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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 555 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 555

To assist States in establishing a universal prekindergarten program to 
 ensure that all children 3, 4, and 5 years old have access to a high-
    quality full-day, full-calendar-year prekindergarten education.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 15, 2009

Mr. Kucinich (for himself, Mr. Hinchey, Ms. Woolsey, and Mr. McGovern) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To assist States in establishing a universal prekindergarten program to 
 ensure that all children 3, 4, and 5 years old have access to a high-
    quality full-day, full-calendar-year prekindergarten education.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Universal Prekindergarten Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) High-quality prekindergarten programs help children to 
        succeed academically. Children who attended a high-quality 
        prekindergarten program have higher academic achievement, lower 
        rates of grade retention, are less likely to be placed in 
        special education, and graduate from high school at higher 
        rates than those who did not.
            (2) Early childhood education can reduce juvenile 
        delinquency rates. A 15-year study following 989 low-income 
        children who attended high-quality, comprehensive 
        prekindergarten found that they were 33 percent less likely to 
        be arrested, and 42 percent less likely to be arrested for a 
        violent crime, than children in the control group.
            (3) There is currently a drastic shortage of affordable, 
        quality early education programs that are accessible for 
        working families.
            (4) Full-day, full-calendar-year universal prekindergarten 
        programs would ensure all children 3, 4, and 5 years old have 
        access to school readiness programs and quality child care.
            (5) Research shows that investing in quality 
        prekindergarten programs will provide savings in the form of 
        reduced need for remedial education, decreased crime rates, 
        lower school dropout rates, and decreased welfare dependence.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to ensure that all 
children 3, 4, and 5 years old have access to a high-quality full-day, 
full-calendar-year prekindergarten program by providing grants to 
States to assist in developing a universal prekindergarten program that 
is voluntary and free-of-charge.

SEC. 3. PREKINDERGARTEN GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Education, shall provide grants to an agency 
designated by each State (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
``designated State agency'') for the development of high-quality full-
day, full-calendar-year universal prekindergarten programs for all 
children 3, 4, and 5 years old in the State.

SEC. 4. STATE REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) State Matching Funds.--Federal funds made available to a 
designated State agency under this Act shall be matched at least 20 
percent by State funds.
    (b) State Application.--To be eligible to receive funds under this 
Act, a designated State agency shall submit an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services may require. The application shall include 
the following:
            (1) How the designated State agency, in overseeing the 
        State's universal prekindergarten program, will coordinate with 
        other State agencies responsible for early childhood education 
        and health programs.
            (2) A State plan to establish and implement a statewide 
        universal prekindergarten program, in accordance with 
        subsection (c).
    (c) State Plan.--The State plan required under subsection (b)(2) 
shall include each of the following:
            (1) A description of the universal prekindergarten program 
        that will be established and how it will support children's 
        cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.
            (2) A statement of the goals for universal prekindergarten 
        programs and how program outcomes will be measured.
            (3) A description of--
                    (A) how funding will be distributed to eligible 
                prekindergarten program providers based on the need for 
                early childhood education in each geographical area 
                served by such providers; and
                    (B) how the designated State agency will involve 
                representatives of early childhood program providers 
                (including child care providers, Head Start programs, 
                and State and local agencies) that sponsor programs 
                addressing children 3, 4, and 5 years old.
            (4) A description of how the designated State agency will 
        coordinate with existing State-funded prekindergarten programs, 
        federally funded programs (such as Head Start programs), public 
        school programs, and child care providers.
            (5) A description of how the designated State agency will 
        work with the appropriate State agencies to raise awareness of 
        the universal prekindergarten program among parents of all 
        backgrounds and inform them of the specifics of participation 
        in the program.
            (6) A description of how an eligible prekindergarten 
        program provider may apply to the designated State agency for 
        funding under this Act.
            (7) A plan to address the shortages of qualified early 
        childhood education teachers, including how to increase such 
        teachers' compensation to be comparable to that of public 
        school teachers.
            (8) How the designated State agency will provide ongoing 
        professional development opportunities to help increase the 
        number of teachers in early childhood programs who meet the 
        State's education or credential requirements for 
        prekindergarten teachers.
            (9) A plan to address how the universal prekindergarten 
        program will meet the needs of children with disabilities, 
        limited English proficiency, or other special needs, including 
        children in the State foster care system and homeless children.
            (10) A plan to provide transportation to children to and 
        from the universal prekindergarten program.
            (11) A description of how the State will provide the 20 
        percent match of Federal funds.
    (d) Administration.--A designated State agency may not use more 
than 5 percent of a grant under this Act for costs associated with 
State administration of the program under this Act.

SEC. 5. LOCAL REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--An eligible prekindergarten program provider 
receiving funding under this Act shall--
            (1) maintain a maximum class size of 20 children;
            (2) maintain a ratio of not more than 10 children for each 
        member of the teaching staff;
            (3)(A) ensure that all prekindergarten teachers meet the 
        requirements for teachers at a State-funded prekindergarten 
        program under an applicable State law; and
            (B) document that the State is demonstrating significant 
        progress in assisting prekindergarten teachers on working 
        toward a bachelor of arts degree with training in early 
        childhood development or early childhood education;
            (4)(A) be accredited by a national organization with 
        demonstrated experience in accrediting prekindergarten 
        programs; or
            (B) provide assurances that it shall obtain such 
        accreditation not later than 3 years after first receiving 
        funding under this Act; and
            (5) meet applicable State and local child care licensing 
        health and safety standards.
    (b) Local Application.--Eligible prekindergarten program providers 
desiring to receive funding under this Act shall submit an application 
to the designated State agency overseeing funds under this Act 
containing the following:
            (1) A description of the prekindergarten program.
            (2) A statement of the demonstrated need for a program, or 
        an enhanced or expanded program, in the area served by the 
        eligible prekindergarten program provider.
            (3) A description of the age-appropriate and 
        developmentally appropriate educational curriculum to be 
        provided that will help children be ready for school and assist 
        them in the transition to kindergarten.
            (4) A description of how the eligible prekindergarten 
        program provider will collaborate with existing community-based 
        child care providers and Head Start programs.
            (5) A description of how students and families will be 
        assisted in obtaining supportive services available in their 
        communities.
            (6) A plan to promote parental involvement in the 
        prekindergarten program.
            (7) A description of how teachers will receive ongoing 
        professional development in early childhood development and 
        education.
            (8) An assurance that prekindergarten programs receiving 
        funds under this Act provide the data required in section 7(c).

