intervening services, such as educational 
and behavioral services and supports, to meet the needs of 
children with disabilities, prior to an eligibility 
determination under the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
Act.
      ``(3) Such policies and procedures shall require Head 
Start agencies to provide timely referral to and collaborate 
with the State or local agency providing services under section 
619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
Act to ensure the provision of special education and related 
services and early intervention services, and the coordination 
of programmatic efforts, to meet the special needs of such 
children.
      ``(4) The Secretary shall establish policies and 
procedures to provide Head Start agencies with waivers to the 
requirements under paragraph (1) for not more than 3 years. 
Such policies and procedures shall require Head Start agencies, 
in order to receive such waivers, to provide evidence 
demonstrating that the Head Start agencies are making 
reasonable efforts on an annual basis to comply with the 
requirements of this paragraph.
      ``(5) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
limit or create a right to a free appropriate public education 
under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.''
      Since 1972, Head Start has supported the access and 
participation of children with disabilities in Head Start 
programs by requiring that 10 percent of enrollment 
opportunities be provided to these children. The Conferees 
recognize the need to build on that foundation by ensuring that 
children with disabilities also receive appropriate screening 
and identification in order to serve them properly. For this 
reason the Conferees have included provisions to strengthen and 
support Head Start agencies and delegate agencies in referring 
children in a timely and efficient manner to Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act entities for evaluation. The 
Conferees have included these provisions in order to ensure the 
appropriate evaluations and services are available for this 
vulnerable population.
      The Conferees further intend to ensure Head Start 
agencies and delegate agencies receive the support and 
assistance needed to meet the requirements of the Individuals 
with Disabilities Education Act section. Local education 
agencies and States are strongly encouraged to improve their 
coordination with Head Start agencies and delegate agencies to 
ensure that children are evaluated appropriately and in a 
timely manner, and that children with disabilities enrolled in 
Head Start programs are receiving appropriate services as 
required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
      It is not the intention of the Conferees to compel or 
constrain Head Start agencies or delegate agencies in ways that 
may lead to inappropriate over-identification or may cause 
programs to provide inappropriate services to children with 
disabilities in order to meet the requirements of this section. 
Rather, the Conferees recognize and support the tremendous 
efforts made by Head Start agencies to coordinate with local 
education agencies and States in order to best serve children 
with disabilities.
      The report requires that 10 percent of the children 
served by Head Start agencies be children with disabilities. 
Head Start agencies are encouraged to meet this requirement by 
improving their efforts to identify and serve children with 
disabilities. Due to shifting populations, competing providers 
of services for children with disabilities, and parental 
decisions on where to enroll their child, Conferees recognize 
that it may not be possible for every agency to meet this 
requirement every year. The reporting requirements included in 
the report are intended to ensure that agencies are making 
serious and practical efforts to fully comply with this 
requirement so that no children with disabilities are excluded 
from being able to participate in a Head Start program, but 
also so that Head Start agencies acting in good faith will not 
be penalized.
      69b. The House and Senate contain similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``and care'' 
and insert ``and development services or programs''.
      70. The House bill deletes qualification on program 
expansion for fund allocation. Senate amendment does not 
include a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      71. Senate amendment and the House bill include similar 
modifications to needs assessment criteria.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to--
      (1) insert ``, (3),'' after ``by striking paragraphs 
(1)''
      (2) strike subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
      ``(C) the extent to which the applicant has undertaken 
communitywide strategic planning and needs assessments 
involving other entities including community organizations and 
Federal, State, and local public agencies (including the local 
educational agency liaison designated under section 
722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), that provide services to 
children and families, such as--
      ``(i) family support services;
      ``(ii) child abuse prevention services;
      ``(iii) protective services;
      ``(iv) foster care;
      ``(v) services for families in whose homes English is not 
the language customarily spoken;
      ``(vi) services for children with disabilities; and
      ``(vii) services for homeless children;''
      (3) in subparagraph (D)--
      (A) strike ``community'' and insert ``communitywide''; 
and
      (B) strike ``other local'' and insert ``the State and 
local'';
      72. House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert ``as described 
in clause (i) or (ii) of section 645(a)(1)(B)'' after 
``children,'' insert ``by striking ``early childhood program'' 
and insert ``publicly funded early childhood education and 
development program''.
      73. House bill and Senate amendment maintain current law.
      74. House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
modifications to current law.
      Senate recedes.
      75. House bill adds new provision on administrative 
expenses. Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision.
      House recedes.
      76. House bill contains provision allowing programs to 
negotiate with the Secretary if funding is inadequate to 
provide COLA. Senate amendment does not contain a similar 
provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``(3)(A) In the event that the amount appropriated to 
carry out the program under this subchapter for a fiscal year 
does not exceed the amount appropriated for the prior fiscal 
year, or is not sufficient to maintain services comparable to 
the services provided under this subchapter during the prior 
fiscal year, a Head Start agency may negotiate with the 
Secretary a reduced funded enrollment level without a reduction 
in the amount of the grant received by the agency under this 
subchapter, if such agency can reasonably demonstrate that such 
reduced funded enrollment level is necessary to maintain the 
quality of services.
      ``(B) In accordance with this paragraph, the Secretary 
shall set up a process for Head Start agencies to negotiate the 
reduced funded enrollment levels referred to in subparagraph 
(A) for the fiscal year involved.
      ``(C) In the event described in subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary shall be required to notify Head Start agencies of 
their ability to negotiate the reduced funded enrollment levels 
if such an agency can reasonably demonstrate that such reduced 
funded enrollment level is necessary to maintain the quality of 
services.''
      77. House bill and Senate amendment contain different 
modifications to transportation safety requirements.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert at the end of 640(i)--
      ``The regulations shall also establish requirements to 
ensure the appropriate supervision of, and appropriate 
background checks for, individuals whom the agencies contact to 
transport those children.''
      The Conferees believe that providing transportation to 
children enrolled in Head Start is central to many agencies' 
efforts to ensuring children's participation in Head Start. The 
Conferees strongly encourage the Secretary to continue to work 
with grantees to support their efforts to provide safe 
transportation that meets all Head Start and applicable 
regulations. The Conferees also encourage the Secretary to 
continue the decision to allow Head Start agencies to annually 
request a good cause exception to the requirements of 
regulations promulgated under Section 640(i) if the waiver is 
in the best interest of the children involved, if such 
requirements pertain to child restraint systems (45 CFR 
1310.11, 1310.15(a)) or bus monitors (45 CFR 1310.15(c)), and 
if the agency demonstrates that compliance with such 
requirements will result in a significant disruption to the 
Head Start program or Early Head Start program.
      78. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to do the 
following:
      Senate recedes on (1)(1).
      House recedes on (1)(3) with an amendment to strike 
``that appropriate funding is provided to meet such needs 
including funding for'' and insert ``the provision of''.
      House recedes on (4)(A).
      Senate recedes on (4)(B) with an amendment to strike 
``children and children of'' and insert ``including'' and to 
insert ``children'' after ``Alaskan Natives,'' and to strike 
``subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 641,'' and insert 
``this subchapter''.
      Senate recedes on (4)(C).
      House recedes on (4)(D) with an amendment to insert ``The 
Secretary shall insure that'' after ``(D)'' and to strike ``on 
a timely basis'' and insert ``within 90 days of the annual 
consultation''.
      79. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      It is the intent of the Conferees that Head Start 
agencies, in carrying out the requirements of paragraph (1), 
employ a variety of strategies to help remove barriers to the 
enrollment and participation of homeless children in Head 
Start, including conducting targeted recruitment of homeless 
children, including homelessness as a priority criterion in 
selection policies, reserving slots for homeless children, 
filling vacancies with homeless children, and other activities 
as determined necessary by the community-wide needs assessment. 
In addition to these strategies, Head Start agencies may find 
it appropriate, in some instances, to place a homeless child 
ahead of other eligible children on waiting lists in order to 
address their mobility and special needs. In general, when a 
grantee works on its community-wide needs assessment, it should 
ensure that it accounts for homeless families. Grantees are 
encouraged to engage school district homeless liaisons, private 
and public shelter providers, HUD Continuums of Care, and other 
homeless service agencies in the community-wide needs 
assessment.
      80. House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``early 
education for children'' and all that follows through 
``school,'' and insert ``early childhood education and 
development or to require any child to participate in such a 
publicly funded program, including a state-funded preschool 
program,''
      81. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes instructional 
materials, and the Senate amendment is limited to curricula.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``(o) All curricula funded under this subchapter shall be 
based on scientifically valid research, and be age and 
developmentally appropriate. The curricula shall reflect all 
areas of child development and learning and be aligned with the 
Head Start Child Outcomes Framework. Parents shall have the 
opportunity to examine any such curricula or instructional 
materials funded under this subchapter.''
Section 7. Designation of Head Start agencies
      82. The House bill includes faith-based organizations in 
the description of agencies eligible for designation. The 
Senate amendment does not include a similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      83. The House bill requires the Secretary to develop and 
implement a system of application review. The Senate amendment 
does not include a similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      84. The House bill includes specifications for a grant 
application. The Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision.
      Senate recedes.
      85. The House bill requires the Secretary to develop and 
implement a system of application review for designation of 
Head Start agencies. The Senate amendment requires an agency to 
establish goals for improving the school readiness of children 
as a condition of designation.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            insert ``high'' before ``quality''
            insert ``and'' after ``quality''
            strike ``early learning'' and insert ``Head Start''
            insert ``and fiscal management'' after ``annual 
        budget''
            strike ``(H); and'' in (D) and insert ``(E);''
      86. The House bill establishes an expert panel to advise 
the Secretary on a system for the renewal of Head Start 
agencies. The Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``No later 
than 6'' and insert ``Not later than 3''.
      87. The House bill specifies the composition of an expert 
panel. The Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``(3) Composition of expert panel.--The Secretary, in 
convening such panel, shall appoint the following:
            ``(A)(i) One member, who has demonstrated 
        competency, as evidence by training, expertise, and 
        experience, in early childhood program accreditation.
            ``(ii) One member, who has demonstrated competency 
        (as so evidenced) in research on early childhood 
        development.
            ``(iii) One member, who has demonstrated competency 
        (as so evidenced) in governance and finance of 
        nonprofit organizations.
            ``(iv) One member, who has demonstrated competency 
        (as so evidenced) in delivery of services to 
        populations of children with special needs and their 
        families.
            ``(v) One member, who has demonstrated competency 
        (as so evidenced) in assessment and evaluation of 
        programs serving young children.
            ``(B) An employee from the Office of Head Start.
            ``(C) An executive director of a Head Start 
        agency.''
      88. The House bill requires the expert panel provide a 
report to the Secretary. The Senate amendment does not contain 
a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            strike ``12'' and insert ``9''
            strike ``high quality'' and insert ``high-quality''
            insert ``and'' after ``quality''
            strike ``early education'' and insert ``Head 
        Start''
            insert ``, legal and'' after governance
      89. The House bill requires the Secretary publish in the 
Federal Register a report on the proposed grant renewal system. 
The Senate amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            strike ``No later than 6'' and insert ``Not later 
        than 3''
            strike ``proposed system of application review'' 
        and insert ``notice describing a proposed system for 
        designation renewal including a proposal for the 
        transition of such system,''
            insert ``The Secretary shall review and consider 
        public comments prior to finalizing the system for 
        designation renewal described in this subsection.'' 
        after ``exist.''
      90. The House bill requires an application review system 
for the redesignation of Head Start agencies. The Senate 
amendment delineates specific criteria for redesignation. Both 
the House bill and the Senate amendment create 5-year grant 
terms except the Senate amendment amends Section 643 (see note 
25).
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``(6) Designation renewal system.--Not later than 12 
months after publishing a notice describing the proposed system 
under paragraph (5), the Secretary shall implement the system 
for designation renewal and use that system to determine--
            ``(A) whether a Head Start grantee is successfully 
        delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start 
        program; and
            ``(B) whether the grantee has any unresolved 
        deficiencies found during the last triennial review 
        under section 641A(c).
      ``(7) Implementation of the designation renewal system.--
            ``(A) In general.--A grantee who is determined 
        under such system--
                    ``(i) to be delivering a high-quality and 
                comprehensive Head Start program shall be 
                designated (consistent with section 643) as a 
                Head Start agency for a period of 5 years 
                described in section 638;
                    ``(ii) to not be delivering a high-quality 
                and comprehensive Head Start program shall be 
                subject to an open competition as described in 
                subsection (d); and
                    ``(iii) in the case of an Indian Head Start 
                agency, to not be delivering a high-quality and 
                comprehensive Head Start program shall 
                (notwithstanding clause (ii)) be subject to the 
                requirements of subparagraph (B).
            ``(B) Tribal government consultation and 
        reevaluation.--On making a determination described in 
        subparagraph (A)(iii), the Secretary shall engage in 
        government-to-government consultation with the 
        appropriate tribal government or governments for the 
        purpose of establishing a plan to improve the quality 
        of Head Start programs operated by such agency. Such 
        plan is to be established and implemented within 6 
        months of the Secretary's determination. Not more than 
        6 months after implementation of that plan, the 
        Secretary shall reevaluate the performance of the 
        Indian Head Start agency. If the Indian Head Start 
        agency is still not delivering a high-quality and 
        comprehensive Head Start program, the Secretary shall 
        conduct an open competition as described in subsection 
        (d), subject to the limitations, in subsection (e).''
      The Conferees create a new system for designation 
renewal. This system is meant to facilitate the designation of 
programs that are in good standing and are providing a high-
quality comprehensive early childhood program, for a period of 
5 years. The Conferees believe that other programs not 
providing a high-quality comprehensive early childhood program 
should not receive a designation renewal without first entering 
into an open competition. Furthermore, the Conferees believe 
that the policy to limit open competition to under-performing 
Head Start agencies will improve overall program performance.
      The Conferees strongly believe the majority of Head Start 
programs are delivering high quality services, and therefore do 
not intend for this new designation system to result in 
competition for designation for the majority of Head Start 
programs. Furthermore, competing high quality programs could 
undermine overall program quality. The Conferees believe that 
in most instances, stability and continuity within Head Start 
promotes better quality and greater efficiency. It helps the 
organization become trusted within the community it is serving, 
thereby creating better community relations and better outreach 
to eligible children and families. Continuity and stability 
provided by high-quality grantees helps programs to recruit and 
retain better teachers and to plan appropriately for 
professional development. Lack of continuity and stability can 
also have a significant impact on cost effective resource 
allocation by affecting a program's ability to leverage funds 
in its community and negotiate lower facility costs and 
business loans. The continuity of high-quality grantees better 
ensures that taxpayer monies spent on professional development 
and facilities are investments that have ongoing benefit to 
children served by Head Start. In developing the designation 
renewal system, the Conferees intend for the Secretary to give 
due consideration to the involvement of outside experts and 
take the public comment on the proposed system seriously.
      91. The House bill requires a periodic evaluation of 
criteria used to evaluate Head Start agencies and ensures 
grants for a 5 year period. The Senate amendment does not 
include a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            insert ``and'' after ``quality'' and to strike 
        ``early education'' and insert ``Head Start''
            insert after (8)--
      ``(9) Transition.--
            ``(A) In general.--Each Head Start agency shall be 
        reviewed under the system for designation renewal 
        described in paragraph (6), not later than 3 years 
        after implementation of such system.
            ``(B) Limitation.--A Head Start agency shall not be 
        subject to the requirements of the system for 
        designation renewal prior to 18 months after the date 
        of enactment of the Improving Head Start for School 
        Readiness Act of 2007.
            ``(C) Schedule.--The Secretary shall establish and 
        implement a schedule for reviewing each Head Start 
        agency under the system for designation renewal 
        described in paragraph (6), consistent with 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B).
      ``(10) Reports to congress.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(A) make available to the Committee on Education 
        and Labor of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
        the Senate the report described in paragraph (4);
            ``(B) concurrent with publishing a notice in the 
        Federal Register as described in paragraph (5), provide 
        a report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate that 
        provides a detailed description of such proposed 
        system, including a clear rationale for any differences 
        between the proposed system and the recommendations of 
        the expert panel, if any such differences exist; and
            ``(C) prior to implementing the system for 
        evaluating designation renewal applications, provide a 
        report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate--
                    ``(i) summarizing the public comment on the 
                proposed system and the Secretary's response to 
                such comment; and
                    ``(ii) describing the final system for 
                evaluating designation renewal application and 
                the plans for implementation of such system.''
      92. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            strike ``Has Priority'' and insert ``is 
        redesignated''
            insert ``and'' after ``quality''
            strike ``early education'' and insert ``Head 
        Start''
      93. The House bill and Senate amendment contain identical 
text but different headings.
      Senate recedes.
      94. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      95. The House bill includes mental and behavioral health 
in the description of comprehensive health services. The Senate 
amendment references attaining full potential.
      House recedes.
      96. The House bill includes additional requirements in 
the plan for recruitment and retention of staff. The Senate 
amendment does not include a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``(C) the plan of such applicant to attract and retain 
qualified staff capable of delivering and implementing a high 
quality program, including the ability to carry out a research 
based curricula aligned with the Head Start Child Outcomes 
Framework and, as appropriate State early learning standards.''
      97. The House bill includes additional staff 
requirements. The Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision.
      Senate recedes.
      98. The House bill refers to curriculum and teaching 
practices in programs. The Senate amendment does not include a 
similar reference.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``(E) the capacity of such applicant to serve eligible 
children with--
            ``(i) curricula that are based on scientifically 
        valid research and teaching practices that are based on 
        scientifically valid research as appropriate, are 
        developmentally appropriate and that promote the school 
        readiness of children participating in the program 
        involved; and
            ``(ii) teaching practices that are based, as 
        appropriate, on scientifically valid research, that are 
        developmentally appropriate, and that promote the 
        school readiness of children participating in the 
        program involved;''
      99. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      100. The House bill includes budgetary requirements. The 
Senate amendment does not contain similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      101. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment includes coordination 
with reading readiness programs.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``(H) the plan of such applicant to coordinate and 
collaborate with other public or private entities providing 
early learning programs and services for young children in the 
community involved, including--
            ``(i) programs implementing grant agreements under 
        the Early Reading First and Even Start programs under 
        subparts 2 and 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6371 et 
        seq., 6381 et seq.);
            ``(ii) other preschool program under title I of 
        that Act (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.);
            ``(iii) programs under section 619 and part C of 
        the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
        U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
            ``(iv) State prekindergarten programs;
            ``(v) child care programs;
            ``(vi) the educational programs that the children 
        in the Head Start program involved will enter at the 
        age of compulsory school attendance; and
            ``(vii) local entities, such as a public or school 
        library, for--
                    ``(I) conducting reading readiness programs
                    ``(II) developing innovative programs to 
                excite children about the world of books, 
                including providing fresh books in the Head 
                Start classroom
                    ``(III) assisting in literacy training for 
                Head Start teachers; or
                    ``(IV) supporting parents and other 
                caregivers in literacy efforts.''
      102. The Senate amendment refers to the ability of the 
applicant to provide services, meet program standards, and 
coordinate with other preschool programs. The House bill does 
not contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      103. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      104. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes grandparents and 
kinship caregivers in the involvement of Head Start activities.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``seek'' and 
insert ``facilitate''.
