Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act of 2023

To amend the Head Start Act to expand and improve participation in Head Start programs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act of 2023 2. Expanding eligibility under public assistance Section 637 of the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9832 (27) The term public assistance 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq. 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 1786 . 3. increase family income threshold Section 645(a)(a)(1) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9870(a)(a)(1)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (A) by striking (a)(a)(1)(A) (a)(1)(A) (2) in subparagraph (B)— (A) in clause (i) by inserting 138 percent below (B) in clause (iii)— (i) by striking include— (I) include (ii) by striking subclause (II). 4. Authorization of appropriations Section 639 of the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9834 (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 (other than sections 657B and 657C) $36,000,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2030 5. Grants for Head Start infrastructure The Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq. 657C. Grants for Head Start infrastructure (a) Establishment of grant program The Secretary shall establish a program to make grants to Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies to construct or improve facilities to provide Head Start services (including Early Head Start services)). (b) Eligibility for grants To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), a Head Start agency shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Priority The Secretary shall give priority for grants requested by eligible applicants respect to facilities that— (1) were built before 1970; (2) have not had a major renovation since its construction; (3) have received 1 or more findings in the safe and clean environments key performance area (KPA); (4) have hazardous conditions, materials, or equipment that may cause harm to children, families, or staff; (5) have an environment that is not free of air pollutants, including mold, smoke, lead, pesticides, and herbicides, as well as soil and water pollutants; and (6) lack preparedness for fire and other emergencies. (d) Use of funds Eligible use of grant funds to improve and update Head Start infrastructure include— (1) updates, renovations, and repairs to address structural issues; (2) building or acquiring additional classroom space, common areas, play areas; (3) updating heating, cooling, and ventilation systems; (4) building and expanding playgrounds and outdoor spaces; (5) removing, renovating, and acquiring furnishings; (6) installing and updating bathroom facilities, including the installation of child-size sinks and toilets; (7) reducing or removing toxic industrial compounds; (8) updates to safety and emergency preparedness, such as upgrading sprinkler systems and installing emergency lighting; (9) weatherization; (10) improvements to water, sewer, and plumbing systems; and (11) establishing, expanding, or improving technology to support children’s academic and socio-emotional learning. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2030. . 6. Loan forgiveness for Head Start and Early Head Start childcare workers Part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq. 460A. Loan cancellation for Head Start and Early Head Start childcare workers (a) Program authorized The Secretary shall carry cancel the balance of interest, principal, and fees due, in accordance with subsection (b), on any eligible Federal Direct Loan not in default for a borrower who for a 3-year (consecutive or non-consecutive) period after the date of enactment of the Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act of 2023 (1) has been employed, on a full-time basis, by a Head Start program or an Early Head Start program carried out under the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq. (2) pursuant to such employment, has provided care or instruction to children enrolled in such program. (b) Loan cancellation amount After the conclusion of the 3-year period described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall cancel the obligation to repay the balance of principal, interest, and fees due as of the time of such cancellation, on the eligible Federal Direct Loans made to the borrower under this part. (c) Ineligibility for double benefits No borrower may, for the same service, receive a reduction of loan obligations under both this section and section 428J, 455(m), or 460. (d) Application The Secretary shall develop and make publicly available an application for borrowers who wish to receive loan forgiveness under this section, which shall— (1) be made readily available for qualifying childcare workers to file for loan forgiveness; and (2) include any certification requirements that the Secretary determines are necessary to verify qualifying service. (e) Eligible Federal Direct Loan defined The term eligible Federal Direct Loan . 7. Head Start employee salary-increase grant program (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish and carry out a program to make grants for the purpose of supplementing, not supplanting, the compensation paid by Head Start agencies to the employees of such agencies. (b) Allocation of funds The Secretary shall develop a formula to determine grant amounts, taking into consideration— (1) the gaps between the compensation paid by the respective Head Start agency to its employees and the employee compensation paid by other early childhood education employers in the relevant geographical area, (2) the cost of living in the geographical area in which such agency is located, including median income and housing costs, and (3) the number of employee vacancies of such agency. (c) Use of funds A Head Start agency that receives a grant shall use grant funds to supplement, and not to supplant, the compensation paid to the employees of such agency. (d) Appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $6,800,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2030.

Summary: Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act of 2023This bill reauthorizes through FY2030 and otherwise revises Head Start programs.Specifically, the bill expands eligibility for Head Start programs to include families with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level. The bill also adds a definition for public assistance under the Head Start Act to include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Supplemental Security Income (SSI); the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a program to make grants to Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies) to construct or improve facilities. HHS must also establish and carry out a program to make grants to Head Start agencies for increasing the compensation paid to employees.The bill also provides student loan forgiveness for certain Head Start and Early Head Start child care workers. In particular, the Department of Education must cancel the outstanding balance of principal, interest, and fees due on Federal Direct Loans for a borrower who (1) has been employed full-time by a Head Start or Early Head Start program for three years, and (2) has provided care or instruction to children enrolled in such a program.