I

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3798

To amend the Head Start Act to make quality improvements in Head Start

by enhancing parental involvement and providing family literacy services;

and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 3, 1994

Mr. GOODLING (for himself, Ms. MOLINARI, Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska, Mr.

MILLER of Florida, Mr. CASTLE, Mr. FAWELL, and Mr. PETRI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To amend the Head Start Act to make quality improvements

in Head Start by enhancing parental involvement and

providing family literacy services; and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Head Start Enhanced

5 Parental Involvement and Family Literacy Act of 1994’’.
2

•HR 3798 IH

1 SEC. 2. REQUIRED PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN HEAD

2 START PROGRAMS.

3 (a) ADMINISTRATION OF POLICY.—Section 636 of

4 the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831) is amended by add5 ing the following:

6 ‘‘(c) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary

7 of Health and Human Services shall take appropriate ac8 tions to ensure that comprehensive services are provided

9 to parents to become full partners in the education of their

10 children and shall seek the involvement of parents in such

11 services.’’.

12 (b) PRIMARY FOCUS OF PROGRAMS.—Section 638(a)

13 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9833(a)), is amended—

14 (1) by striking ‘‘the children from’’;

15 (2) by inserting ‘‘with children’’ after ‘‘low-in16 come families’’; and

17 (3) by inserting before the period at the end the

18 following:

19 ‘‘, as well as involving such parents in activities to help

20 parents to become full partners in the education of their

21 children’’.

22 (c) ACTIVITIES OF HEAD START AGENCIES.—(1)

23 Section 641(d) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836(d))

24 is amended—

25 (A) by amending paragraph (4) to read as fol26 lows:
3

•HR 3798 IH

1 ‘‘(4) the plan of such applicant—

2 ‘‘(A) to seek the involvement of parents of

3 participating children in activities designed to

4 help such parents become full partners in the

5 education of their children;

6 ‘‘(B) to provide (directly or through refer7 ral to local entities, such as Even Start pro8 grams) to parents of participating children—

9 ‘‘(i) family literacy services; and

10 ‘‘(ii) parenting skills training;

11 ‘‘(C) at the option of such applicant, to

12 provide (directly or through referral to local en13 tities) to such parents—

14 ‘‘(i) parental social self-sufficiency

15 training;

16 ‘‘(ii) substance abuse counseling;

17 ‘‘(iii) the opportunity to assist in the

18 operation of the proposed Head Start pro19 gram; or

20 ‘‘(iv) any other activity designed to

21 help such parents become full partners in

22 the education of their children; and

23 ‘‘(D) to provide, with respect to each par24 ticipating family, a family needs assessment

25 that includes consultation with such parents
4

•HR 3798 IH

1 about which of the activities described in sub2 paragraphs (B) and (C) would be most appro3 priate (taking into consideration their needs,

4 work schedules, and other responsibilities) for

5 their involvement;’’;

6 (B) in paragraph (7) by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the

7 end;

8 (C) by striking paragraph (8); and

9 (D) by redesignating paragraph (9) and para10 graph (8).

11 (2) Section 642(b) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.

12 9837(b)) is amended—

13 (A) by amending paragraph (4) to read as fol14 lows: ‘‘(4) seek the involvement of parents of partici15 pating children in activities designed to help such

16 parents become full partners in the education of

17 their children;’’;

18 (B) in paragraph (5) by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the

19 end;

20 (C) by striking paragraph (6);

21 (D) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (7) as

22 paragraphs (8) and (9), respectively; and

23 (E) by inserting after paragraph (4) the follow24 ing: ‘‘(5) provide (directly or through referral to

25 local entities, such as Even Start programs) to par-
5

•HR 3798 IH

1 ents of participating children family literacy services

2 and parenting skills training; (6) at the option of

3 such applicant, provide (directly or through referral

4 to local entities) to such parents parental social self5 sufficiency training, substance abuse counseling, the

6 opportunity to assist in the operation of the Head

7 Start program, or any other activity designed to help

8 such parents become full partners in the education

9 of their children; (7) provide, with respect to each

10 participating family, a family needs assessment that

11 includes consultation with such parents about which

12 of the activities described in paragraphs (5) and (6)

13 would be most appropriate (taking into consideration

14 their needs, work schedules, and other responsibil15 ities) for their involvement;’’.

16 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

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

18 is amended by adding at the end the following:

19 ‘‘(12) The term ‘family literacy services’ means

20 a unified program that combines interactive literacy

21 activities between parents and their children, train22 ing for parents on how to be their children’s primary

23 teacher and to be full partners in the education of

24 their children, parent literacy training, and early

25 childhood education.
6

•HR 3798 IH

1 ‘‘(13) The term ‘parent’ includes an individual

2 who is a guardian or custodian of a child.’’.

3 SEC. 4. TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

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

5 is amended by adding at the end the following:

6 ‘‘(e) The Secretary shall provide appropriate training

7 and technical assistance for Head Start personnel engaged

8 in providing family literacy services, parenting skills train9 ing, and other parental involvement activities under para10 graphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) of section 642(b).’’.

11 SEC. 5. EVALUATION.

12 Section 651(b) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.

13 9846(b)) is amended—

14 (1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after (b); and

15 (2) by adding at the end the following:

16 ‘‘(2) The extent of compliance with paragraphs (4),

17 (5), (6), and (7) of section 642(b) shall be considered in

18 deciding whether to renew or supplement financial assist19 ance authorized under this subchapter.’’.

20 SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.

21 (a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as provided in sub22 section (b), this Act and the amendments made by this

23 Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this

24 Act.
7

•HR 3798 IH

1 (b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—The amend2 ments made by this Act shall not apply with respect to

3 fiscal years beginning before October 1, 1994.

Æ