      105. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment includes a provision 
for transportation costs to facilitate parent participation.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``through 
providing transportation cost'' and to insert ``transportation 
assistance, as appropriate;''.
      106. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      107. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes mental health 
services for parents.
      House recedes
      108. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes training on social 
and emotional child development. The House bill includes 
provisions to facilitate mental and behavioral health services 
for parents. The Senate amendment does not contain similar 
provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``(v)'' and 
insert ``(v) health services, including information on maternal 
depression; or''
      109. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment includes foster 
parents and grandparents in the family needs assessment, as 
applicable.
      House recedes with an amendment to insert ``, in a manner 
and language that such parents can understand, to the extent 
practicable,'' after ``such parents'' and strike 
``subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E)'' and insert ``this 
subparagraph''.
      110. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill delineates culturally 
appropriate opportunities for father-child interactions.
      House recedes.
      111. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill requires progress in English 
while also meeting the requirements of 641 A(a)(I )(B).
      Senate recedes.
      112. The House bill includes a provision for meeting the 
diverse cultural needs of the population served. The Senate 
amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike and insert 
``(L) the plan of such applicant to meet the diverse needs of 
the population served.''
      113. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment includes additional 
procedures and plans to meet the needs of children with 
disabilities.
      House recedes
      114. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes mental health 
services in the applicant plan.
      House recedes.
      115. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike.
      116. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes children and 
families experiencing toxic stress.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``and children 
and families experiencing toxic stress''.
      117. The House bill includes a provision to maintain 
qualified staff. The Senate amendment does not contain a 
similar provision.
      House recedes.
      118. The House bill includes a provision to enter into 
memoranda of understanding with local school districts. The 
Senate amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      119. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      120. The Senate amendment includes a provision to 
collaborate with a local library. The House bill does not 
contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      121. The Senate amendment includes a priority for 
qualified applicants with demonstrated capacity. The House bill 
does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``and care'' 
and insert ``development services or programs''.
      122. The Senate amendment includes a prohibition against 
transferring Indian Head Start programs to non-Indian Head 
Start agencies, similar to the House bill 641(c)(6)(C).
      House recedes to insert as (e) in section 641.
      123. The House bill includes a provision to provide 
continued eligibility to faith-based and community-based 
agencies. The Senate amendment does not contain a similar 
provision.
      House recedes.
      124. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      125. The Senate amendment requires progress of a Head 
Start agency toward its goals as a condition of re-designation 
for subsequent grants. The House bill does not contain a 
similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      126. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      127. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
Section 8. Standards; monitoring of Head Start agencies and programs
      128. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      129. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill makes changes to the lead-
in.
      Senate recedes.
      130. The House bill requires any new early learning 
standards to be based on the Head Start Child Outcomes 
Framework. The Senate amendment does not contain a similar 
provision, but modifies the Head Start Act to refer to 
educational performance standards.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``early 
learning standards'' and insert ``education performance 
standards''.
      131. The House bill and Senate amendment require the 
Secretary to consider NAS study in development of standards 
(House bill places later--see note 147).
      Senate recedes.
      132. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      133. The House bill includes more specific requirements 
and refers to prereading. The Senate amendment refers to pre-
literacy.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``(ii)'' and 
insert--
      ``(ii) literacy knowledge and skills, including 
phonological awareness, print awareness and skills, and 
alphabetic knowledge;''
      134. The House bill includes more specific requirements 
and refers to mathematics. The Senate amendment refers to 
premathematics.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``pre''.
      135. The House bill includes more specific requirements 
and refers to science. The Senate amendment refers to 
scientific abilities.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``including 
measurement''.
      The Conferees recognize the importance of mathematics and 
science knowledge and skills to prepare young children for 
school readiness, especially through the use of educational 
experiences and experiments. Children participating in Head 
Start programs should, at a minimum, develop and demonstrate 
knowledge and skills that include number concepts such as 
counting and seriation; number operations; geometric and 
spatial concepts; classification; and time and measurement 
concepts. Children participating in Head Start programs should 
have access to educational experiences which include observing 
with senses, predicting, inferring, defining and controlling 
variables, working in teams, and communicating discoveries.
      136. The House bill refers to general knowledge, and 
includes approaches to learning and early learning. The Senate 
amendment refers to general cognitive abilities, and does not 
contain a provision on approaches to learning.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to read:
      ``(v) cognitive abilities related to academic achievement 
and child development;
      ``(vi) approaches to learning related to child 
development and early learning;''
      137. The House bill includes social problem- solving and 
overall well-being. The Senate amendment does not contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``(vi)'' and 
insert ``(vii)'' and to strike ``, and overall well-being'' and 
to insert ``and'' after ``success,''.
      138. The House bill includes creative arts. The Senate 
amendment does not contain similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      139. The Senate amendment includes physical development. 
The House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      140. The House bill requires progress through culturally 
and linguistically appropriate instruction. The Senate 
amendment requires progress, which may include the use of 
linguistically appropriate instruction.
      Senate recedes.
      141. The House bill and Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      142. The Senate amendment includes provisions for the 
licensing and accessibility of Head Start programs. The House 
bill maintains current law.
      House recedes with an amendment to--
            strike ``be in compliance with'' and insert ``meet 
        or exceed''
            insert at the end of `(ii)' the following--``unless 
        State or local laws prohibit such access.''
            insert after ``location of facilities'' the 
        following ``, including indoor air quality assessments 
        where appropriate,''
      143. The House bill and Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      144. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      145. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill maintains current law with 
conforming amendment on LEP.
      House recedes with an amendment to make conforming change 
to ``non-English speaking child''.
      146. The House bill maintains experience and changes with 
standards since 1998. The Senate amendment updates such 
experience and changes consistent with the pending Head Start 
reauthorization.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``(i) past experience with use of the standards in effect 
under this subchapter on the date of enactment of the Improving 
Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007;
      ``(ii) changes over the period since October 27, 1998, in 
the circumstances and problems typically facing children and 
families served by Head Start agencies;''
      147. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions but in different locations (see note 131).
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``when it 
becomes available'' and to insert ``, consistent with section 
649(j);''.
      148. The House bill refers to early childhood education 
and development. The Senate amendment refers to early childhood 
education and care, and includes homeless children and children 
in foster care.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
``(iv)'' and insert--
      ``(iv) developments concerning research-based practices 
with respect to early childhood education and development, 
children with disabilities, homeless children, children in 
foster care, and family services, and best practices with 
respect to program administration, and financial management;''
      149. The House bill and Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      150. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill requires standards 
addressing physical development.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``currently in 
effect or under consideration''.
      151. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes the cultural 
background of children. The Senate amendment includes changes 
in the number of homeless or foster care children.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
``changes in the characteristics population of children who are 
eligible to participate in Head Start programs, including the 
country of origin, the language background, and family 
structure of such children, and changes in the population and 
numbers of such children who are in foster care or are homeless 
children''
      152. The House bill requires mechanisms for transition of 
Head Start children to school. The Senate amendment does not 
contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      153. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``close and 
frequent'' and insert ``regular'' and to insert ``Indian, 
including Alaska Native,'' after ``experts in''.
      154. House bill requires performance standards not be 
more narrow than those in existence in 1998. The Senate 
amendment ties date to enactment of current bill. The House 
bill adds reference to quality.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``October 27, 
1998'' and insert ``the date of enactment of the Improving Head 
Start for School Readiness Act of 2007.''
      155. The Senate amendment requires consultation with 
Indian tribes in the development of program standards and 
measures. The House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes with an amendment to--
            strike ``American Indian and Alaska Native'' and 
        insert ``including Alaska Natives,''
            insert ``Indian and Alaska Native'' after ``experts 
        in''
      156. House bill adds heading to current law and both the 
House bill and the Senate amendment maintain current law.
      157. The House bill re-names the heading. The House bill 
modifies requirements regarding consultation with outside 
individuals in the development of Head Start's measures.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            insert ``family services, and program management,'' 
        after ``development''
            insert ``and other relevant research'' after 
        ``Sciences''
            insert ``inform, revise and'' before ``provide 
        guidance''
      158. The House bill modifies requirements to measure the 
quality and effectiveness of Head Start programs annually, and 
provides for the use of measures for the identification of 
special needs as well as classroom instructional practices. The 
Senate amendment does not include a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert ``children 
with'' after ``identification of' and insert a new subparagraph 
``(D) administrative and financial management practices''.
      159. The Senate amendment maintains (A)-(C) from current 
law with noted modifications and the House bill strikes (A)-(C) 
from current law.
      Senate recedes.
      160. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill requires developmental, 
linguistic, and cultural appropriateness.
      Senate recedes.
      161. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
``not less then every 4 years'' and insert ``periodically''.
      162. The House bill requires consistency with technical 
standards. The Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision.
      Senate recedes.
      163. The House bill requires validity and reliability, 
including in Spanish and other languages. The Senate amendment 
does not include a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``(in English, 
Spanish, and any other language, as appropriate)'' and insert 
``in the language in which it is administered;''
      164. The House bill requires administration of measures 
by trained staff. The Senate amendment does not include a 
similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      165. The House bill requires appropriate accommodations 
in measures. The Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision.
      Senate recedes.
      166. The House bill requires measures to be used for the 
purposes for which they were derived. The Senate amendment does 
not include a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert new 
subparagraph to read ``(H) be adaptable, as appropriate, for 
use in the self-assessment of Head Start agencies, including in 
the evaluation of administrative and financial management 
practices''.
      167. The Senate amendment directs the Secretary to issue 
performance measures by regulation. The House bill does not 
contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      168. The House bill strikes current law and inserts new 
use and design of measures. The Senate amendment does not 
include similar provisions, and adds a new rule related to 
curriculum and instructional materials.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            in clause (i) strike ``promoting'' and insert 
        ``helping to develop''
            insert ``as appropriate'' after ``designed'' in (A)
            insert ``and individualizing instruction to better 
        meet the needs of children involved;''
            after ``weaknesses''
            insert ``the'' after ``identifying''
            insert ``of children;'' after ``needs''
            strike ``scientifically-based'' and insert 
        ``scientifically valid''
      168a. The Senate amendment includes a Rules of 
Construction related to the selection of curriculum for program 
instruction. The House bill does not include a similar 
provision.
      House recedes with an amendment to create a Section 657B 
and move this paragraph to Section 657B, and to strike ``or 
suggest'' and insert ``or'' after ``direct''.
      169. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions except the Senate amendment places in Section 
649(h).
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``under 
paragraph (2)(A)'' and insert ``from the study on Developmental 
Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children by the National 
Academy of Sciences''.
      170. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment is placed in section 
649 and prohibits the ranking, comparison, or evaluation of 
individual children or teachers.
      House recedes with an amendment to--
            strike ``(i)'' and insert ``(5)''
            insert ``(A) Prohibition.--'' before ``The use of 
        assessment''
            strike ``to rank, compare'' and insert ``is 
        prohibited for the purposes of--
                    ``(i) ranking, comparing''
            strike ``or teachers, or to'' and insert ``for 
        purposes other than research, training, or technical 
        assistance; and
                    (ii)''
            strike ``or to provide'' and insert ``providing''
            strike ``is prohibited'' and insert ``(B) 
        Results.--''
      The Conferees do not intend for this provision to 
similarly limit local employees of a Head Start agency to use 
assessments that may rank, compare, or individually evaluate 
information on individual children. Local use of assessments 
shall be consistent with section 640A(b)(I) through (3). The 
use of such assessment when used to provide training or 
technical assistance to teachers for program improvement is 
allowed.
      171. The House bill contains confidentiality 
requirements. The Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision.
      Senate recedes.
      172. The House bill modifies current law to include the 
identification of program strengths and weaknesses and the 
risk-based assessment system. The Senate amendment does not 
contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            strike ``develop and use a risk-based assessment 
        system to''
            strike ``strengths as part of an'' and insert 
        ``strength as part of their''
      173. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert ``, including 
the use of a risk based assessment approach,'' after 
``review''.
      174. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      175. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment includes additional 
requirements for follow-up reviews, and stipulates the 
conditions for unannounced reviews.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``(C) Followup reviews, including--
            ``(i) return visits to Head Start agencies with one 
        or more findings of deficiencies not later than 6 
        months after the Secretary provides notification of 
        such findings, or not later than 12 months after such 
        notification if the Secretary determines that 
        additional time is necessary for an agency to address 
        such a deficiency prior to the review; and
            ``(ii) a review of Head Start agencies with 
        significant areas of noncompliance;
      ``(D) Other reviews, including unannounced site 
inspections of Head Start centers, as appropriate.''
      176. The House bill does not require unannounced site 
inspections under the heading and section describing reviews.
      Senate recedes.
      177. The Senate amendment includes additional individuals 
with expertise as part of the review team, and ensures 
expertise in personnel management, financial accountability, 
and systems development and monitoring. The House bill does not 
contain similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``(A) are conducted by review teams that--
            ``(i) include individuals who are knowledgeable 
        about Head Start programs and, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, individuals who are knowledgeable about--
                    ``(I) other early childhood education and 
                development programs, personnel management, 
                financial accountability, and systems 
                development and monitoring; and
                    ``(II) the diverse (including linguistic 
                and cultural) needs of eligible children 
                (including children with disabilities, homeless 
                children, children in foster care, and limited 
                English proficient children) and their 
                families.''
      178. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes former employees of 
HHS.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert a new 
subsection clause to read ``(iii) shall receive periodic 
training to ensure quality and consistency across reviews;''.
      179. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment directs the Secretary 
to conduct reviews in accordance with results-based performance 
measures.
      Senate recedes
      180. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``needs of 
populations'' and insert ``those''.
      181. The House bill addresses the community needs and 
strategic plans as part of the review. The Senate amendment 
refers more broadly to collecting information regarding 
collaboration with others in the community providing early 
education and care.
      Senate recedes.
      181a. The Senate amendment includes a provision on 
collection of information on the innovative and effective 
efforts of Head Start agencies to collaborate with the 
entities. The House bill does not include a similar provision.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike and insert 
``(E) include information on the innovative and effective 
efforts of the Head Start agencies to collaborate with the 
entities providing early childhood and development services and 
programs in the community and any barriers to such 
collaboration that the agencies encounter.''
      182. The House bill includes a new classroom quality 
observational instrument as part of Head Start reviews. The 
Senate amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            strike ``review the implementation by qualified 
        individuals with demonstrated reliability,'' and
            insert ``reviews,''
            insert ``implemented by qualified individuals with 
        demonstrated reliability,'' after ``instrument''
      The Conferees intend for the Secretary to integrate into 
the triennial review a valid and reliable research-based 
observational instrument that assesses classroom quality 
through observation of multiple dimensions of teacher-child 
interactions that are linked to positive child development and 
later achievement. The Conferees encourage the Secretary to 
consider using existing research-based methods such as the 
Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) for this purpose. 
The Conferees also believe it is logistically and fiscally 
impractical to implement such an instrument in every classroom 
and recommend the Secretary develop appropriate sampling 
techniques for the implementation.
      183. The House bill requires reviews to ensure 
consistency, objectivity, and reliability. The Senate amendment 
stipulates training for reviewers, and ensures consistency 
across programs and regions through interrater reliability 
checks.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert ``, and are 
conducted in a manner that includes periodic interrater 
reliability checks, to ensure quality and consistency across 
and within regions, of the reviews and non-compliance and 
deficiency determinations'' after ``review''.
      184. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes.
      185. The House bill includes a protocol for fiscal 
management. The Senate amendment does not contain similar 
provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert ``(consistent 
with section 644(f))'' after ``property''.
      186. The Senate amendment includes a review and 
assessment of whether programs are in conformity with 
eligibility requirements. The House bill does not contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes.
      187. The Senate amendment includes a review of whether 
programs have adequately addressed the needs of children with 
disabilities. The House bill does not contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes.
      188. The Senate amendment requires the use of outcome 
data from child assessments in reviews. The House bill does not 
contain similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``(L) include as part of the reviews, a review and 
assessment of child outcomes and performance as they relate to 
agency-determined school readiness goals described in 
subsection (g)(2), consistent with subsection (b)(5);''
      189. The House bill has new requirements to present 
findings to the grantee. The Senate amendment does not contain 
a similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      190. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions but in different locations.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            insert ``, subject to paragraph (4),'' after 
        ``establish''
            strike in `(C)' ``appealing'' and insert ``a 
        delegate agency to appeal'' and to strike ``relating to 
        a delegate agency''
      191. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      192. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment includes additional 
conditions regarding funding provided to deficient Head Start 
agencies.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``(iii)'' and 
insert--
      ``(iii) releasing funds to such delegate agency--
            ``(I) only as reimbursements except that, upon 
        receiving a request from the delegate agency 
        accompanied by assurances satisfactory to the grantee 
        that the funds will be appropriately safeguarded, the 
        Head Start agency shall provide to the delegate agency 
        a working capital advance in an amount sufficient to 
        cover the estimated expenses during an agreed upon 
        disbursing cycle; and
            ``(II) only if there is continuity of services''
      193. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``modify, 
supersede, or affect'' and insert ``limit''.
      194. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``pursuant to 
section 641'' and insert ``under this subchapter'' and to 
strike from (d)(1) ``or results based performance measures 
developed by the Secretary under subsection (b)''.
      195. The Senate amendment requires conditions for the 
termination of a delegate agency. The House bill does not 
contain a similar provision.
      See note 190.
      196. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      197. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      198. The House bill requires approval of program 
improvement plans. The Senate amendment does not contain a 
similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``,'' after 
``program''.
      199. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      200. The House and the Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions. House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to 
strike and insert--
      ``(f) Summaries of Monitoring Outcomes.--
            ``(1) In general.--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 
        (e), during such fiscal year.
            ``(2) Report availability.--Such report shall be 
        made widely available to--
                    ``(A) parents with children receiving 
                assistance under this subchapter--
                            ``(i) in an understandable and 
                        uniform format; and
                            ``(ii) to the extent practicable, 
                        provided in a language that the parents 
                        understand;
                    ``(B) the public through means such as--
                            ``(i) distribution through public 
                        agencies;
                            ``(ii) posting such information on 
                        the Internet;
            ``(3) Report information.--Such report shall 
        contain detailed data--
                    ``(A) on compliance with specific standards 
                and measures; and
                    ``(B) sufficient to allow Head Start 
                agencies to use such data to improve quality of 
                their programs.''
      201. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill refers to each Head Start 
agency and delegate agency, and includes professional 
development plans.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``(including 
professional development plans)''.
      202. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment requires reports to be 
submitted to the HHS regional offices. The House bill requires 
reports to be submitted to the Secretary.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert--
      A new header for paragraph (2) that reads ``Goals, 
Reports, and Improvement Plans'' and insert ``(A) Goals.--An 
agency conducting a self-assessment shall establish agency-
determined program goals for improving the school readiness of 
children participating in a program under this subchapter, 
including school readiness goals that are aligned with the Head 
Start Child Outcomes Framework, State early learning standards 
as appropriate, and requirements and expectations for the 
schools the children will be attending.''.
      203. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment requires improvement 
plans to be reported to the HHS regional offices. The House 
bill requires plans to be reported to the Secretary.