SEC. 6. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SET-ASIDE.

    (a) In General.--A designated State agency may set aside up to 5 
percent of a grant under this Act for ongoing professional development 
activities for teachers and staff at prekindergarten programs that wish 
to participate in the universal prekindergarten grant program under 
this Act. A designated State agency using the set-aside for 
professional development must include in its application the following:
            (1) A description of how the designated State agency will 
        ensure that eligible prekindergarten program providers in a 
        range of settings (including child care providers, Head Start 
        programs, and schools) will participate in the professional 
        development programs.
            (2) An assurance that, in developing its application and in 
        carrying out its program, the professional development provider 
        has consulted, and will consult, with relevant agencies, early 
        childhood organizations, early childhood education experts, and 
        early childhood program providers.
            (3) A description of how the designated State agency will 
        ensure that the professional development is ongoing and 
        accessible to educators in all geographic areas of the State, 
        including by the use of advanced educational technologies.
            (4) A description of how the designated State agency will 
        ensure that such set-aside funds will be used to pay the cost 
        of additional education and training.
            (5) A description of how the designated State agency will 
        work with other agencies and institutions of higher education 
        to provide scholarships and other financial assistance to 
        prekindergarten staff.
            (6) A description of how the State educational agency will 
        provide a financial incentive, such as a financial stipend or a 
        bonus, to educators who participate in and complete such 
        professional development.
            (7) A description of how the professional development 
        activities will be carried out, including the following:
                    (A) How programs and educators will be selected to 
                participate.
                    (B) How professional development providers will be 
                selected, based on demonstrated experience in providing 
                research-based professional development to early 
                childhood educators.
                    (C) The types of research-based professional 
                development activities that will be carried out in all 
                domains of children's physical, cognitive, social, and 
                emotional development and on early childhood pedagogy.
                    (D) How the program will train early childhood 
                educators to meet the diverse educational needs of 
                children in the community, especially children who have 
                limited English proficiency, disabilities, and other 
                special needs.
                    (E) How the program will coordinate with and build 
                upon, but not supplant or duplicate, early childhood 
                education professional development activities that 
                exist in the community.
    (b) Uses of Funds.--Funds set aside under this section may be used 
for ongoing professional development--
            (1) to provide prekindergarten teachers and staff with the 
        knowledge and skills for the application of recent research on 
        child cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, 
        including language and literacy development, and on early 
        childhood pedagogy;
            (2) to provide the cost of education needed to obtain a 
        credential or degree with specific training in early childhood 
        development or education;
            (3) to work with children who have limited English 
        proficiency, disabilities, and other special needs; and
            (4) to select and use developmentally appropriate screening 
        and diagnostic assessments to improve teaching and learning and 
        make appropriate referrals for services to support 
        prekindergarten children's development and learning.

SEC. 7. REPORTING.

    (a) Report by Secretary.--For each year in which funding is 
provided under this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall submit an annual report to the Congress on the implementation and 
effectiveness of the universal prekindergarten program under this Act.
    (b) Report by Designated State Agency.--Each designated State 
agency that provides grants to eligible prekindergarten program 
providers under this Act shall submit to the Secretary an annual report 
on the implementation and effectiveness of the programs in the State 
supported under this Act. Such report shall contain such additional 
information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
    (c) Report by Grant Recipient.--Each eligible prekindergarten 
program provider that receives a grant under this Act shall submit to 
the designated State agency an annual report that includes, with 
respect to the program supported by such grant, the following:
            (1) A description of the type of program and a statement of 
        the number and ages of children served by the program, as well 
        as the number and ages of children with a disability or a 
        native language other than English.
            (2) A description of the qualifications of the program 
        staff and the type of ongoing professional development provided 
        to such staff.
            (3) A statement of all sources of Federal, State, local, 
        and private funds received by the program.
            (4) A description of the curricula, materials, and 
        activities used by the program to support early childhood 
        development and learning.
            (5) Such other information as the designated State agency 
        may reasonably require.

SEC. 8. FEDERAL FUNDS SUPPLEMENTARY.

    Funds made available under this Act may not be used to supplant 
other Federal, State, local, or private funds that would, in the 
absence of such Federal funds, be made available for the program 
assisted under this Act.

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) The term ``eligible prekindergarten program provider'' 
        means a prekindergarten program provider that is--
                    (A) a school;
                    (B) supported, sponsored, supervised, or carried 
                out by a local educational agency;
                    (C) a Head Start program; or
                    (D) a child care provider.
            (2) The term ``prekindergarten program'' means a program 
        serving children 3, 4, and 5 years old that supports children's 
        cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development and 
        helps prepare those children for the transition to 
        kindergarten.
            (3) The term ``local educational agency'' has the meaning 
        given that term in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).
            (4) The term ``prekindergarten teacher'' means an 
        individual who has received, or is working toward, a bachelor 
        of arts degree in early childhood education.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
            (1) $10,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (2) $20,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (3) $30,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            (4) $40,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            (5) $50,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
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