To amend the Head Start Act to extend the duration of grants under such Act, and for other purposes.

To amend the Head Start Act to extend the duration of grants under such Act, and for other purposes. 1. Extended duration (a) In general The Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9801 (1) by redesignating section 657C ( 42 U.S.C. 9852c (2) by inserting after section 657B ( 42 U.S.C. 9852b 657C. Extended duration (a) In general The Secretary shall make grants to Head Start (including Early Head Start) agencies funded under this subchapter to enable such agencies— (1) to provide access to a full school year and a full school day of services; (2) in the case of a migrant and seasonal Head Start agency, to provide access to additional service hours to ensure continuous Head Start services as determined by the Secretary; or (3) in the case of a Head Start agency (including an Early Head Start agency) that already meets the full-day, full-year services needs within its community, to enhance the quality of Head Start services (including Early Head Start services) provided to children served by such agency. (b) Application (1) In general To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a Head Start agency shall submit an application at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. Such application shall include— (A) evidence of— (i) the number and percentage of slots— (I) in the agency’s Head Start center-based programs (that are not Early Head Start programs)— (aa) that are currently funded (as of the date of submission of the application); and (bb) in which services are provided for at least the equivalent of 1,020 hours per year; and (II) in the agency’s Early Head Start center-based programs— (aa) that are currently funded (as of that date); and (bb) in which services are provided for at least the equivalent of 1,380 hours per year; and (ii) the number and percentage of slots, in the agency’s Head Start family child care programs— (I) that are currently funded (as of that date); and (II) in which services are provided for at least the equivalent of 1,380 hours per year; (B) a description of an approach, using the current community-wide strategic planning and needs assessment described in section 640(g)(1)(C) and current program schedule (current as of the date of submission of the application), that transitions all of the agency’s Head Start programs to a full school day, full school year program schedule; and (C) a budget justification that estimates the supplemental funding necessary to provide for incremental ongoing operating costs for the extended hours of service under such a program schedule for the current enrollment in the agency’s Head Start programs. (2) Exceptions (A) Migrant and seasonal head start (i) In general A migrant and seasonal Head Start agency may apply for a grant described in subsection (a) without meeting the requirements specified in paragraph (1) to ensure continuous Head Start services are provided to children enrolled in a migrant and seasonal Head Start program. To be eligible to receive the grant, the agency shall submit an application at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. (ii) Priority In making grants to applicants described in clause (i), the Secretary shall give priority to a migrant and seasonal Head Start agency operating for fewer than 8 months per year. (B) Full-day, full-year head start agencies (i) In general A Head Start agency (including an Early Head Start agency) that certifies to the Secretary that it is meeting the full-day, full-year need within its community may apply for a grant to enhance the quality of services provided to children enrolled in its Head Start program (including its Early Head Start program) in accordance with subsection (c)(2). (ii) Application A Head Start (including Early Head Start) agency that meets the requirements of clause (i) shall submit an application, which shall include— (I) the proposed uses of funds in accordance with subsection (c)(2); and (II) how such uses of funds relate to the community-wide strategic planning and needs assessment described under section 640(g)(1)(c). (c) Use of funds (1) Extended duration A Head Start agency that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to cover the costs associated with extending those hours of service for the current enrollment, such as additional costs for— (A) ongoing purchases of classroom supplies; (B) staff providing services during the extended hours; and (C) professional development to staff transitioning to providing services during the extended hours. (2) Enhancing program quality A Head Start (including Early Head Start) agency that meets the requirements of subsection (a)(3) shall use funds for the activities authorized under section 640(a)(5)(B). (3) Exception The Head Start agency shall not use the grant funds to expand the number of children served in the Head Start programs (including Early Head Start programs) of the agency. (d) Reservations (1) Activities From the total amount appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary shall for making grants for the activities described in subsection (c)(1), reserve— (A) $490,000,000 of the funds appropriated for fiscal year 2020; (B) $780,000,000 of the funds appropriated for fiscal year 2021; and (C) $1,070,000,000 of the funds appropriated for fiscal year 2022. (2) Priority The Secretary shall prioritize Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies) that are applying to use funds to carry out the activities described in subsection (a)(1). (3) Migrant or seasonal head start programs From the amount appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year and reserved under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall reserve 4.5 percent for migrant or seasonal Head Start programs. (e) Report Not later than 60 days after the end of a fiscal year for which funding is appropriated under this subsection (f), the Secretary shall provide 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 that includes— (1) a description of the extent to which funds appropriated under such subsection— (A) were used to expand access to full school year and full school day services; (B) were used to expand access to additional service hours for migrant and seasonal Head Start agencies; and (C) were used to enhance the quality of Head Start services at Head Start agencies that already met full-day, full-year service needs within the community; and (2) the number of Head Start agencies that provide full school day and full school year services that, during such fiscal year, had a waitlist of child applicants; and (3) the number of Head Start agencies that are seeking to provide full school day and full school year services that, during such fiscal year, had a waitlist of child applicants. (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (1) $4,490,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; (2) $780,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; and (3) $1,070,000,000 for fiscal year 2022. (g) Definitions In this section: (1) Full school day; full school year The terms full school day full school year (2) Migrant and seasonal head start agency The term migrant and seasonal Head Start agency . (b) Conforming amendments Section 640 of the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9835 (1) in subsection (a)(6), by striking appropriated under this subchapter appropriated under section 639 (2) in subsection (g)(3)(A)— (A) by striking amount appropriated amount appropriated under section 639 (B) by striking services provided under this subchapter services provided under this subchapter (other than section 657C) (C) by striking agency under this subchapter agency under this subchapter (other than section 657C)

Summary: This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to Head Start agencies to provide children with access to full-school-year and full-school-day services, provide access to additional service hours for migrant and seasonal agencies, or enhance the quality of existing services.