      Senate recedes.
      204. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      205. The Senate amendment allows training funds to be 
made available for assistance in conducting self-assessments. 
The House bill does not contain similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to move paragraph to 
Section 648.
      206. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``(h) Reduction of Grants and Redistribution of Funds in 
Cases of Under-Enrollment.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
                    ``(A) Actual enrollment.--The term `actual 
                enrollment' means, with respect to the program 
                of a Head Start agency, the actual number of 
                children enrolled in such program and reported 
                by the agency (as required in paragraph (2)) in 
                a given month.
                    ``(B) Base grant.--The term `base grant' 
                has the meaning given the term in section 
                649(a)(7).
                    ``(C) Funded enrollment.--The term `funded 
                enrollment' means, with respect to the program 
                of a Head Start agency in a fiscal year, the 
                number of children that the agency is funded to 
                serve through a grant for the program during 
                such fiscal year, as indicated in the grant 
                award.
            ``(2) Enrollment reporting requirement.--Each 
        entity carrying out a Head Start program shall report 
        on a monthly basis to the Secretary and the relevant 
        Head Start agency--
                    ``(A) the actual enrollment in such 
                program; and
                    ``(B) if such actual enrollment is less 
                than the funded enrollment, any apparent reason 
                for such enrollment shortfall.
            ``(3) Secretarial review and plan.--The Secretary 
        shall--
                    ``(A) on a semiannual basis, determine 
                which Head Start agencies are operating with an 
                actual enrollment that is less than the funded 
                enrollment based on not less than 4 consecutive 
                months of data;
                    ``(B) for each such Head Start agency 
                operating a program with an actual enrollment 
                that is less than its funded enrollment, as 
                determined under subparagraph (A), develop, in 
                collaboration with such agency, a plan and 
                timetable for reducing or eliminating under-
                enrollment taking into consideration--
                            ``(i) the quality and extent of the 
                        outreach, recruitment, and 
                        communitywide needs assessment 
                        conducted by such agency;
                            ``(ii) changing demographics, 
                        mobility of populations, and the 
                        identification of new underserved low-
                        income populations;
                            ``(iii) facilities-related issues 
                        that may impact enrollment;
                            ``(iv) the ability to provide full-
                        day programs, where needed, through 
                        funds made available under this 
                        subchapter or through collaboration 
                        with entities carrying out other 
                        preschool or child care programs, or 
                        programs with other funding sources 
                        (where available);
                            ``(v) the availability and use by 
                        families of other preschool and child 
                        care options (including parental care) 
                        in the community served; and
                            ``(vi) agency management procedures 
                        that may impact enrollment; and
                    ``(C) provide timely and ongoing technical 
                assistance to each agency described in 
                subparagraph (B) for the purpose of 
                implementing the plan described in such 
                subparagraph.
            ``(4) Implementation.--Upon receipt of the 
        technical assistance described in paragraph (3)(C), a 
        Head Start agency shall immediately implement the plan 
        described in paragraph (3)(B) and the Secretary shall, 
        where determined appropriate, continue to provide 
        technical assistance to such agency.
            ``(5) Secretarial review and adjustment for chronic 
        underenrollment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If, after receiving 
                technical assistance and developing and 
                implementing the plan as described in 
                paragraphs (3) and (4) for 12 months, a Head 
                Start agency is still operating a program with 
                an actual enrollment that is less than 97 
                percent of its funded enrollment, the Secretary 
                may--
                            ``(i) designate such agency as 
                        chronically under-enrolled; and
                            ``(ii) recapture, withhold, or 
                        reduce the base grant for the program 
                        by a percentage equal to the percentage 
                        difference between funded enrollment 
                        and actual enrollment for the program 
                        for the most recent year in which the 
                        agency is determined to be under-
                        enrolled under paragraph (3)(A).
                    ``(B) Waiver or limitation of reductions.--
                The Secretary may, as appropriate, waive or 
                reduce the percentage recapturing, withholding, 
                or reduction otherwise required by subparagraph 
                (A), if, after the implementation of the plan 
                described in paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary 
                finds that--
                            ``(i) the causes of the enrollment 
                        shortfall, or a portion of the 
                        shortfall, are related to the agency 
                        serving significant numbers of highly 
                        mobile children, or other significant 
                        causes as determined by the Secretary;
                            ``(ii) the shortfall can reasonably 
                        be expected to be temporary; or
                            ``(iii) the number of slots 
                        allotted to the agency is small enough 
                        that under enrollment does not 
                        constitute a significant shortfall.
            ``(6) Redistribution of funds.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Funds held by the 
                Secretary as a result of recapturing, 
                withholding, or reducing a base grant in a 
                fiscal year shall be redistributed by the end 
                of the following fiscal year as follows:
                            ``(i) Indian head start programs.--
                        If such funds are derived from an 
                        Indian Head Start program, then such 
                        funds shall be redistributed to 
                        increase enrollment by the end of the 
                        following fiscal year in 1 or more 
                        Indian Head Start programs.
                            ``(ii) Migrant and seasonal head 
                        start programs.--If such funds are 
                        derived from the operation of a migrant 
                        and seasonal Head Start program, then 
                        such funds shall be redistributed to 
                        increase enrollment by the end of the 
                        following fiscal year in 1 or more 
                        migrant and seasonal Head Start 
                        programs.
                            ``(iii) Early head start 
                        programs.--If such funds are derived 
                        from an Early Head Start program in a 
                        State, then such funds shall be 
                        redistributed to increase enrollment by 
                        the end of the following fiscal year in 
                        1 or more Early Head Start programs. If 
                        such funds are derived from an Indian 
                        Early Head Start program, then such 
                        funds shall be redistributed to 
                        increase enrollment by the end of the 
                        following fiscal year in 1 or more 
                        Indian Early Head Start programs.
                            ``(iv) Other head start programs.--
                        If such funds are derived from the 
                        operation of a Head Start program in a 
                        State (excluding Indian Head Start 
                        program and migrant and seasonal Head 
                        Start programs), then such funds shall 
                        be redistributed to increase enrollment 
                        by the end of the following fiscal year 
                        in 1 or more Head Start programs 
                        (excluding Indian Head Start programs 
                        and migrant and seasonal Head Start 
                        programs) that are carried out in such 
                        State.''
      207. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment directs the Secretary 
to consider consecutive months of data in the determination.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 206.
      208. The Senate amendment requires a plan and timetable 
for reducing or eliminating underenrollment in agencies with 
less than 95 percent of funded enrollment. The House bill does 
not include similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 206.
      209. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 206.
      210. The Senate amendment creates a designation of 
chronic under-enrollment, and provides for the re-capturing of 
funds from such agencies. The House bill does not include 
comparable provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 206.
      211. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 206.
      212. The House bill reserves funds re-captured from 
under-enrolled programs for certain populations of eligible 
Head Start children. The Senate amendment re-directs funds to 
programs in the same State.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 206.
      213. The Senate amendment requires a re-adjustment of 
program grant agreements as funds are re-distributed under this 
section. The House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 206.
      214. The Senate amendment includes a provision allowing 
the Head Start agency to contract with non-profit organizations 
to improve management. The House bill does not contain a 
similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
Section 9. Powers and functions of Head Start agencies
      215. The House bill and the Senate amendment add 
different headers to subsection (a), make identical changes to 
lead-in and otherwise maintain current law.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``legal'' from 
the heading.
      216. The Senate amendment contains a technical provision. 
The House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      217. The House bill and the Senate amendment have 
different headers and lead in.
      Senate recedes.
      218. The House bill and the Senate amendment have similar 
provisions. House bill maintains current law.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``(1) provide for the regular and direct participation of 
parents and community residents in the implementation of the 
Head Start program, including decisions that influence the 
character of such programs, consistent with paragraphs (2)(D) 
and (3)(C) of subsection (c).''
      219. The House bill and the Senate amendment have 
identical provisions.
      220. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. (Comparable provision cross-references with 
641(f)(8)(A)).
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            insert ``(A)'' after ``procedures''
            strike ``their children, and'' after ``education 
        of'' and insert ``the children; and (B)''
            strike everything that follows ``local level'' and 
        insert ``, including transportation assistance as 
        appropriate.''
      221. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes.
      222. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes.
      223. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``(v)'' and 
insert ``(D) health services, including information on maternal 
depression;''
      224. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            insert ``to the extent practicable,'' after 
        ``understand'' and
            insert ``(including foster parents, grandparents 
        and kinship caregivers where applicable)'' after ``such 
        parents,''
            strike ``(5) through'' and insert ``(5), (6), and''
      225. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to add the following text 
into section 658--
      ``Under this subchapter the term ``health'', when used to 
refer to services or care provided to enrolled children, their 
parents or siblings, shall be interpreted to refer to both 
physical and mental health.''
      226. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      227. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      228. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes.
      229. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment provision adds the 
word ``such'' before parents and the House bill does not.
      Senate recedes.
      230. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment includes a heading.
      Senate recedes.
      231. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to insert ``, consistent 
with 640(d)(3);'' after ``agencies''.
      232. The House bill does not include this provision. The 
Senate amendment concerns providing services for children with 
disabilities.
      House recedes with an amendment to insert ``, consistent 
with 640(d)(2);'' after ``Act''.
      233. The House bill does not include this provision. The 
Senate amendment concerns each delegate agency creating a 
policy committee.
      House recedes/Senate recedes to strike and insert as 
amended in note 236.
      234. The Senate amendment adds cross reference for 
641(f)(8)(B) that the House bill does not contain.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``(B) establish effective procedures to afford such 
parents the opportunity to participate in the development and 
overall conduct of the program at the local level, including 
transportation assistance, as appropriate;''
      235. The Senate amendment allows for an agency to partner 
with an institute of higher education or a non-profit 
organization. The House bill does not include this provision.
      House recedes.
      236. The House bill and Senate amendment establish 
governing bodies and policy councils. The House bill requires 
shared governance between the policy council and the governing 
body. The Senate amendment does not contain a similar 
requirement. The Senate provisions are located in Section 
641(a)(3) through Section 641(a)(7).
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``(c) Program Governance.--Upon receiving designation as 
a Head Start agency, the agency shall establish and maintain a 
formal structure of program governance for the oversight of 
quality services for Head Start children and families and for 
making decisions related to program design and implementation. 
Such structure shall include the following:
            ``(1) Governing body.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The governing body shall 
                have legal and fiscal responsibility for the 
                Head Start agency.
                    ``(B) Composition.--The governing body 
                shall be composed as follows:
                            ``(i) Not less than 1 member shall 
                        have background and expertise in fiscal 
                        management or accounting.
                            ``(ii) Not less than 1 member shall 
                        have background and expertise in early 
                        childhood education and development.
                            ``(iii) Not less than 1 member 
                        shall be a licensed attorney familiar 
                        with issues that come before the 
                        governing body.
                            ``(iv) Additional members shall--
                                    ``(I) reflect the community 
                                to be served, and include 
                                parents of children who are 
                                currently, or were formerly, 
                                enrolled in Head Start 
                                programs; and
                                    ``(II) are selected for 
                                their background and expertise 
                                in education, business 
                                administration, and community 
                                affairs.
                            ``(v) Exceptions shall be made to 
                        the requirements of clauses (i) through 
                        (iv) for members of a governing body 
                        when those members oversee a public 
                        entity and are selected to their 
                        positions with the public entity by 
                        public election political appointment.
                            ``(vi) if a person described in 
                        clause (i), (ii), or (iii) is not 
                        available to serve as a member of the 
                        governing body, the governing body 
                        shall use a consultant, or another 
                        individual with relevant expertise, 
                        with the qualifications described in 
                        the clause, who shall work directly 
                        with the governing body.
                    ``(C) Conflict of interest.--Members of the 
                governing body shall--
                            ``(i) not have a financial conflict 
                        of interest with the Head Start 
                        (including any delegate agency);
                            ``(ii) not receive compensation for 
                        serving on the governing body or for 
                        providing services to the Head Start 
                        agency;
                            ``(iii) not be employed nor shall 
                        members of their immediate family be 
                        employed by the Head Start agency 
                        (including any delegate agency); and
                            ``(iv) operate as an entity 
                        independent of staff employed by the 
                        Head Start agency.
                    ``(D) Exception.--If an individual holds a 
                position as a result of public election or 
                political appointment, and such position 
                carries with it a concurrent appointment to 
                serve as a member of a Head Start agency 
                governing body, and such individual has any 
                conflict of interest described in clause (ii) 
                or (iii) of subparagraph (C)--
                            ``(i) such individual shall not be 
                        prohibited from serving on such body 
                        and the Head Start agency shall report 
                        such conflict to the Secretary; and
                            ``(ii) if the position held as a 
                        result of public election or political 
                        appointment provides compensation, such 
                        individual shall not be prohibited from 
                        receiving such compensation.
                    ``(E) Responsibilities.--The governing body 
                shall--
                            ``(i) have legal and fiscal 
                        responsibility for administering and 
                        overseeing programs under this 
                        subchapter, including the safeguarding 
                        of Federal funds;
                            ``(ii) adopt practices that assure 
                        active, independent and informed the 
                        Head Start agency, including practices 
                        consistent with subsection (d)(1), and 
                        fully participate in the development, 
                        planning, and evaluation of the Head 
                        Start programs involved;
                            ``(iii) be responsible for ensuring 
                        compliance with Federal laws (including 
                        regulations) and applicable State, 
                        tribal, and local laws (including 
                        regulations); and
                            ``(iv) be responsible for other 
                        activities, including--
                                    ``(I) the selecting 
                                delegate agencies and the 
                                service areas of such agencies;
                                    ``(II) establishing 
                                procedures and criteria for 
                                recruitment, selection, and 
                                enrollment of children;
                                    ``(III) reviewing all 
                                applications for funding and 
                                amendments to applications for 
                                funding for programs under this 
                                subchapter;
                                    ``(IV) establishing 
                                procedures and guidelines for 
                                accessing and collecting 
                                information described in 
                                subsection (d)(2);
                                    ``(V) reviewing and 
                                approving all major policies of 
                                the agency, including--
                                            ``(aa) the annual 
                                        self-assessment and 
                                        financial audit;
                                            ``(bb) such 
                                        agency's progress in 
                                        carrying out the 
                                        programmatic and fiscal 
                                        provisions in such 
                                        agency's grant 
                                        application, including 
                                        implementation of 
                                        corrective actions; and
                                            ``(cc) personnel 
                                        policies of such 
                                        agencies regarding the 
                                        hiring, evaluation, 
                                        termination, and 
                                        compensation of agency 
                                        employees;
                                    ``(VI) developing 
                                procedures for how members of 
                                the policy council are 
                                selected, consistent with 
                                paragraph (2)(B);
                                    ``(VII) approving financial 
                                management, accounting, and 
                                reporting policies and 
                                compliance with laws and 
                                regulations related to 
                                financial statements, including 
                                the--
                                            ``(aa) approval of 
                                        all major financial 
                                        expenditures of the 
                                        agency;
                                            ``(bb) annual 
                                        approval of the 
                                        operating budget of the 
                                        agency;
                                            ``(cc) selection 
                                        (except when a 
                                        financial auditor is 
                                        assigned by the State 
                                        under State law or is 
                                        assigned under local 
                                        law) of independent 
                                        financial auditors who 
                                        shall report all 
                                        critical accounting 
                                        policies and practices 
                                        to the governing body; 
                                        and
                                            ``(dd) monitoring 
                                        of the agency's actions 
                                        to correct any audit 
                                        findings and of other 
                                        action necessary to 
                                        comply with applicable 
                                        laws (including 
                                        regulations) government 
                                        financial statement and 
                                        accounting practices;
                                    ``(VII) reviewing results 
                                from monitoring conducted under 
                                section 641A(c), including 
                                appropriate follow-up 
                                activities;
                                    ``(IX) approving personnel 
                                policies and procedures, 
                                including policies and 
                                procedures regarding the 
                                hiring, evaluation, 
                                compensation and termination of 
                                the Executive Director, Head 
                                Start Director, Director of 
                                Human Resources, Chief Fiscal 
                                Officer, and any other person 
                                in an equivalent position with 
                                the agency;
                                    ``(X) establishing, 
                                adopting and periodically 
                                updating written standards of 
                                conduct that establish 
                                standards and formal procedures 
                                for disclosing, addressing, and 
                                resolving--
                                            ``(aa) any conflict 
                                        of interest, and any 
                                        appearance of a 
                                        conflict of interest, 
                                        by members of the 
                                        governing body, 
                                        officers, employees of 
                                        the Head Start agency, 
                                        and consultants and 
                                        agents who provide 
                                        services or furnish 
                                        goods to the Head Start 
                                        agency; and
                                            ``(bb) complaints, 
                                        including 
                                        investigations, when 
                                        appropriate.
                                    ``(XI) to the extent 
                                practicable and appropriate, at 
                                the discretion of the governing 
                                body, establishing advisory 
                                committees to oversee key 
                                responsibilities related to 
                                program governance and 
                                improvement of the Head Start 
                                program involved.
            ``(2) Policy council.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each Head Start agency 
                shall have a policy council responsible for the 
                direction of the Head Start program, including 
                program design and operation, and long- and 
                short-term planning goals and objectives taking 
                into account the annual communitywide strategic 
                planning and needs assessment and self-
                assessment.
                    ``(B) Composition and selection.--
                            ``(i) The policy council shall be 
                        elected by parents of children who are 
                        currently enrolled in the Head Start 
                        program of the Head Start agency.
                            ``(ii) The policy council shall be 
                        composed of--
                                    ``(I) parents of children 
                                who are currently enrolled in 
                                the Head Start program of the 
                                Head Start agency (including 
                                any delegate agency), who shall 
                                constitute a majority of the 
                                members of the council; and
                                    ``(II) members at large of 
                                the community served by the 
                                Head Start agency (including 
                                any delegate agency), who may 
                                include parents of children who 
                                were formerly enrolled in the 
                                Head Start program of the 
                                agency.
                    ``(C) Conflict of interest.--Members of the 
                policy council shall--
                            ``(i) not have a conflict of 
                        interest with the Head Start agency 
                        (including any delegate agency); and
                            ``(ii) not receive compensation for 
                        serving on the policy council or for 
                        providing services to the Head Start 
                        agency.
                    ``(D) Responsibilities.--The policy council 
                shall approve and submit to the governing body 
                decisions about the following activities--
                            ``(i) Activities to support the 
                        active involvement of parents in 
                        supporting program operations, 
                        including policies to ensure that the 
                        Head Start agency is responsive to 
                        community and parent needs;
                            ``(ii) Program recruitment, 
                        selection, and enrollment priorities;
                            ``(iii) Applications for funding 
                        and amendments to applications for 
                        funding for programs under this 
                        subchapter, prior to the submission of 
                        such applications described in this 
                        clause.
                            ``(iv) Budget planning for program 
                        expenditures, including policies for 
                        reimbursement and participation in 
                        policy council activities;
                            ``(v) Bylaws for the operation of 
                        the policy council;
                            ``(vi) Program personnel policies 
                        and decisions regarding employment of 
                        program staff, consistent with 
                        paragraph (l)(E)(iv)(IX), including 
                        standards of conduct for program staff, 
                        contractors, and volunteers and 
                        criteria for the employment and 
                        dismissal of program staff.
                            ``(vii) Developing procedures for 
                        how members of the policy council of 
                        the Head Start agency will be elected.
                            ``(viii) Recommendations on the 
                        selection of delegate agencies and the 
                        service areas of such agencies.
            ``(3) Policy committees.--Each delegate agency 
        shall create a policy committee, which shall--
                    ``(A) be elected and comprised of members 
                consistent with paragraph (2)(B) (with respect 
                to delegate agencies);
                    ``(B) follow procedures to prohibit 
                conflict of interest, consistent with clauses 
                (i) and (ii) of paragraph (2)(C) (with respect 
                to delegate agencies); and
                    ``(C) be responsible for approval and 
                submission of decisions about activities as 
                they relate to the delegate agency, consistent 
                with paragraph (2)(D) (with respect to delegate 
                agencies).
      ``(d) Program Governance Administration.--
            ``(1) Impasse policy.--The Secretary shall develop 
        policies, procedures, and guidance for Head Start 
        agencies concerning--
                    ``(A) the resolution of internal disputes, 
                including any impasse in the governance of Head 
                Start programs; and
                    ``(B) the facilitation of meaningful 
                consultation and collaboration about decisions 
                of the governing body and policy council
            ``(2) Conduct of responsibilities.--Each Head Start 
        agency shall ensure the sharing of accurate and regular 
        information for use by the governing body and the 
        policy council about program planning, policies, and 
        Head Start agency operations, including--
                    ``(A) monthly financial statements, 
                including credit card expenditures;
                    ``(B) monthly program information 
                summaries;
                    ``(C) program enrollment reports, including 
                attendance reports for children whose care is 
                partially subsidized by another public agency;
                    ``(D) monthly reports of meals and snacks 
                provided through programs of the Department of 
                Agriculture;
                    ``(E) the financial audit;
                    ``(F) the annual self-assessment, including 
                any findings related to such assessment;
                    ``(G) the communitywide strategic planning 
                and needs assessment of the Head Start agency, 
                including any applicable updates;
                    ``(H) communication and guidance from the 
                Secretary; and
                    ``(I) the program information reports.
            ``(3) Training and technical assistance.--
        Appropriate training and technical assistance shall be 
        provided to the members of the governing body and the 
        policy council to ensure that the members understand 
        the information the members receive and can effectively 
        oversee and participate in the programs of the Head 
        Start agency.''
      The Conference Report prohibits members of the Policy 
Council from receiving compensation for their role in serving 
on the Policy Council, as well as prohibits such members from 
receiving compensation for providing such services. In 
implementing this provision, the Conferees recognize the 
regular practice of Head Start agencies to reimburse members of 
the Policy Council for reasonable costs (such as transportation 
or child care) associated with their full participation in the 
operation of such agencies, and for their roles and 
responsibilities consistent with duties on the Policy Council. 
In promulgating regulations under this section, the Conferees 
urge the Secretary to continue to provide for such 
reimbursements and recognize the necessity of such 
reimbursements for the effective operation of Head Start 
agencies. Moreover, the Conferees intend for individuals 
serving on governing bodies as a result of elected office or 
political appointment to be able to continue to receive 
compensation directly related to that elected office or 
political appointment.
      237. The House bill includes accounting experience. The 
Senate amendment does not contain similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      238. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      239. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      240. The House bill requires selection of members based 
on expertise in education, business administration and 
community affairs. The Senate amendment requires selection of 
additional members to reflect the community served, and 
includes parents.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      241. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      242. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes additional 
requirements.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      243. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      244. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment consolidates training 
and technical assistance for both governing bodies and policy 
councils. See note 281.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      245. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      246. The House bill requires activities to ensure 
independent and informed governance. The Senate amendment does 
not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      247. The House bill requires oversight to ensure that the 
Head Start agency is under the direction of the executive 
director. The Senate amendment does not contain a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      248. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill provides for specific audit 
and financing issues and creates a separate committee within 
the governing body for these functions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      249. The House bill requires approval of all major 
policies of the agency.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      250. The Senate amendment refers to policies and 
procedures regarding hiring, firing, and salaries of management 
personnel.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      251. The House bill refers to all major financial 
expenditures.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      252. The House bill requires approval of the hiring or 
firing of the Head Start Director.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      253. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      254. The House bill requires the governing body to 
oversee the program planning of the Head Start agency. Senate 
amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      255. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      256. The Senate amendment requires approval of self-
assessments, financial audits, and reviews. The House bill does 
not contain a similar amendment.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      257. The House bill requires the establishment and 
revision of written standards of conduct. The Senate amendment 
does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      258. The Senate amendment requires the governing body to 
select delegate agencies and service areas. The House bill does 
not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      259. The Senate amendment requires the governing body to 
establish procedures and criteria for recruitment, selection, 
and enrollment. The House bill does not contain a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      260. The Senate amendment requires the governing body to 
establish procedures for gathering information related to 
program governance. The House bill does not contain a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      261. The Senate amendment requires review and approval of 
the community assessment by the governing body. The House bill 
does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      262. The Senate amendment requires an internal control 
structure to facilitate responsibilities of Head Start's 
governance structure. The House bill does not contain a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      263. The Senate amendment provides for the establishment 
of a Committee to assist with the governance of Head Start 
programs. The House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      264. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      265. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      266. The House bill and Senate amendment require parents 
to represent proportional components of programs. The Senate 
amendment stipulates a process for selecting parents to serve 
on the policy council.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      267. The Senate amendment includes members at large in 
policy councils. The House bill does not contain a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      268. The House bill establishes terms for policy council 
members. The Senate amendment does not contain a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      269. The Senate amendment prohibits conflicts of interest 
within the policy council. The House bill does not contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      270. The House bill provides for the approval of 
decisions. The Senate amendment does not contain similar 
language.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      271. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      272. The House bill requires delegate agencies to be 
selected by the policy council. The Senate amendment does not 
contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      273. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      274. The House bill provides authority to the policy 
council for funding applications. The Senate amendment does not 
contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      275. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions. The Senate amendment provides greater detail 
regarding responsibilities.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      276. The House bill provides authority for bylaws to the 
policy council. The Senate amendment does not contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      277. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      278. The House bill provides authority for decisions 
regarding employment to the policy council. The Senate 
amendment does not contain similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      279. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      280. The House bill provides authority for program 
responsiveness to the policy council. The Senate amendment does 
not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      281. House bill requires training for the policy council. 
Senate amendment addresses training in same provision as for 
governing body. See note 244.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      282. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes an impasse policy. 
The Senate amendment requires procedures for agencies under 
section 641(a)(2)(B)(iv).
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      283. The Senate amendment requires information sharing. 
The House bill does not contain similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 236.
      284. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions leading to collaboration. Senate amendment 
lists specific programs that the House bill does not.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            strike ``must'' and insert ``shall''
            insert ``, to the maximum extent practicable,'' 
        after ``entities''
            strike ``available'' and insert ``availability and 
        quality of''
      285. House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions but Senate amendment provision is located in 
subsection (b).
      Senate recedes.
      286. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike headings.
      287. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment includes an additional 
requirement to collaborate with elementary school teachers.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike the heading and 
to strike ``teaching strategies and options'' and insert 
``professional development and instructional strategies, as 
appropriate''.
      288. The Senate amendment lists specific programs that 
the Head Start agency must coordinate with. The House bill does 
not include similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``(3) Coordinate activities and collaborate with programs 
under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 
(42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), the agencies responsible for 
administering section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and 
Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a), parts B and E of title IV of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq. and 670 et 
seq.), programs under subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-
Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.), Even 
Start programs under subpart 3 of part B of title I of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381 
et seq.), and programs under section 619 and part C of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 
1431 et seq.), and other entities providing early childhood 
education and development services, serving the children and 
families served by the Head Start agency.''
      289. House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions. The House bill requires efforts to enhance 
efficiency. The Senate amendment focuses on reducing 
duplication of services.
      House recedes with an amendment to insert ``and enhance 
the efficiency'' after ``duplication of services''.
      290. The House bill maintains current law of a provision 
requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consult 
with the Secretary of Education to evaluate the effectiveness 
of programs, disseminate effective policies and activities, and 
provide technical assistance. The Senate amendment does not 
include a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike (A), and 
strike the parenthesis in subparagraph (B) and to move 
paragraph to new subsection at the end of section 642A.
      291. The House bill adds new heading. The Senate 
amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      292. The House bill maintains current law on maintaining 
gains. The Senate amendment does not include this provision.
      Senate recedes.
      293. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
language but Senate amendment language is located in subsection 
(b).
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert ``the'' before 
``standards''.
      294. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions but the Senate amendment provision is located in 
subsection (b).
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``(3) implement a research-based early childhood 
curriculum that--
            ``(A) promotes young children's school readiness in 
        the areas of language and cognitive development, early 
        reading and mathematics skills, socio-emotional 
        development, physical development, and approaches to 
        learning.
            ``(B) is based on scientifically valid research and 
        has standardized training procedures and curriculum 
        materials to support implementation;
            ``(C) is comprehensive and linked to ongoing 
        assessment, with developmental and learning goals and 
        measurable objectives;
            ``(D) is focused on improving the learning 
        environment, teaching practices, family involvement, 
        and child outcomes across all areas of development; and
            ``(E) is aligned to the Head Start Child Outcomes 
        Framework developed by the Secretary and, as 
        appropriate, to State early learning standards;
      (4) implement effective interventions and support 
services that help promote the school readiness of children 
participating in the program;''
      295. The House bill calls for research-based assessment 
methods and the Senate amendment does not include this 
provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``(5) use research-based assessment methods that reflect 
the characteristics described in section 641A(b)(2) in order to 
support the educational instruction and school readiness of 
children in the program.''
      296. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions but the Senate amendment provision is located in 
subsection (b).
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``use research-based developmental screening tools that 
have been demonstrated to be standardized, reliable, valid, and 
accurate for the child being assessed, to the maximum extent 
practicable, for the purpose of meeting the relevant standards 
described in section 641(a)(1);''.
      297. The House bill and Senate amendment have similar 
provisions but the Senate amendment includes a heading and is 
located in a different subsection.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``adopt, in consultation with experts in child 
development and with classroom teachers, an evaluation to 
assess whether classroom teachers have mastered the functions 
described in section 648A(a)(1),''
      298. The House bill calls for professional development 
plans to improve teacher effectiveness. The Senate amendment 
does not include this provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``adopt a'' 
and insert ``inform''; strike ``plan that leads'' and insert 
``plans'' and insert ``, as appropriate.'' after ``plans''.
      299. House bill calls for measurable objectives. The 
Senate amendment does not include this provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``establish goals and measurable objectives for the 
provision of health, educational, nutritional, and social 
services provided under this subchapter and related to the 
program mission and to promote school readiness; and''.
      300. The House bill calls for the development of 
procedures for identifying children as limited English 
proficient. The Senate amendment does not include this 
provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``as'' and 
insert ``who are''.
      301. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      302. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes children to be 
serviced by such agency, and the results of the reviews 
conducted under section 641A(c).
      Senate recedes.
      303. The House bill contains a provision on financial 
management. The Senate amendment does not contain a similar 
provision.
      Senate recedes.
Section 10. Head Start transition and alignment with K-12 education
      304. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill focuses on promoting 
continuity of services.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert ``(a) In 
General.--''
      305. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      306. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      307. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``establishing on-going communications between the Head 
Start agency and local education agency for developing 
continuity of developmentally appropriate curricular objectives 
(which for the purpose of the Head Start program shall be 
aligned to the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as 
appropriate, State early learning standards) and for shared 
expectations for children's learning and development as they 
transition to school;''
      And to insert new subsection into section 657C--
      ``(c) Special Rule.--Nothing in this subchapter shall 
authorize a Head Start program or a local education agency to 
require the other to select or implement a specific curriculum 
or program of instruction.''
      308. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      309. The Senate amendment requires the establishment of 
comprehensive transition policies. The House bill does not 
contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      310. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes.
      311. The House bill includes a provision on assistance to 
parents of LEP students. The Senate amendment does not contain 
a similar provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to--
            strike ``method of instruction'' and insert ``(A) 
        instructional''
            insert ``(B)'' before ``as appropriate''
            insert ``the'' after ``appropriate,''
      312. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment also requires that the 
language needs of parents of limited English proficient 
children be considered.
      House recedes.
      313. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes.
      314. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``the 
education'' and insert ``educational''.
      315. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes grandparents and 
kinship caregivers.
      Senate recedes.
      316. The Senate amendment provides for helping parents 
understand the school in which their child will enroll. The 
House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      317. The House bill provides for increasing participation 
of underserved populations. The Senate amendment does not 
contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      318. The Senate amendment includes language, pre-
literacy, and premathematics competencies. The House bill does 
not contain similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      319. The Senate amendment includes a technical 
clarification. The House bill does not contain a similar 
provision.
      House recedes.
Section 11. Early childhood education, coordination, and improvement
      320. The House bill includes local and State integration 
requirements and a memorandum of understanding for each Head 
Start agency at the local level. The Senate amendment does not 
contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to move to 
section 642(d) with instructions and to strike and insert the 
following:
      ``(5) Entering into a memorandum of understanding, not 
later than 1 year after the effective date of this section, 
with the appropriate local entity responsible for managing 
publicly funded preschool programs in the service area of the 
Head Start agency, that shall--
            ``(A) review each of the following activities and 
        include plans to coordinate the activities as 
        appropriate, regarding--
                    ``(i) Educational activities, curricula, 
                and instruction.
                    ``(ii) Public information dissemination and 
                access to programs for families contacting any 
                of the early childhood programs.
                    ``(iii) Selection priorities for eligible 
                children to be served by programs.
                    ``(iv) Service delivery areas.
                    ``(v) Staff training, including 
                opportunities for joint staff training on 
                topics such as academic content standards, 
                instructional methods, curricula, and social 
                and emotional development.
                    ``(vi) Program technical assistance.
                    ``(vii) Provision of additional services to 
                meet the needs of working parents, as 
                applicable.
                    ``(viii) Planning and parent education for 
                smooth transitions to kindergarten as required 
                in section 642A(3) and 642A(6).
                    ``(ix) Provision and use of facilities, 
                transportation, and other program elements.
                    ``(x) Other elements mutually agreed to by 
                the parties to such memorandum;
            ``(B) be submitted to the Secretary and the State 
        Director of Head Start Collaboration not later than 30 
        days after entering into such memorandum, except where 
        there is an absence of publicly funded preschool in the 
        service area of a Head Start agency or where the 
        appropriate entity responsible for managing the state-
        funded preschool is unable or unwilling to enter into 
        such a memorandum, the Head Start agency shall submit 
        such information to the Secretary and the State 
        Director of Head Start Collaboration; and
            ``(C) shall be revised periodically and renewed 
        biennially by the parties to such memorandum, in 
        alignment with the beginning of the school year.''
      321. House bill and Senate amendment each create State 
Councils. The House bill places councils in section 642B and 
the Senate amendment places councils in section 640(a)(5)(E).
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and inserts the following new section 642B--
      ``(a) Head Start Collaboration.--
            ``(1) From amounts made available under section 
        640(a)(2)(B)(vi), the Secretary shall award the 
        collaboration grants described in paragraphs (2), (3), 
        and (4).
            ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall award, upon submission 
        of a written request, a collaboration grant to each 
        State and to each national administrative office 
        serving Indian Head Start programs and migrant or 
        seasonal Head Start programs to facilitate 
        collaboration among Head Start agencies (including 
        Early Head Start agencies) and entities that carry out 
        activities designed to benefit low-income children from 
        birth to school entry, and their families. The national 
        administrative offices shall use the funds made 
        available through the grants to carry out the 
        authorities and responsibilities described in 
        subparagraph (B) and paragraphs (3) and (4), as 
        appropriate.
            ``(B) Grants described in subparagraph (A) shall be 
        used to--
                            ``(i) assist Head Start agencies to 
                        collaborate with entities involved in 
                        State and local planning processes to 
                        better meet the needs of low-income 
                        children from birth to school entry, 
                        and their families;
                            ``(ii) assist Head Start agencies 
                        to coordinate activities with the State 
                        agency responsible for administering 
                        the State program carried out under the 
                        Child Care and Development Block Grant 
                        Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) 
                        and entities providing resource and 
                        referral services in the State, to make 
                        full-working-day and full calendar year 
                        services available to children;
                            ``(iii) promote alignment of 
                        curricula used in Head Start programs 
                        and continuity of services with the 
                        Head Start Child Outcomes Framework 
                        and, as appropriate, State early 
                        learning standards;
                            ``(iv) promote better linkages 
                        between Head Start agencies and other 
                        child and family agencies, including 
                        agencies that provide health, mental 
                        health, or family services, or other 
                        child or family supportive services, 
                        such as services provided under section 
                        619 or part C of the Individuals with 
                        Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
                        1419, 1431 et seq.); and
                            ``(v) carry out the activities of 
                        the State Director of Head Start 
                        Collaboration authorized in paragraph 
                        (4).
            ``(3) In order to improve coordination and delivery 
        of early childhood education and development to 
        children in the State, a State that receives a 
        collaboration grant under paragraph (2) shall--
                    ``(A) appoint or designate an individual to 
                serve as, or carry out the responsibilities of, 
                the State Director of Head Start Collaboration;
                    ``(B) ensure that the State Director of 
                Head Start Collaboration holds a position with 
                sufficient authority and access to ensure that 
                the collaboration described in paragraph (2) is 
                effective and involves a range of State 
                agencies; and
                    ``(C) involve the State Head Start 
                Association in the selection of the Director 
                and involve the Association in determinations 
                relating to the ongoing direction of the 
                collaboration office involved.
            ``(4) The State Director of Head Start 
        Collaboration shall--
                    ``(A) not later than 1 year after the State 
                receives a collaboration grant under paragraph 
                (2), conduct an assessment that--
                            ``(i) addresses the needs of Head 
                        Start agencies in the State with 
                        respect to collaboration, coordination 
                        and alignment of services, and 
                        alignment of curricula and assessments 
                        used in Head Start programs with the 
                        Head Start Child Outcomes Framework 
                        and, as appropriate, State early 
                        learning standards;
                            ``(ii) shall be updated on an 
                        annual basis; and
                            ``(iii) shall be made available to 
                        the general public within the State;
                    ``(B) develop a strategic plan that is 
                based on the assessment described in paragraph 
                (A) that will--
                            ``(i) enhance collaboration and 
                        coordination of Head Start services by 
                        Head Start agencies with other entities 
                        providing early childhood education and 
                        development (such as child care or 
                        services offered by museums), health 
                        care, mental health care, welfare, 
                        child protective services, education 
                        and community service activities, 
                        family literacy services, reading 
                        readiness programs (including such 
                        programs offered by public and school 
                        libraries), services relating to 
                        children with disabilities, other early 
                        childhood education and development for 
                        limited English proficient children and 
                        homeless children, and services 
                        provided for children in foster care 
                        and children referred to Head Start 
                        programs by child welfare agencies, 
                        including agencies and State officials 
                        responsible for services described in 
                        this clause;
                            ``(ii) assist Head Start agencies 
                        to develop a plan for the provision of 
                        full working-day, full calendar year 
                        services for children enrolled in Head 
                        Start programs who need such services;
                            ``(iii) assist Head Start agencies 
                        to align curricula and assessments used 
                        in Head Start programs with the Head 
                        Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as 
                        appropriate, State early learning 
                        standards; and
                            ``(iv) enable Head Start agencies 
                        to better access professional 
                        development opportunities for Head 
                        Start staff, such as by working with 
                        Head Start agencies to enable the 
                        agencies to meet the degree 
                        requirements described in section 
                        648A(a)(2)(A), including providing 
                        distance learning opportunities for 
                        Head Start staff, where needed to make 
                        higher education more accessible to 
                        Head Start staff; and
                            ``(v) enable the Head Start 
                        agencies to better conduct outreach to 
                        eligible families;
                    ``(C) promote partnerships between Head 
                Start agencies, State and local governments, 
                and the private sector to help ensure that 
                children from low-income families, who are in 
                Head Start programs or are preschool age, are 
                receiving comprehensive services to prepare the 
                children for elementary school;
                    ``(D) consult with the chief State school 
                officer, local educational agencies, and 
                providers of early childhood education and 
                development, at both the State and local 
                levels;
                    ``(E) promote partnerships between Head 
                Start agencies, schools, law enforcement, 
                relevant community-based organizations, and 
                substance abuse and mental health treatment 
                agencies to strengthen family and community 
                environments and to reduce the impact on child 
                development of substance abuse, child abuse, 
                domestic violence, and other high-risk 
                behaviors that compromise healthy development;
                    ``(F) promote partnerships between Head 
                Start agencies and other organizations in order 
                to enhance Head Start program quality, 
                including partnerships to promote inclusion of 
                more books in Head Start classrooms;
                    ``(G) identify other resources and 
                organizations (both public and private) for the 
                provision of in-kind services to Head Start 
                agencies in the State; and
                    ``(H) serve on the State Advisory Council 
                in order to assist the efforts of Head Start 
                agencies to engage in effective coordination 
                and collaboration.
      ``(b) State Early Education and Care.--
            ``(1)(A) The Governor of the State shall--
                    ``(i) designate or establish a council to 
                serve as the State Advisory Council on Early 
                Childhood Education and Care for children from 
                birth to school entry (in this subchapter 
                referred to as the ``State Advisory Council''); 
                and
                    ``(ii) designate an individual to 
                coordinate activities of the State Advisory 
                Council, as described in subparagraph (D)(i).
            ``(B) The Governor may designate an existing entity 
        in the state to serve as the State Advisory Council, 
        and shall appoint such representatives to the State 
        Advisory Council at the Governor's discretion. In 
        designating an existing entity, the Governor shall take 
        steps to ensure that membership includes, to the extent 
        possible, representatives consistent with subparagraph 
        (C).
            ``(C) Members of the State Advisory Council shall 
        include, to the maximum extent possible--
                            ``(I) a representative of the state 
                        agency responsible for child care;
                            ``(II) a representative of the 
                        State educational agency;
                            ``(III) a representative of local 
                        educational agencies;
                            ``(IV) a representative of 
                        institutions of higher education in the 
                        state;
                            ``(V) a representative of local 
                        providers of early childhood education 
                        and care;
                            ``(VI) a representative from Head 
                        Start agencies located in the State, 
                        including migrant and seasonal Head 
                        Start programs and Indian Head Start 
                        programs;
                            ``(VII) the State Director of Head 
                        Start Collaboration
                            ``(VIII) a representative of the 
                        State agency responsible for programs 
                        under section 619 or part C of the 
                        Individuals with Disabilities Education 
                        Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
                            ``(IX) a representative of the 
                        State agency responsible for health or 
                        mental health care; and
                            ``(X) representatives of other 
                        entities determined to be relevant by 
                        the Governor of the state.
            ``(D) The State Advisory Council shall, in addition 
        to any responsibilities assigned to the Council by the 
        Governor of the State
                            ``(I) conduct a periodic statewide 
                        needs assessment concerning the quality 
                        and availability of early childhood 
                        education and care for children from 
                        birth to school entry, including an 
                        assessment of the availability of high 
                        quality pre-kindergarten services for 
                        low-income children in the state;
                            ``(II) identify opportunities for, 
                        and barriers to, collaboration and 
                        coordination among federally-funded and 
                        State-funded child development, child 
                        care, and early childhood education and 
                        care programs, including collaboration 
                        and coordination among state agencies 
                        responsible for administering such 
                        programs;
                            ``(III) develop recommendations for 
                        increasing the overall participation of 
                        children in existing federal, state, 
                        and local early childhood education and 
                        child care programs, including outreach 
                        to underrepresented and special 
                        populations;
                            ``(IV) develop recommendations 
                        regarding the establishment of a 
                        unified data collection system for 
                        public early childhood education and 
                        care throughout the State;
                            ``(V) develop recommendations 
                        regarding a statewide professional 
                        development and career advancement plan 
                        for early childhood educators in the 
                        State;
                            ``(VI) assess the capacity and 
                        effectiveness of 2- and 4-year public 
                        and private institutions of higher 
                        education in the State toward 
                        supporting the development of early 
                        childhood educators, including the 
                        extent to which such institutions have 
                        in place articulation agreements, 
                        professional development and career 
                        advancement plans, and practica or 
                        internships for students to spend time 
                        in a Head Start or prekindergarten 
                        program; and
                            ``(VII) make recommendations for 
                        improvements in State early learning 
                        standards and undertake efforts to 
                        develop high quality comprehensive 
                        early learning standards, as 
                        appropriate.
                    ``(ii) The State Advisory Council shall 
                hold public hearings and provide an opportunity 
                for public comment on the activities described 
                in clause (iv). The State Advisory Council 
                shall submit a statewide strategic report 
                addressing the activities described in clause 
                (iv) to the State Director of Head Start 
                Collaboration and the Governor of the State.
                    ``(iii) After submission of a statewide 
                strategic report under subclause (II), the 
                State Advisory Council shall meet periodically 
                to review any implementation of the 
                recommendations in such report and any changes 
                in State and local needs.
            ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall use the portion 
        reserved under clause (i) to award, on a competitive 
        basis, one-time startup grants of not less than 500,000 
        to eligible States to enable such States to pay for the 
        Federal share of developing and implementing a plan 
        pursuant to the responsibilities included under 
        subparagraph (E)(iv)(I). A State that receives funds 
        under (i) shall use such funds to facilitate the 
        development of high-quality systems of early childhood 
        education and care designed to improve school 
        preparedness through one or more of the following 
        activities--
                    ``(i) promoting school preparedness of 
                children from birth through school entry, 
                including activities to encourage families and 
                caregivers to engage in highly interactive, 
                developmentally and age-appropriate activities 
                to improve children's early social, emotional, 
                and cognitive development, support the 
                transition of young children to school, and 
                foster parental and family involvement in the 
                early education of young children;
                    ``(ii) supporting professional development, 
                recruitment, and retention initiatives for 
                early childhood educators;
                    ``(iii) enhancing existing early childhood 
                education and care programs and projects (in 
                existence on the date on which the grant 
                involved is awarded), including quality 
                improvement activities authorized under the 
                Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 
                1990; and
                    ``(iv) carrying out other activities 
                consistent with the State's Early Education and 
                Care plan, pursuant to paragraph (iii).
            ``(B) To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
        subparagraph, a State shall prepare and submit to the 
        Secretary a plan and application, for a 3-year period, 
        at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary shall require, including--
                    ``(i) the statewide strategic report 
                described in subparagraph (E)(iv)(II), 
                including a description of the Advisory 
                Council's responsibilities under subparagraph 
                (E)(iv)(I);
                    ``(ii) a description, for each fiscal year, 
                of how the State will make effective use of 
                funds available under this subparagraph, with 
                funds described in clause (iv), to create an 
                early childhood education and care system, by 
                developing or enhancing programs and activities 
                consistent with the strategic report described 
                in subparagraph (E)(iv)(II);
                    ``(iii) a description of the State early 
                learning standards and the State's goals for 
                increasing the number of children entering 
                kindergarten ready to learn;
                    ``(iv) information identifying the agency 
                or joint interagency office and individual 
                designated to carry out the activities under 
                this subparagraph, which may be the individual 
                designated under subparagraph (E)(i)(II); and
                    ``(v) a description of how the State plans 
                to sustain activities under this subparagraph 
                beyond the grant period.
            ``(C) The Federal share of the cost of activities 
        proposed to be conducted under clause (ii) shall be 30 
        percent, and the State shall provide the non-Federal 
        share.
            ``(D) Funds made available under this subparagraph 
        shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other 
        Federal, State, and local funds expended to carry out 
        activities related to early childhood education and 
        care in the State.
            ``(E) Not later than 18 months after the date a 
        State receives a grant under this subparagraph, the 
        State shall submit an interim report to the Secretary. 
        A State that receives a grant under this subparagraph 
        shall submit a final report to the Secretary at the end 
        of the grant period. Each report shall include--
                    ``(i) a description of the activities and 
                services carried out under the grant, including 
                the outcomes of such activities and services in 
                meeting the needs described in the periodic 
                needs assessment and statewide strategic 
                report;
                    ``(ii) information about how the State used 
                such funds to meet the goals of this subsection 
                through activities to develop or enhance high 
                quality systems of early childhood education, 
                increase effectiveness of delivery systems and 
                use of funds, and enhance existing programs and 
                services;
                    ``(iii) information regarding the remaining 
                needs described in the periodic needs 
                assessment and statewide strategic report that 
                have not yet been addressed by the State; and
                    ``(iv) any other information that the 
                Secretary may require.
            ``(F) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed 
        to provide the State Advisory Council with authority to 
        modify, supersede, or negate the requirements of this 
        subchapter.''
      Section 643 should be amended by inserting at the end--
      ``This section shall not apply to contracts, agreements, 
grants, loans, or other assistance for Indian Head Start 
programs or migrant or seasonal Head Start programs.''
      322. The House bill and the Senate amendment require 
different membership of the State council.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      323. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions for when an entity already exists.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      324. The House bill requires a 50 percent match and the 
Senate amendment requires a 30 percent match.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      325. The Senate amendment specifies that the Governor can 
give council additional responsibility. The House bill does not 
have a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      326. The House bill and Senate amendment have similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      327. The House bill references working with State 
agencies. The Senate amendment does not have a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      328. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      329. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      330. The House bill references identification of 
barriers. The Senate amendment does not have a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      331. The House bill and Senate amendment have similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      332. The House bill references coordination with health 
care and other services. The Senate amendment does not have a 
similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      333. The House bill references system of training and 
technical assistance. The Senate amendment does not have a 
similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      334. The House bill references a plan for increased 
participation of underrepresented children. The Senate 
amendment does not have a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      335. The House bill and Senate amendment have similar 
provisions
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      336. The House bill and Senate amendment have similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      337. The House bill clarifies the role of the State 
council in relation to the Head Start program. The Senate 
amendment does not have a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      338. The House bill and Senate amendment have similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      339. Senate amendment provides for public hearings on the 
activities of the State council, and requires submission and 
subsequent revision of the State council's plan. The House bill 
does not include similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      340. The Senate amendment reserves $100 million from 
appropriations in FY2008 to establish a competitive grant 
program for States to further develop and implement plans 
established by State Advisory Council on Early Childhood 
Education and Care. The House bill reserves money from training 
and technical assistance for ELC (see note 38).
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      341. The Senate amendment provides for one-time startup 
grants to States, for the purposes of developing systems of 
early childhood education and care and enhancing quality in 
early childhood programs. The House bill does not contain a 
similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      342. The Senate amendment stipulates conditions for 
eligibility for discretionary grants under this subparagraph. 
The House bill does not include similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
      343. The Senate amendment includes requirements for an 
interim report to the Secretary. The House bill does not 
include a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 321.
Section 12. Submission of plans
      344. Senate amendment provides for the submission of 
plans to Governors instead of Chief Executive Officer of the 
State and shortens time for approval. House bill maintains 
current law.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike (1)(B)
Section 13. Administrative requirements and standards
      345. The House bill adds headers to subsection (a), 
reconstructs current law, and includes requirement of a public 
report. The Senate amendment maintains current law.
      Senate recedes.
      346. The Senate amendment includes a 10-program pilot 
project on administrative costs in Head Start programs. The 
House bill does not contain similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      347. The House bill adds a new requirement for facilities 
plans and adds a heading to this subsection. The Senate 
amendment maintains current law.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and replace (f)(2)(A) with--
      ``(A) a description of the efforts by the agency to 
coordinate or collaborate with other providers in the community 
to seek assistance, including financial assistance, prior to 
the use of funds under this section;''.
Section 14. Participation in Head Start programs
      348. The House bill allows programs to apply to the 
Secretary to increase their income eligibility to 130 percent. 
The Senate amendment replaces the current threshold of 100 
percent of poverty with 130 percent, with assurances from the 
agency that families below the poverty line are prioritized.
      House recedes/Senate recedes to strike and insert--
      ``(a)(1)(A) The Secretary shall by regulation prescribe 
eligibility for the participation of persons in Head Start 
programs assisted under this subchapter.
    ``(B) Except as provided in paragraph (2), such regulation 
shall provide--
            ``(i) that children from low income families shall 
        be eligible for participation in programs assisted 
        under this subchapter if their families' incomes are 
        below the poverty line, or if their families are 
        eligible or, in the absence of child care, would 
        potentially be eligible for public assistance;
            ``(ii) that homeless children shall be deemed to be 
        eligible for such participation;
            ``(iii) that programs assisted under this 
        subchapter may include--
                    ``(I) to a reasonable extent (but not to 
                exceed ten percent of participants) 
                participation of children in the area served 
                who would benefit from such programs but who 
                are not eligible under clause (i) or (ii); and
                    ``(II) from the area served, an additional 
                35 percent of participants who are not eligible 
                under clause (i) or (ii) and whose families 
                have incomes below 130 percent of the poverty 
                line, if--
                            ``(aa) the Head Start agency 
                        involved establishes and implements 
                        outreach and enrollment policies and 
                        procedures that ensure such agency is 
                        meeting the needs of children eligible 
                        under clause (i) or (ii) (or subclause 
                        (I) if the child involved has a 
                        disability) prior to meeting the needs 
                        of children eligible under this 
                        subclause; and
                            ``(bb) in prioritizing the 
                        selection of children and families to 
                        be served, the Head Start agency 
                        establishes criteria that provide that 
                        the agency will serve children under 
                        clause (i) or (ii) prior to serving the 
                        children who meet the criteria in this 
                        subclause.
            ``(iv) that any Head Start agency serving children 
        eligible under clause (iii)(II) shall report annually 
        to the Secretary the following information on--
                    ``(I) how such agency is meeting the needs 
                children eligible under clause (i) or (ii), in 
                the area served, including local demographic 
                data on families of children eligible under 
                clause (i) or (ii);
                    ``(II) the outreach and enrollment policies 
                and procedures established by the agency that 
                ensure the agency is meeting the needs of 
                children eligible under clause (i) or (ii) (or 
                clause (iii)(I) if the child involved has a 
                disability) prior to meeting the needs of 
                children eligible under clause (iii)(II);
                    ``(III) the efforts, including outreach 
                efforts (that are appropriate to the community 
                involved), of such agency to be fully enrolled 
                with children eligible under clause (i) or 
                (ii);
                    ``(IV) the policies, procedures, and 
                selection criteria such agency is implementing 
                to serve eligible children, consistent with 
                clause (iii)(II);
                    ``(V) the agency's enrollment level and 
                enrollment level over fiscal year prior to the 
                fiscal year in which the report is submitted;
                    ``(VI) the number of children served by the 
                agency, disaggregated by whether such children 
                are eligible under clause (i), clause (ii), 
                clause (iii)(I), or clause (iii)(II); and
                    ``(VII) the eligibility criteria category 
                of children on the agency's waiting list;
                    ``(VIII) that a child who has been 
                determined to meet the eligibility criteria 
                described in this subparagraph and who is 
                participating in a Head Start program in a 
                program year shall be considered to continue to 
                meet the eligibility criteria through the end 
                of the succeeding program year.
    ``(C) In determining, for purposes of this paragraph, 
whether a child who has applied for enrollment in a Head Start 
program meets the eligibility criteria, an entity may consider 
evidence of family income during the 12 months preceding the 
month in which the application is submitted, or during the 
calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the 
application is submitted, whichever more accurately reflects 
the needs of the family at the time of application.''
      Amend section 640(g) by inserting new paragraph--
          ``(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in using funds 
        made available for expansion under subsection 
        (a)(4)(D), the Secretary shall first allocate the funds 
        to qualified applicants proposing to use such funds to 
        serve children from families with incomes below the 
        poverty line. Agencies that receive such funds are 
        subject to the eligibility and enrollment requirements 
        under section 645(a)(1).''
      Amend Section 650(a)(2) by adding at the end before the 
period--
        ``and information on the number of children served 
        under this subsection, disaggregated by type of 
        eligibility criterion.''
      The Conferees recognize that children from low-income 
families just above the Federal poverty line would benefit from 
participation in Head Start programs. Accordingly the Conferees 
agreed that Head Start programs should have additional 
flexibility to serve some children in families up to 130 
percent of the Federal poverty level. To ensure that children 
at or below the 100 percent threshold receive priority, the 
Conferees intend for Head Start grantees to comply with the new 
reporting requirements to provide greater accountability under 
this provision. Additionally, the Conferees direct the 
Secretary to coordinate these additional reporting requirements 
with other existing reporting requirements so as not to impose 
any additional burden on Head Start grantees. The Conferees 
also intend that these reporting requirements not be construed 
as requiring an application by the Head Start grantee or to 
give additional authority to the Secretary to approve or 
disapprove a plan by a Head Start grantee to make use of this 
flexibility.
      349. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
``(A homeless child shall be deemed to meet the low income 
criteria)'' and insert a new clause to read ``(iii) a homeless 
child shall be deemed to be eligible for Head Start services; 
and''
      350. The House bill and the Senate amendment include 
language pertaining to military families.
      House recedes.
      351. The Senate amendment provides for conversion of Head 
Start programs from part-day to full-day sessions. The House 
bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      352. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
different provisions regarding serving additional infants and 
toddlers.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to include the Senate 
subparagraph (B) as a new subparagraph (C) and to strike 
``entity that receives assistance under section 645A, and such 
funds under (i)'' in the House (C) and insert ``Early Head 
Start Agency and'' and to insert in (i) ``such'' after ``The 
amount of''.
      353. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      The intent of the Conferees in striking the language in 
this provision is to provide agencies reasonable flexibility on 
an eligible child's age of entry into a program. For many 
years, programs have been allowed to enroll children who will 
turn three by the date used by the local school system to 
determine kindergarten eligibility. For example, a school 
system could require a child to be five by November 1 to be 
enrolled in kindergarten. A Head Start child turning three by 
November 1 has always been considered age eligible and, in this 
example, that child would be enrolled in Head Start for two 
years before going on to kindergarten. The Conferees have 
learned that the underlying provision is being interpreted to 
mean the child must have reached his/her third birthday to be 
Head Start eligible so this child could not be enrolled in Head 
Start when it opened in late August but rather, would have to 
wait to be enrolled on or after November 1, if there were a 
vacancy. In making a change to this provision, the Conferees 
intend to continue eligibility for children ages three through 
school entry and provide appropriate flexibility to local Head 
Start agencies as to exactly when a child turning three years 
old may begin. But the change to this provision should not be 
interpreted to permit Head Start agencies to enroll children 
under three years of age as a common practice.
      354. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``tribe'' in 
both places it appears and insert ``tribe or tribes''.
Section 15. Early Head Start programs
      355. Both the House bill and the Senate amend the section 
title but contain different titles. The House bill amends the 
general purpose regarding Early Head Start. The Senate 
amendment maintains current law.
      House recedes.
      356. The House bill and the Senate amendment maintain 
current law.
      357. The House bill and the Senate amendment maintain 
current law.
      358. The House bill and the Senate amendment maintain 
current law.
      359. The Senate amendment makes technical and conforming 
changes. The House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      360. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert ``services'' 
after ``development) and''.
      361. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      362. The House bill and Senate amendment maintain current 
law.
      363. The House bill and Senate amendment maintain current 
law.
      364. The Senate amendment includes requirements for 
screening and referral for children exposed to trauma. The 
House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      365. The House bill and Senate amendment have similar 
provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      366. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert ``and 
development'' after ``education''.
      367. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``care'' and 
insert ``development programs''.
      368. The House bill and Senate amendment maintain current 
law.
      369. The House bill and the Senate amendment maintain 
current law.
      370. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert in paragraph 
``(2)'' ``and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs'' after 
``programs''.
      371. The House bill and the Senate amendment maintain 
current law.
      372. The House bill and the Senate amendment maintain 
current law.
      373. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert:
      ``(g) Monitoring, Training, Technical Assistance, and 
Evaluation.--
            ``(1) Requirement.--In order to ensure the 
        successful operation of programs assisted under this 
        section, the Secretary shall use funds made available 
        under section 640(a)(2)(E) to monitor the operation of 
        such programs, and funds made available under section 
        640(a)(2)(C)(i)(1) to provide training and technical 
        assistance tailored to the particular needs of such 
        programs, consistent with section 640(c).
            ``(2) Training and technical assistance.--
                    ``(A) Activities.--Of the portion set aside 
                under section 640(a)(2)(C)(i)(I)--
                            ``(i) not less than 50 percent 
                        shall be made available to Early Head 
                        Start programs to use directly, which 
                        may include, at their discretion, the 
                        establishment of local or regional 
                        agreements with community experts, 
                        institutions of higher education, or 
                        private consultants, for training and 
                        technical assistance activities in 
                        order to make program improvements 
                        identified by such agencies;
                            ``(ii) not less than 25 percent 
                        shall be made available to the 
                        Secretary to support the State-based 
                        training and technical assistance 
                        system described in section 648(e), 
                        including infant and toddler 
                        specialists, to support Early Head 
                        Start agencies, consistent with 
                        subparagraph (B); and
                            ``(iii) the remainder of such 
                        amount shall be made available to the 
                        Secretary to assist Early Head Start 
                        agencies in meeting and exceeding the 
                        standards described in section 
                        641A(a)(1) (directly, or through 
                        grants, contracts, or other agreements 
                        or arrangements with an entity with 
                        demonstrated expertise relating to 
                        infants, toddlers, and families) by--
                                    ``(I) providing on-going 
                                training and technical 
                                assistance to Early Head Start 
                                agencies, including developing 
                                training and technical 
                                assistance materials and 
                                resources to support program 
                                development and improvement and 
                                best practices in providing 
                                services to children and 
                                families served by Early Head 
                                Start programs;
                                    ``(II) supporting a 
                                national network of infant and 
                                toddler specialists designed to 
                                improve the quality of Early 
                                Head Start programs;
                                    ``(III) providing on-going 
                                training and technical 
                                assistance on Early Head Start 
                                program development and 
                                improvement for regional staff 
                                charged with monitoring and 
                                overseeing the administration 
                                of the program carried out 
                                under this section; and
                                    ``(VI) if funds remain 
                                after the activities described 
                                in subclauses (I), (II), and 
                                (III) are carried out, carry 
                                out 1 more of the following 
                                activities:
                                            ``(aa) Providing 
                                        support and program 
                                        planning and 
                                        implementation 
                                        assistance for new 
                                        Early Head Start 
                                        agencies, including for 
                                        agencies who want to 
                                        use funds to serve 
                                        infants and toddlers as 
                                        described in section 
                                        645(a)(5).
                                            ``(bb) Creating 
                                        special training and 
                                        technical assistance 
                                        initiatives targeted to 
                                        serving high risk 
                                        populations, such as 
                                        children in the child 
                                        welfare system and 
                                        homeless children; and
                                            ``(cc) Providing 
                                        professional 
                                        development designed to 
                                        increase program 
                                        participation for 
                                        underserved populations 
                                        of eligible children.
                    ``(B) Contracts.--For the purposes of 
                delivering a State-based training and technical 
                assistance system, as described in subparagraph 
                (A)(ii), that will meet the needs of Early Head 
                Start agencies and provide high quality, 
                sustained, and intensive training and technical 
                assistance on programming for infants and 
                toddlers to Early Head Start agencies, and in 
                order to help such agencies meet or exceed the 
                standards described in section 641A(a)(1), the 
                Secretary shall--
                            ``(i) use funds reserved under 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii) in combination 
                        with funds reserved in section 
                        640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(bb) to ensure such 
                        contracts described in section 
                        648(e)(1) provide for a minimum of 1 
                        full-time specialist with demonstrated 
                        expertise in the development of infants 
                        and toddlers; and
                            ``(ii) ensure that such contracts 
                        and the services provided in the 
                        contracts are integrated with and 
                        augment the contracts awarded and 
                        services provided under section 
                        648(e);''; and''
      374. The House bill and the Senate amendment have 
differing timelines for establishing staff qualifications in 
Early Head Start programs.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to read:
      ``(h) Center-Based Staff.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) ensure that, not later than September 30, 
        2010, all teachers providing direct services to 
        children and families participating in Early Head Start 
        programs located in Early Head Start centers, have a 
        minimum of a child development associate credential, 
        and have been trained (or have equivalent course work) 
        in early childhood development; and
            ``(2) establish staff qualification goals to ensure 
        that not later than September 30, 2012, all such 
        teachers have been trained (or have equivalent course 
        work) in early childhood development with a focus on 
        infant and toddler development.''
      375. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      376. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment includes additional 
language concerning the use of research-based strategies.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike subparagraph 
(D) and insert--
      ``(D) methods to help parents promote emergent literacy 
in their children from birth though age 3, including use of 
research-based strategies to support the development of 
literacy and language skills for children who are limited 
English proficient;''.
      377. The House bill and the Senate amendment have 
different language concerning health and developmental 
services.
      Senate recedes.
Section 16. Appeals, notice, and hearing
      378. The House bill amends current law to require that if 
financial assistance is terminated or reduced, there shall be 
the opportunity to appeal the action.
      House recedes.
      379. The Senate amendment amends current law to provide 
permissive authority to the Secretary for the termination or 
reduction of financial assistance, including appeal procedures. 
The House bill does not include a similar provision.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike in paragraph 
(4)(C) ``except that such fees shall be reimbursed by the 
Secretary if the agency prevails in such decision'' and insert 
in paragraph (4)(C) after ``legal fees'', ``or other costs 
incurred'' and to insert new paragraph ``(6) In cases where a 
Head Start agency prevails in a decision under (4), the 
Secretary may determine and provide a reimbursement to the Head 
Start agency for fees deemed reasonable and customary.''.
Section 17. Records and audits
      380. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment refers to financial 
audit throughout the bill.
      Senate recedes.
      381. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill includes additional 
requirements.
      Senate recedes.
Section 18. Technical assistance and training
      382. The House bill and Senate amendment maintain current 
law for current subsections (a) and (b) except the Senate 
amendment makes minor language changes.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert the following--
      Amend section 648 to read as follows:

``SEC. 648. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.

      ``(a) Secretarial Training and Technical Assistance.--
            ``(1) Authority.--From the funds provided under 
        section 640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(cc), the Secretary shall 
        provide, directly or through grants, contracts, or 
        other agreements or arrangements as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate, technical assistance and 
        training for Head Start programs for the purposes of 
        improving program quality and helping prepare children 
        to succeed in school.
            ``(2) Process.--The process for determining the 
        technical assistance and training activities to be 
        carried out under this section shall--
                    ``(A) ensure that the needs of local Head 
                Start agencies and programs relating to 
                improving program quality and to program 
                expansion are addressed to the maximum extent 
                practicable; and
                    ``(B) incorporate mechanisms to ensure 
                responsiveness to local needs, including an 
                ongoing procedure for obtaining input from the 
                individuals and agencies carrying out Head 
                Start programs;
            ``(3) Activities.--In providing training and 
        technical assistance and for allocating resources for 
        such assistance under this section, the Secretary 
        shall--
                    ``(A) give priority consideration to--
                            ``(i) activities to correct program 
                        and management deficiencies identified 
                        through reviews carried out pursuant to 
                        section 641A(c) (including the 
                        provision of assistance to local 
                        programs in the development of quality 
                        improvement plans under section 
                        641A(d)(2));
                            ``(ii) assisting Head Start 
                        agencies in ensuring the school 
                        readiness of children; and
                            ``(iii) activities that supplement 
                        those funded with amounts provided 
                        under section 640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(bb) 
                        to address the training and career 
                        development needs of classroom staff 
                        (including instruction for providing 
                        services to children with disabilities, 
                        and for activities described in section 
                        1222(d) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965), and non-
                        classroom staff, including home 
                        visitors and other staff working 
                        directly with families, including 
                        training relating to increasing parent 
                        involvement and services designed to 
                        increase family literacy and improve 
                        parenting skills; and
                    ``(B) to the maximum extent practicable--
                            ``(i) assist Head Start agencies in 
                        the development of collaborative 
                        initiatives with States and other 
                        entities within the States, to foster 
                        effective professional development 
                        systems for early childhood education 
                        and development services;
                            ``(ii) provide technical assistance 
                        and training, either directly or 
                        through a grant, contract, or 
                        cooperative agreement with an entity 
                        that has experience in the development 
                        and operation of successful family 
                        literacy services programs, for the 
                        purpose of--
                                    ``(I) assisting Head Start 
                                agencies providing family 
                                literacy services, in order to 
                                improve the quality of such 
                                family literacy services; and
                                    ``(II) enabling those Head 
                                Start agencies that demonstrate 
                                effective provision of family 
                                literacy services, based on 
                                improved outcomes for children 
                                and their parents, to provide 
                                technical assistance and 
                                training to other Head Start 
                                agencies and to service 
                                providers that work in 
                                collaboration with such 
                                agencies to provide family 
                                literacy services;
                            ``(iii) assist Head Start agencies 
                        and programs in conducting and 
                        participating in community-wide 
                        strategic planning and needs 
                        assessments, including the needs of 
                        homeless children and their families, 
                        and in conducting self-assessments;
                            ``(iv) assist Head Start agencies 
                        and programs in developing and 
                        implementing full-working-day and full-
                        calendar-year programs where community 
                        need is clearly identified and making 
                        the transition to such programs, with 
                        particular attention to involving 
                        parents and programming for children 
                        throughout the day, and assist the 
                        agencies and programs in expediting the 
                        sharing of information about innovative 
                        models for providing full-working-day, 
                        full calendar year services for 
                        children;
                            ``(v) assist Head Start agencies in 
                        better serving the needs of families 
                        with very young children, including 
                        providing support and program planning 
                        and implementation assistance for Head 
                        Start agencies that apply to serve or 
                        are serving additional infants and 
                        toddlers, in accordance with section 
                        645(a)(5);
                            ``(vi) assist Head Start agencies 
                        and programs in the development of 
                        sound management practices, including 
                        financial management procedures;
                            ``(vii) assist in efforts to secure 
                        and maintain adequate facilities for 
                        Head Start programs;
                            ``(viii) assist Head Start agencies 
                        in developing innovative program 
                        models, including mobile and home-based 
                        programs;
                            ``(ix) provide support for Head 
                        Start agencies (including policy 
                        councils and policy committees) that 
                        meet the standards described in section 
                        641A(a) but that have, as documented by 
                        the Secretary through reviews conducted 
                        pursuant to section 641A(c), 
                        programmatic, quality, and fiscal 
                        issues to address;
                            ``(x) assist Head Start agencies 
                        and programs in improving outreach to, 
                        increasing program participation of, 
                        and improving the quality of services 
                        available to meet the unique needs of--
                                    ``(I) homeless children;
                                    ``(II) limited English 
                                proficient children and their 
                                families, particularly in 
                                communities that have 
                                experienced a large percentage 
                                increase in the population of 
                                limited English proficient 
                                individuals, as measured by the 
                                Bureau of the Census;
                                    ``(III) children with 
                                disabilities, particularly if 
                                such program's enrollment 
                                opportunities or funded 
                                enrollment for children with 
                                disabilities is less than 10 
                                percent;
                            ``(xi) assist Head Start agencies 
                        and programs to increase the capacity 
                        of classroom staff to meet the needs of 
                        eligible children in Head Start 
                        classrooms that are serving both 
                        children with disabilities and children 
                        without disabilities;
                            ``(xii) assist Head Start agencies 
                        and programs to address the unique 
                        needs of programs located in rural 
                        communities, including--
                                    ``(I) removing barriers 
                                related to the recruitment and 
                                retention of Head Start 
                                teachers in rural communities;
                                    ``(II) developing 
                                innovative and effective models 
                                of professional development for 
                                improving staff qualifications 
                                and skills for staff living in 
                                rural communities;
                                    ``(III) removing barriers 
                                related to outreach efforts to 
                                eligible families in rural 
                                communities;
                                    ``(IV) removing barriers to 
                                parent involvement in Head 
                                Start programs in rural 
                                communities;
                                    ``(V) removing barriers to 
                                providing home visiting 
                                services in rural communities; 
                                and
                                    ``(VI) removing barriers to 
                                obtaining health screenings for 
                                Head Start participants in 
                                rural communities;
                            ``(xiii) provide training and 
                        technical assistance to members of 
                        governing bodies, policy councils, and, 
                        as appropriate, policy committees, to 
                        ensure that the members can fulfill 
                        their functions;
                            ``(xiv) provide activities that 
                        help ensure that Head Start programs 
                        have qualified staff who can promote 
                        prevention of childhood obesity by 
                        integrating developmentally appropriate 
                        research-based initiatives that stress 
                        the importance of physical activity and 
                        healthy, nutritional choices in daily 
                        classroom and family routines;
                            ``(xv) assist Indian Head Start 
                        agencies to provide on-site and off-
                        site training to staff, using 
                        approaches that identify and enhance 
                        the positive resources and strengths of 
                        Indian children and families, to 
                        improve parent and family engagement 
                        and staff development, particularly 
                        with regard to child and family 
                        development.''; and
                            ``(xvi) assisting Head Start 
                        agencies in selecting and using the 
                        measures described in section 641A(b).
      ``(b) Additional Support.--The Secretary shall provide, 
either directly or through grants, contracts or other 
arrangements, funds from section 640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(cc) to--
            ``(1) 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; and
            ``(2) support training for personnel--
                    ``(A) providing services to limited English 
                proficient children and their families 
                (including services to promote the acquisition 
                of the English language);
                    ``(B) providing services to children 
                determined to be abused or neglected or 
                children referred by or receiving child welfare 
                services;
                    ``(C) in helping children cope with 
                community violence;
                    ``(D) to recognize common health, including 
                mental health, problems in children for 
                appropriate referral;
                    ``(E) to address the needs of children with 
                disabilities and their families;
                    ``(F) to address the needs of migrant and 
                seasonal farmworker families; and
                    ``(G) to address the needs of homeless 
                families.
      ``(c) Outreach.--The Secretary shall develop and 
implement a program of outreach to recruit and train 
professionals from diverse backgrounds to become Head Start 
teachers in order to reflect the communities in which Head 
Start children live and to increase the provision of quality 
services and instruction to children with diverse backgrounds.
      ``(d) Funds to Agencies.--Funds made available under 
section 640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(aa) shall be used by a Head Start 
agency to provide high quality, sustained, and intensive 
training and technical assistance as follows:
            ``(1) For 1 or more of the following:
                    ``(A) Activities that ensure that Head 
                Start programs meet or exceed the standards 
                described in section 641A(a)(1).
                    ``(B) Activities that ensure that Head 
                Start programs have adequate numbers of 
                trained, qualified staff who have skills in 
                working with children and families, including 
                children and families who are limited English 
                proficient and children with disabilities and 
                their families.
                    ``(C) Activities to improve the management 
                and implementation of Head Start services and 
                systems, including direct training for expert 
                consultants working with staff.
                    ``(D) Activities that help ensure that Head 
                Start programs have qualified staff who can 
                promote language skills and literacy growth of 
                children and who can provide children with a 
                variety of skills that have been identified as 
                predictive of later reading achievement, school 
                success, and the skills, knowledge, abilities, 
                development, and progress described in section 
                641A(a)(1)(B)(ii).
                    ``(E) Activities to improve staff 
                qualifications and to assist with the 
                implementation of career development programs 
                and to encourage the staff to continually 
                improve their skills and expertise, including 
                developing partnerships with programs that 
                recruit, train, place, and support college 
                students in Head Start centers to deliver an 
                innovative early learning program to preschool 
                children.
                    ``(F) Activities that help local programs 
                ensure that the arrangement, condition, and 
                implementation of the learning environments in 
                Head Start programs are conducive to providing 
                effective program services to children and 
                families.
                    ``(G) Activities to provide training 
                necessary to improve the qualifications of Head 
                Start staff and to support staff training, 
                child counseling, health services, and other 
                services necessary to address the needs of 
                children enrolled in Head Start programs, 
                including children from families in crises, 
                children who experience chronic violence or 
                homelessness, children who experience substance 
                abuse in their families, and children under 3 
                years of age, where applicable.
                    ``(H) Activities to provide classes or in-
                service-type programs to improve or enhance 
                parenting skills, job skills, adult and family 
                literacy, including financial literacy, or 
                training to become a classroom aide or bus 
                driver in a Head Start program.
                    ``(I) Additional activities deemed 
                appropriate to the improvement of Head Start 
                agencies' programs, as determined by the 
                agencies' technical assistance and training 
                plans.
            ``(2) To support enhanced early language and 
        literacy development of children in Head Start 
        programs, and to provide the children with high-quality 
        oral language skills, and with environments that are 
        rich in literature in which to acquire language and 
        early literacy skills, each Head Start agency, in 
        consultation with the State-based training and 
        technical assistance system, as appropriate, shall 
        ensure that--
                    ``(A) all of the agency's Head Start 
                teachers receive ongoing training in language 
                and emergent literacy (referred to in this 
                subsection as `literacy training'), and 
                including appropriate curricula and assessment 
                to improve instruction and learning;
                    ``(B) such literacy training shall include 
                training in methods to promote vocabulary 
                development and phonological awareness 
                (including phonemic awareness) in a 
                developmentally, culturally, and linguistically 
                appropriate manner and support children's 
                development in their native language;
                    ``(C) the literacy training shall include 
                training in how to work with parents to enhance 
                positive language and early literacy 
                development at home;
                    ``(D) the literacy training shall include 
                specific methods to best address the needs of 
                children who are limited English proficient;
                    ``(E) the literacy training shall include 
                training on how to best address the language 
                and literacy needs of children with 
                disabilities, including training on how to work 
                with specialists in language development; and
                    ``(F) the literacy training shall be 
                tailored to the early childhood literacy 
                background and experience of the teachers 
                involved.
``except that funds made available under section 
640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(aa) 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.
      ``(e) State-Based Training and Technical Assistance 
System.--For the purposes of delivering a State-based training 
and technical assistance system (which may include a consortium 
of 2 or more states within a region), as described in section 
640(a)(C)(i)(II)(bb), that will meet the needs of local 
grantees, as determined by such grantees, and provide high 
quality, sustained, and intensive training and technical 
assistance to Head Start programs in order to improve their 
capacity to deliver services that meet or exceed the program 
performance standards described in section 641A(a)(1), the 
Secretary shall--
            ``(1) enter into contracts in each State with 1 or 
        more entities who have a demonstrated expertise in 
        supporting the delivery of high quality early childhood 
        education and development programs, except that 
        contracts for a consortium of 2 or more States within a 
        geographic region may be entered into if such a system 
        is more appropriate to better meet the needs of local 
        grantees within a region, as determined by such 
        grantees;
            ``(2) ensure that the entities described in 
        subparagraph (1) determine the types of services to be 
        provided through consultation with--
                    ``(A) local Head Start agencies (including 
                Indian Head Start agencies and migrant or 
                seasonal Head Start agencies, as appropriate);
                    ``(B) the State Head Start collaboration 
                office; and
                    ``(C) the State Head Start Association;
            ``(3) encourage States to supplement the funds 
        authorized in section 640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(bb) with 
        Federal, State, or local funds other than funds made 
        available under this subchapter, to expand training and 
        technical assistance activities beyond Head Start 
        agencies to include other providers of other early 
        childhood education and development within a State;
            ``(4) provide a report to the Committee on 
        Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and 
        the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
        of the Senate, not later than 90 days after the end of 
        the fiscal year, summarizing the funding for such 
        contracts and the activities carried out thereunder;
            ``(5) periodically evaluate the effectiveness of 
        the delivery of services in each State in promoting 
        program quality; and
            ``(6) ensure that in entering into such contracts 
        as described in paragraph (1), such entities will 
        address the needs of grantees in both urban and rural 
        communities.
      ``(f) Indoor Air Quality.--The Secretary shall consult 
with appropriate Federal agencies and other experts, as 
appropriate, on issues of air quality related to children's 
health and inform Head Start agencies of existing programs or 
combination of programs that provide methods for improving 
indoor air quality.
      ``(g) Career Advancement Partnership Program.--
            ``(1) Authority.--From amounts allocated under 
        section 640(a)(2)(C)(i)(II)(cc) the Secretary is 
        authorized to award demonstration grants, for a period 
        of not less than 5 years, to historically Black 
        colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving 
        institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities--
                    ``(A) implement education programs that 
                increase the number of associate, 
                baccalaureate, and graduate degrees in early 
                childhood education and related fields that are 
                earned by Head Start agency staff members, 
                parents of children served by such agencies, 
                and members of the communities involved;
                    ``(B) provide assistance for stipends and 
                costs related to tuition, fees, and books for 
                enrolling Head Start agency staff members, 
                parents of children served by such an agency, 
                and members of the communities involved in 
                courses required to complete the degree and 
                certification requirement to become teachers in 
                early childhood education and related fields;
                    ``(C) develop program curricula to promote 
                high quality services and instruction to 
                children with diverse backgrounds, including--
                            ``(i) in the case of historically 
                        Black colleges and universities, to 
                        help Head Start Agency staff members 
                        develop skills and expertise needed to 
                        teach in programs serving large numbers 
                        of African American children;
                            ``(ii) in the case of Hispanic-
                        serving institutions, programs to help 
                        Head Start Agency staff members develop 
                        skills and expertise needed to teach in 
                        programs serving large numbers of 
                        Hispanic students, including programs 
                        to develop the linguistic skills and 
                        expertise needed to teach in programs 
                        serving a large number of children with 
                        limited English proficiency; and
                            ``(iii) in the case of Tribal 
                        Colleges and Universities, to help Head 
                        Start Agency staff members develop 
                        skills and expertise needed to teach in 
                        programs serving large numbers of 
                        Indian students, including programs 
                        concerning tribal culture and language;
                    ``(D) provide other activities to upgrade 
                the skills and qualifications of educational 
                personnel to meet the professional standards in 
                subsection (a) to better promote high quality 
                services and instruction to students and 
                parents from populations served by historically 
                Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-
                serving institutions, or Tribal Colleges and 
                Universities;
                    ``(E) to provide technology literacy 
                programs for Indian Head Start agency staff 
                members and families of children served by such 
                agency; and
                    ``(F) to develop and implement the programs 
                described under subparagraph (A) in technology-
                mediated formats, including through such means 
                as distance learning and use of advanced 
                technology, as appropriate.
            ``(2) Other assistance.--The Secretary shall, using 
        resources within the Department of Health and Human 
        Services--
                    ``(A) provide appropriate technical 
                assistance to historically Black colleges and 
                universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, 
                and Tribal Colleges or Universities receiving 
                grants under this section, including 
                coordinating with the White House Initiative on 
                historically Black colleges and universities; 
                and
                    ``(B) ensure that the American Indian 
                Programs Branch of the Office of Head Start of 
                the Administration for Children and Families of 
                the Department of Health and Human Services can 
                effectively administer the programs under this 
                section and provide appropriate technical 
                assistance to Tribal Colleges and Universities 
                under this section.
            ``(3) Application.--Each historically Black college 
        or university, Hispanic-serving institution, or Tribal 
        College or University desiring a grant under this 
        section shall submit an application, in partnership 
        with at least 1 Head Start agency enrolling large 
        numbers of students from the populations served by 
        historically Black colleges or universities, Hispanic-
        serving institutions, or Tribal Colleges and 
        Universities, to the Secretary, at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information as the 
        Secretary may require, including a certification that 
        the institution of higher education has established a 
        formal partnership with 1 or more Head Start agencies 
        for the purposes of conducting the activities described 
        in paragraph (1).
            ``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) The term `Hispanic-serving 
                institution' has the meaning given such term in 
                section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 1101a).
                    ``(B) The term `historically Black college 
                or university' has the meaning given the term 
                `part B institution' in section 322(2) of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1061(2)).
                    ``(C) The term `Tribal College or 
                University' has the meaning given such term in 
                section 312b of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)).
            ``(5) Teaching requirement.--A student at an 
        institution receiving a grant under this subsection who 
        receives assistance under a program funded under this 
        subsection shall teach in a center-based Head Start 
        program for a period of time equivalent to the period 
        for which they received assistance or shall repay such 
        assistance.''.
      Head Start offers a supportive educational setting for 
many homeless children; yet barriers may limit homeless 
children's access to, and participation in, this valuable 
program. The Conferees have included provisions to enhance 
services for homeless children and increase their participation 
in Head Start programs. The Conferees encourage the Secretary, 
in developing and implementing the training and technical 
assistance system required under this Act, to support 
activities designed to improve services for homeless children. 
In providing such services, the Conferees encourage the 
Secretary to work with organizations specializing in improving 
services to homeless children in early education programs.
      383. The Senate amendment makes changes to paragraph (2) 
and the House bill maintains current law.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      384. The Senate amendment makes changes to (3) and the 
House bill maintains current law.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      385. The House bill and Senate amendment make similar 
modifications to (5) and maintain current law for (6).
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      386. Senate amendment makes modifications to (7) to 
include support in program planning for agencies serving 
infants and toddlers. House bill and Senate amendment maintain 
current law for (8)-(11).
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      387. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      388. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      389. House bill adds provision relating to toxic stress. 
Senate amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      390. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      391. House bill contains provision related to rural 
communities. Senate amendment does not contain a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      395a. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      392. The Senate amendment contains provision regarding 
training for governing bodies. The House bill does not contain 
similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      393. The Senate amendment contains a provision for self-
assessments. The House bill does not contain a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      394. The Senate amendment contains provision on childhood 
obesity. The House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      395. The Senate amendment contains a provision on Indian 
Head Start agencies. The House bill does not contain a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      396. The House bill maintains current law and the Senate 
amendment adds language on CBO's.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      397. The Senate amendment makes change in referencing 
child care programs. The House bill and Senate amendment 
contain similar provisions adding language about child welfare 
services.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      398. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      399. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      400. The House bill contains an outreach program for male 
Head Start teachers of color. The Senate amendment does not 
include a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      401. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      402. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      403. The House bill contains requirement for Secretary to 
work with tribal colleges. The Senate amendment does not 
contain similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to insert 
into section 649.
      404. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions except the Senate amendment places in 
Section 640(1) and the House bill places in Section 648.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to insert 
into section 649.
      405. House bill contains provision on eligible entities. 
Senate amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      406. The House bill and Senate amendment both add 
specifications for the State-based TA system.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      407. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      408. The House bill includes provisions to develop an on-
line, graduate professional development program. The Senate 
amendment does not contain similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      409. The House bill includes requirements regarding air 
quality in Head Start agencies. The Senate amendment does not 
contain similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      410. The House bill and Senate amendment contain similar 
provisions except the Senate language is in section 648B.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      411. The House bill contains a new demonstration program 
with HSIs. The Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
      412. The House bill requires partnerships with HBCUs. The 
Senate amendment does not contain similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert, as amended, in note 382.
Section 19. Staff qualifications and development
      413. The House bill and Senate amendment maintain current 
law except House bill adds language about math and science.
      Senate recedes.
      414. The House bill sets a national average requirement 
for teacher's qualifications and the Senate amendment sets a 
goal for teacher qualifications in each State.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
            ``(2) Degree requirements.--
                    ``(A) Head start teachers.--The Secretary 
                shall ensure that not later than September 30, 
                2013 at least 50 percent of 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 and coursework equivalent to a 
                        major relating to early childhood 
                        education, with experience teaching 
                        preschool-age children.
                    ``(B) Additional staff.--The Secretary 
                shall ensure that, not later than September 30, 
                2013, all--
                            ``(i) Head Start education 
                        coordinators, including those that 
                        serve as curriculum specialists, 
                        nationwide in center-based programs--
                                    ``(I) have the capacity to 
                                offer assistance to other 
                                teachers in the implementation 
                                and adaptation of curricula to 
                                the group and individual needs 
                                of children in a Head Start 
                                classroom; and
                                    ``(II) have--
                                            ``(aa) a 
                                        baccalaureate or 
                                        advanced degree in 
                                        early childhood 
                                        education; or
                                            ``(bb) a 
                                        baccalaureate or 
                                        advanced degree and 
                                        coursework equivalent 
                                        to a major relating to 
                                        early childhood 
                                        education, with 
                                        experience in teaching 
                                        preschool-age children; 
                                        and
                            ``(ii) Head Start teaching 
                        assistants nationwide in center-based 
                        programs have--
                                    ``(I) at least a child 
                                development associate 
                                credential;
                                ``(II) enrolled in a program 
                                leading to an associate or 
                                baccalaureate degree; or
                                    ``(III) enrolled in a child 
                                development associate 
                                credential program to be 
                                completed within 2 years.
                    ``(C) Progress.--
                            ``(i) Implementation.--The 
                        Secretary shall--
                                    ``(I) Require Head Start 
                                agencies to--
                                            ``(aa) describe 
                                        continuing progress 
                                        each year toward 
                                        achieving the goals 
                                        described in (A) and 
                                        (B); and
                                            ``(bb) annually 
                                        submit to the Secretary 
                                        a report indicating the 
                                        number and percentage 
                                        of personnel described 
                                        in subparagraphs (A) 
                                        and (B) in center-based 
                                        programs with child 
                                        development associate 
                                        credentials or 
                                        associate, 
                                        baccalaureate, or 
                                        advanced degrees;
                                    ``(II) Compile and submit a 
                                summary of all program reports 
                                described in subclause (I)(bb) 
                                to the Committee on Education 
                                and Labor of the House of 
                                Representatives and the 
                                Committee on Health, Education, 
                                Labor, and Pensions of the 
                                Senate; and
                                    ``(III) Not impose any 
                                penalties or sanctions on any 
                                individual Head Start agency, 
                                program or staff in the 
                                monitoring of local agencies 
                                and programs under this 
                                subchapter not meeting the 
                                requirements of subparagraph 
                                (A) or (B).
                    ``(D) Construction.--In this paragraph a 
                reference to a Head Start agency, or its 
                program, services, facility, or personnel, 
                shall not be considered to be a reference to an 
                Early Head Start agency, or its program, 
                services, facility, or personnel.
          ``(3) Alternative credentialing requirements.--The 
        Secretary shall ensure that, for center-based programs, 
        each Head Start classroom that does not have a teacher 
        that meets the qualifications described in clause (i) 
        or (ii) of paragraph (2)(A) is assigned one teacher who 
        has the following during the period specified;
                    ``(A) Through September 30, 2011--
                            ``(i) a child development associate 
                        credential that is appropriate to the 
                        age of children being served in center-
                        based programs;
                            ``(ii) a State-awarded certificate 
                        for preschool teachers that meets or 
                        exceeds the requirements for a child 
                        development associate credential;
                            ``(iii) an associate degree in 
                        early childhood education;
                            ``(iv) an associate degree in a 
                        related field and coursework equivalent 
                        to a major relating to early childhood 
                        education, with experience teaching 
                        preschool-age children;
                            ``(v) a baccalaureate degree and 
                        has been admitted into the Teach For 
                        America program, passed a rigorous 
                        early childhood content exam such as 
                        the Praxis II, participated in a Teach 
                        For America summer training institute 
                        that includes teaching preschool 
                        children, and is receiving ongoing 
                        professional development and support 
                        from Teach For America's professional 
                        staff.
                    ``(B) As of October 1, 2011--
                            ``(i) an associate degree in early 
                        childhood education;
                            ``(ii) an associate degree in a 
                        related field and coursework equivalent 
                        to a major relating to early childhood 
                        education, with experience teaching 
                        preschool-age children; or
                            ``(iii) a baccalaureate degree and 
                        has been admitted into the Teach For 
                        America program, passed a rigorous 
                        early childhood content exam, such as 
                        the Praxis II, participated in a Teach 
                        For America's professional staff.
            ``(4) Waiver.--On request, the Secretary shall 
        grant--
                    ``(A) through September 30, 2011, a 180-day 
                waiver ending on or before September 30, 2011, 
                of the requirements of paragraph (3)(A) for a 
                Head Start agency that can demonstrate that the 
                agency has attempted unsuccessfully to recruit 
                an individual who has the qualifications 
                described in clauses (i) through (iv) of 
                paragraph (3)(A) with respect to an individual 
                who--
                            ``(i) is enrolled in a program that 
                        grants a credential, certificate, or 
                        degree described in clauses (i) through 
                        (iv) of paragraph (3)(A); and
                            ``(ii) will receive such 
                        credential, certificate, or degree 
                        under the terms of such program not 
                        later than 180 days after beginning 
                        employment as a teacher with such 
                        agency; and
                    ``(B) as of October 1, 2011, a 3-year 
                waiver of the requirements of paragraph (3)(B) 
                for a Head Start agency that can demonstrate 
                that--
                            ``(i) the agency has attempted 
                        unsuccessfully to recruit an individual 
                        who has the qualifications described in 
                        clause (i) or (ii) of such paragraph, 
                        with respect to an individual who is 
                        enrolled in a program that grants a 
                        degree described in clause (i) or (ii) 
                        of such paragraph and will receive such 
                        degree in a reasonable time; and
                            ``(ii) each Head Start classroom 
                        has a teacher who has, at a minimum--
                                    ``(I) a child development 
                                associate credential that is 
                                appropriate to the age of 
                                children being served in 
                                center-based programs; or
                                    ``(II) a State-awarded 
                                certificate for preschool 
                                teachers that meets or exceeds 
                                the requirements for a child 
                                development associate 
                                credential.''
      415. The Senate amendment includes qualification 
requirements for curriculum specialists and education 
coordinators. The House bill does not have a similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike.
      416. The Senate amendment includes qualifications for 
teaching assistants. The House bill does not include a similar 
provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike.
      417. The Senate amendment contains a requirement for 
professional development. The House bill does not contain a 
similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to insert 
``by the program'' after the word ``evaluated''.
      418. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike.
      419. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
minimum degree requirement for teachers but have different 
dates of enactment and different populations of teachers.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike.
      424a. The House bill and the Senate amendment both 
contain service requirements in exchange for financial 
assistance from Head Start programs.
      House recedes.
      424b. Senate amendment includes Head Start centers in 
addition to Head Start agencies. The House bill does not 
include a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      425. The House bill includes provisions prohibiting funds 
being used at diploma mills. The Senate amendment does not 
contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      426. The House bill includes provisions for Teach for 
America while the Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision.
      Senate recedes.
      427. The House bill and the Senate amendment make changes 
to current requirements for family service workers.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert a new 
paragraph (5) to read:
            ``(5) promote the use of appropriate strategies to 
        meet the needs of special populations (including 
        populations of limited English proficient children);''.
      428. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to insert at the end: 
``The agency and the employee shall implement the plan to the 
extent feasible and practicable.''
      429. The House bill requires procedures prior to the hire 
of an individual in Head Start programs. The Senate amendment 
does not include a similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      430. The House bill contains a loan forgiveness program 
for Head Start teachers. The Senate amendment does not include 
a similar provision.
      House recedes.
Section 20. Research, demonstrations, and evaluation
      431. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill requires ideas to be based 
on scientifically-based research.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike ``based 
research'' and insert ``valid research''.
      432. The House bill and the Senate amendment make 
technical conforming changes.
      433. The Senate amendment includes provisions to promote 
good oral health and vision. The House bill does not include 
similar provisions.
      House recedes.
      434. The Senate amendment makes this technical and 
conforming change, similar throughout the bill. The House bill 
does not include similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with and amendment to use 
``early childhood education and development services or 
programs''.
      435. The Senate amendment makes a technical change to 
redesignate paragraphs. The House bill does not include a 
similar provision.
      436. The House bill strikes the use of SIPP, NLSY, and 
SPD for gathering data and conducting analysis on Head Start. 
The Senate amendment does not include similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      437. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with amendment to strike and insert--
            ``(10)(A) contribute to understanding the impact of 
        Head Start services delivered in classrooms which 
        include both children with disabilities and children 
        without disabilities on all of the children; and
            (B) disseminate promising practices for increasing 
        the availability and quality of such services and such 
        classrooms.'';
      438. The Senate amendment makes technical changes to 
redesignate paragraphs. The House bill does not contain a 
similar provision.
      439. The Senate amendment makes conforming changes, 
similar throughout the bill. The House bill does not contain a 
similar provision.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to use 
``early childhood education and development services or 
programs''.
      440. The Senate amendment makes conforming changes, 
similar throughout the bill. The House bill does not contain a 
similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      441. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      442. The Senate amendment makes conforming changes, 
similar throughout the bill. The House bill does not contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to use 
term ``early childhood education and development services and 
programs''.
      443. The House bill and the Senate amendment include 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      444. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill provides for the study not 
less than one year after the date of enactment.
      Senate recedes.
      445. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The Senate amendment modifies the issue 
date for the report, from 2008 to 2011.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``2011'' and 
insert ``2010''.
      446. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      447. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes.
      448. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      449. The House bill includes a provision to address home 
languages. The Senate amendment does not include a similar 
provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``the languages in which Head Start and Early Head Start 
teachers are fluent, in relation to the population, and 
instructional needs, of the children served''
      450. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      451. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
identical provisions.
      452. The Senate amendment provides for a research study 
of diverse populations in Head Start programs. The House bill 
does not contain a similar amendment.
      House recedes.
      453. The Senate amendment requires the Secretary to base 
any revisions or development of assessments on the NAS panel 
study. The House bill does not contain similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to--
            in (j)(1)(A) to strike ``the'' before ``Head 
        Start''
            in (j)(1)(B) to strike ``develop as necessary'' and 
        to insert 
        ``, consistent with section 641(a)(2)(C)(ii)'' after 
        ``described in section 641A'' in (j)(2) strike the 
        header ``DEVELOPMENT AND REFINEMENT'' and insert 
        ``INFORM AND REVISE'' and strike ``developing and 
        revising'' and insert ``informing and revising''
      454. The House bill includes provisions to address 
hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Senate amendment does not 
contain similar provisions.
      Senate recedes with amendment to strike and insert--
      ``(m) Program Emergency Preparedness.--
            ``(1) Purpose.--The purpose of this subsection is 
        to evaluate the emergency preparedness of the Head 
        Start, including Early Head Start programs and make 
        recommendations for how Head Start shall enhance its 
        readiness to respond to an emergency.
            ``(2) Study.--The Secretary shall evaluate the 
        preparedness of the Head Start, Early Head Start 
        programs to respond appropriately in the event of a 
        large-scale emergency, such as the hurricanes Katrina, 
        Rita, and Wilma, the terrorist attacks of September 
        11th, 2001 or other incidents where assistance may be 
        warranted under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
        and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).
            ``(3) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months 
        after the date of the enactment of the Improving Head 
        Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, the Secretary 
        shall prepare and submit to Committee on Education and 
        Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
        on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate 
        a report containing the results of the evaluation 
        required under paragraph (2), including--
                    ``(A) recommendations for improvements to 
                Federal, state, and local preparedness and 
                response capabilities to large-scale 
                emergencies, including those that were 
                developed in response to hurricanes Katrina, 
                Rita, and Wilma, as they relate to Head Start 
                and Early Head Start programs, and the 
                Secretary's plans to implement such 
                recommendations;
                    ``(B) an evaluation of Head Start 
                procedures for informing families of children 
                in Head Start about the program protocols for 
                response to a large-scale emergency, including 
                procedures for communicating with such families 
                in the event of a large-scale emergency;
                    ``(C) an evaluation of such procedures for 
                staff training on state and local evacuation 
                and emergency protocols; and
                    ``(D) an evaluation of procedures for Head 
                Start agencies and the Secretary to coordinate 
                with appropriate Federal, state, and local 
                emergency management agencies in the event of a 
                large scale emergency and recommendations to 
                improve such procedures.''
Section 21. Reports
      455. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to insert ``, homeless 
children, children in foster care'' after ``proficient 
children''.
      456. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      Senate recedes.
      457. The Senate amendment includes vision care. The House 
bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      458. The Senate amendment makes conforming changes. The 
House bill does not contain a similar provision.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike modification to 
(D)(ii).
      459. The Senate amendment makes conforming changes. The 
House bill does not include a similar provision.
      460. The House bill includes a report on the expenditures 
of HHS, under section 640(a)(2). The Senate amendment does not 
contain a similar provision.
      House recedes.
      461. The House bill includes a report on fiscal protocol. 
The Senate amendment does not contain a similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
      462. The House bill includes a report on the use of IEPs. 
The Senate amendment does not contain similar provisions.
      House recedes/Senate recedes with an amendment to strike 
and insert--
      ``(e) Disability-Related Services.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall track the 
        provision of disability-related services for children, 
        in order to--
                    ``(A) determine whether Head Start agencies 
                are making timely referrals to the State or 
                local agency responsible for providing services 
                under Section 619 or Part C of the Individuals 
                with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
                1419, 1431 et seq.);
                    ``(B) identify barriers to timely 
                evaluations and eligibility determination by 
                the State and local agency responsible for 
                Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; 
                and
                    ``(C) determine under what circumstances 
                and for what length of time Head Start agencies 
                are providing disability-related services for 
                children who have not been determined to be 
                eligible children with disabilities under the 
                Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
                U.S.C. 1400 et seq.).
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        of the enactment of the Improving Head Start for School 
        Readiness Act of 2007, the Secretary shall provide a 
        report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on the 
        activities described in paragraph (1).
      463. The House bill includes a report on obesity 
prevention. The Senate amendment does not contain a similar 
provision.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``(f) Evaluation and Recommendations Regarding Obesity 
Prevention.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Education and Labor 
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on the 
Secretary's progress on assisting program efforts to prevent 
and reduce obesity in children who participate in Head Start 
programs, including progress on implementing initiatives within 
the Head Start program to prevent and reduce obesity in such 
children.''
Section 22. Comparability of wages
      464. The House bill and the Senate amendment change 
section structure and House bill adds a heading.
      House recedes with an amendment to insert a heading for 
subsection (a) to read ``Comparability of Wages''.
      465. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill adds a heading.
      Senate recedes with an amendment to strike and insert--
      ``(b) Limitation.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, no Federal funds may be used to pay 
        any part of the compensation of an individual employed 
        by a Head Start agency, if such compensation, including 
        non-Federal funds, exceeds an amount equal to the rate 
        payable for level II of the Executive Schedule under 
        section 5313 of title 5, United States Code.
            ``(2) Compensation.--In this subsection, the term 
        `compensation'--
                    ``(A) includes salary, bonuses, periodic 
                payments, severance pay, the value of any 
                vacation time, the value of a compensatory or 
                paid leave benefit not excluded by subparagraph 
                (B), and the fair market of any employee 
                perquisite or benefit not excluded by 
                subparagraph (B); and
                    ``(B) excludes any Head Start agency 
                expenditure for a health, medical, life 
                insurance, disability, retirement, or any other 
                employee welfare or pension benefit.''.
      466. The House bill includes a limitation on Head Start 
funds. The Senate amendment does not contain a similar 
provision.
      House recedes.
Section 23. Limitation with respect to certain unlawful activities
      467. The Senate amendment makes a technical change. The 
House bill does not include a similar provision.
      House recedes.
Section 24. Political activities
      468. The Senate amendment permits voter registration in 
Head Start agencies. The House bill does not include a similar 
provision.
      House recedes with an amendment to insert at the end of 
(b)--
      ``No funds appropriated under this subchapter may be used 
to conduct voter registration activities. Nothing in this 
subchapter prohibits the availability of Head Start facilities 
during hours of operation for the use of any non-partisan 
organization do increase the number of eligible citizens who 
register to vote in elections for Federal office.''
      The Conferees intend to continue the prohibition against 
Head Start teachers, employees and administrators from 
conducting voter registration activity on-site during hours of 
operation. Although they may participate in civic activities on 
their own time, the Conferees believe that the focus of Head 
Start employees during work hours should remain on improving 
the school readiness of Head Start children. Outside, 
nonpartisan organizations, however, are permitted under this 
section to use Head Start facilities non-intrusively to conduct 
voter registration.
      469. The Senate amendment makes a conforming change to 
the Children's Health Act. The House bill does not include a 
similar provision.
      Senate recedes.
Section 25. Parental consent requirement for health services
      470. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions.
      House recedes.
Section 26. Centers of excellence in early childhood
      471. The Senate amendment includes an authorization for 
the creation of Centers of Excellence for Head Start centers to 
be nominated by the Governor and designated by the Secretary to 
serve as model Head Start programs. The House bill does not 
include similar provisions.
      House recedes with an amendment to--
            insert ``(other than section 657B)'' after 
        ``subchapter'' in Section 639; and
            strike and insert into a new section as follows:

``SEC. 657B. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.

      ``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `center of 
excellence' means a Center of Excellence in Early Childhood 
designated under subsection (b).
      ``(b) Designation and Bonus Grants.--The Secretary shall, 
subject to the availability of funds under this section, 
establish a program under which the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) designate not more than 200 exemplary Head 
        Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies, 
        Indian Head Start agencies, and migrant and seasonal 
        Head Start agencies) as Centers of Excellence in Early 
        Childhood; and
            ``(2) make bonus grants to the centers of 
        excellence to carry out the activities described in 
        subsection (d).
      ``(c) Application and Designation.--
            ``(1) Application.--
                    ``(A) Nomination and submission.--
                            ``(i) In general.--To be eligible 
                        to receive a designation as a center of 
                        excellence under subsection (b), except 
                        as provided in clause (ii), a Head 
                        Start agency in a State shall be 
                        nominated by the Governor of the State, 
                        after selection for nomination by such 
                        Governor through a competitive process, 
                        and shall submit an application to the 
                        Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
                        and containing such information as the 
                        Secretary may require.
                            ``(ii) Indian and migrant and 
                        seasonal head start programs.--In the 
                        case of an Indian Head Start agency or 
                        a migrant or seasonal Head Start 
                        agency, to be eligible to receive a 
                        designation as a center of excellence 
                        under subsection (b), such an agency 
                        shall be nominated by the head of the 
                        appropriate regional office of the 
                        Department of Health and Human Services 
                        and shall submit an application to the 
                        Secretary in accordance with clause 
                        (i).
                    ``(B) Contents.--At a minimum, the 
                application shall include--
                            ``(i) evidence that the Head Start 
                        program carried out by the agency 
                        involved has significantly improved the 
                        school readiness of children who have 
                        participated in the program;
                            ``(ii) evidence that the program 
                        meets or exceeds standards described 
                        section 641A(a)(I), as evidenced by the 
                        results of monitoring reviews described 
                        in section 641A(c), and has no findings 
                        of deficiencies in the preceding three 
                        years;
                            ``(iii) evidence that the program 
                        is making progress toward meeting the 
                        requirements described in section 648A;
                            ``(iv) An assurance that the Head 
                        Start agency will develop a 
                        collaborative partnership with the 
                        State (or a State agency) and other 
                        providers of early childhood education 
                        and development programs and services 
                        in the local community involved to 
                        conduct activities under (d)(1);
                            ``(v) a nomination letter from the 
                        Governor, or appropriate regional 
                        office, demonstrating the agency's 
                        ability to provide the coordination, 
                        transition, and training services of 
                        the program to be carried out under the 
                        bonus grant involved, including 
                        coordination of activities with State 
                        and local agencies that provide early 
                        childhood education and development to 
                        children and families in the community 
                        served by the agency, and carry out the 
                        activities described under subsection 
                        (d)(1)(A); and
                            ``(vi) a description of how the 
                        center involved, in order to expand 
                        accessibility and continuity of quality 
                        early childhood education and 
                        development services and programs, will 
                        coordinate activities, as appropriate, 
                        assisted under this section with--
                                    ``(I) programs carried out 
                                under the Child Care and 
                                Development Block Grant Act of 
                                1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.);
                                    ``(II) the Early Head Start 
                                programs carried out under 
                                section 645A;
                                    ``(III) Early Reading First 
                                and Even Start programs carried 
                                out under subparts 2 and 3 of 
                                part B of title I of the 
                                Elementary and Secondary 
                                Education Act of 1965 (20 
                                U.S.C. 6371 et seq., 6381 et 
                                seq.);
                                    ``(IV) other preschool 
                                programs carried out under 
                                title I of that Act (20 U.S.C. 
                                6301 et seq.);
                                    ``(V) programs carried out 
                                under section 619 and part C of 
                                the Individuals with 
                                Disabilities Education Act (20 
                                U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
                                    ``(VI) State 
                                prekindergarten programs; and
                                    ``(VII) other programs of 
                                early childhood education and 
                                development.
            ``(2) Selection.--In selecting agencies to 
        designate as centers of excellence under subsection 
        (b), the Secretary shall designate not less than 1 from 
        each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, an 
        Indian Head Start program, a migrant or seasonal Head 
        Start program, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
            ``(3) Priority.--In making bonus grant 
        determinations under this section, the Secretary shall 
        give priority to agencies that, through their 
        applications, demonstrate that their programs are of 
        exceptional quality and would serve as exemplary models 
        for programs in the same geographic region. The 
        Secretary may also consider the populations served by 
        the applicants, such as agencies that serve large 
        proportions of limited English proficient children or 
        other underserved populations, and may make bonus 
        grants to agencies that do an exceptional job meeting 
        the needs of children in such populations.
            ``(4) Term of designation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph 
                (B), the Secretary shall designate a Head Start 
                agency as a center of excellence for a 5-year 
                term. During the period of that designation, 
                subject to the availability of appropriations, 
                the agency shall be eligible to receive a bonus 
                grant under subsection (b).
                    ``(B) Revocation.--The Secretary may revoke 
                an agency's designation under subsection (b) if 
                the Secretary determines that the agency is not 
                demonstrating adequate performance or has had 
                findings of deficiencies described in paragraph 
                (l)(B)(ii).
            ``(5) Amount of bonus grant.--The Secretary shall 
        base the amount of funding provided through a bonus 
        grant made under subsection (b) to a center of 
        excellence on the number of children eligible for Head 
        Start services in the community involved. The Secretary 
        shall, subject to the availability of funding, make 
        such a bonus grant in an amount of not less than 
        $200,000 per year.
      ``(d) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) Activities.--A center of excellence that 
        receives a bonus grant under subsection (b)--
                    ``(A) shall use no less than 15% of the 
                funds made available through the bonus grant to 
                disseminate to other Head Start agencies in the 
                State involved, best practices for achieving 
                early academic success, including--
                            ``(i) best practices for achieving 
                        school readiness, including developing 
                        early literacy and mathematics skills, 
                        for children at risk for school 
                        difficulties;
                            ``(ii) best practices for achieving 
                        the acquisition of the English language 
                        for limited English proficient 
                        children, if appropriate to the 
                        population served; and
                            ``(iii) best practices for 
                        providing high-quality comprehensive 
                        services for eligible children and 
                        their families;
                    ``(B) may use the funds made available 
                through the bonus grant--
                            ``(i) to provide Head Start 
                        services to additional eligible 
                        children;
                            ``(ii) to better meet the needs of 
                        working families in the community 
                        served by the center by serving more 
                        children in existing Early Head Start 
                        programs (existing as of the date the 
                        center is designated under this 
                        section) or in full-working-day, full 
                        calendar year Head Start programs;
                            ``(iii) to further coordinate early 
                        childhood education and development 
                        programs and services and social 
                        services available in the community 
                        served by the center for at-risk 
                        children (birth through age 8), their 
                        families, and pregnant women;
                            ``(iv) to provide professional 
                        development for Head Start teachers and 
                        staff, including joint training, for 
                        Head Start teachers and staff, child 
                        care providers, public and private 
                        preschool and elementary school 
                        teachers, and other providers of early 
                        childhood education and development 
                        programs;
                            ``(v) to provide effective 
                        transitions between Head Start programs 
                        and elementary schools and to 
                        facilitate ongoing communication 
                        between Head Start and elementary 
                        school teachers concerning children 
                        receiving Head Start services to 
                        improve their ability to work 
                        effectively with low-income, at-risk 
                        children and their families;
                            `` (vi) to develop or maintain 
                        partnerships with institutions of 
                        higher education and nonprofit 
                        organizations, including community-
                        based organizations, that recruit, 
                        train, place, and support college 
                        students to serve as mentors and 
                        reading partners to preschool children 
                        in Head Start programs; and
                            ``(vii) to carry out other 
                        activities determined by the center to 
                        improve the overall quality of the Head 
                        Start program carried out by the agency 
                        and the program carried out under the 
                        bonus grant involved.
      ``(e) Research and Reports.--
            ``(1) Research.--The Secretary shall, subject to 
        the availability of funds to carry out this subsection, 
        award a grant or contract to an independent 
        organization to conduct research on the ability of the 
        centers of excellence to use the funds received under 
        this section to improve the school readiness of 
        children receiving Head Start services, and to 
        positively impact school results in the earliest 
        grades. The organization shall also conduct research to 
        measure the success of the centers of excellence at 
        encouraging the center's delegate agencies, additional 
        Head Start agencies, and other providers of early 
        childhood education and development programs in the 
        communities involved to meet measurable improvement 
        goals, particularly in the area of school readiness.
            ``(2) Research report.--Not later than 48 months 
        after the date of enactment of the Head Start for 
        School Readiness Act, the organization shall prepare 
        and submit to the Secretary and Congress a report 
        containing the results of the research described in 
        paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Reports to the secretary.--Centers of 
        excellence shall annually submit to the Secretary, at 
        such time and in such manner as the Secretary may 
        require, a report containing a description of the 
        activities the center carried out with funds received 
        under this section, including a description of how such 
        funds improved services for children and families.
      ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to make bonus grants to 
centers of excellence under subsection (b) to carry out 
activities described in subsection (d) and research activities 
described in subsection (e).''
Section 27. General provisions
      472. The House bill and the Senate amendment contain 
similar provisions. The House bill requires written consent for 
each specific health care service. The Senate amendment also 
requires consent for referral to services.
      House recedes with an amendment to strike ``Rule of 
Construction'' and insert ``General Provisions''.
      473. The House bill requires consent for any health care 
services. The Senate amendment does not include similar 
provisions.
      House recedes.
Section 28. Compliance with Improper Payments Information Act of 2002
      474. The Senate amendment includes a provision on 
improper payments. The House bill does not include a similar 
provision.
      House recedes.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

      Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, this conference report contains no 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI.

                                   George Miller,
                                   Dale E. Kildee,
                                   Lynn Woolsey,
                                   Danny K. Davis,
                                   Raul M. Grijalva,
                                   Linda T. Sanchez,
                                   John P. Sarbanes,
                                   Joe Sestak,
                                   David Loebsack,
                                   Mazie K. Hirono,
                                   Carol Shea-Porter,
                                   Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,
                                   Michael N. Castle,
                                   Luis Fortuno,
                                   Ric Keller,
                                   Joe Wilson,
                                   C. W. Boustany,
                                   Dean Heller,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Ted Kennedy,
                                   Chris Dodd,
                                   Tom Harkin,
                                   Barbara A. Mikulski,
                                   Jeff Bingaman,
                                   Patty Murray,
                                   Jack Reed,
                                   Hillary Rodham Clinton,
                                   Barack Obama,
                                   Bernard Sanders,
                                   Sherrod Brown,
                                   Michael B. Enzi,
                                   Judd Gregg,
                                   Lamar Alexander,
                                   Richard Burr,
                                   Johnny Isakson,
                                   Lisa Murkowski,
                                   Orrin Hatch,
                                   Pat Roberts,
                                   Wayne Allard,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.

                                  
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