I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2859 
To assist States in making voluntary high quality full-day prekindergarten 
programs available and economically affordable for the families of all 
children for at least 1 year preceding kindergarten. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 26, 2007 
Mrs. MALONEY of New York (for herself, Mr. HINCHEY, and Ms. SCHWARTZ) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To assist States in making voluntary high quality full-day 
prekindergarten programs available and economically af-
fordable for the families of all children for at least 1 
year preceding kindergarten. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Prepare All Kids Act 
of 2007’’. 
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SEC. 2. HIGH QUALITY FULL-DAY PREKINDERGARTEN PRO-
GRAMS. 
Chapter 8 of subtitle A of title VI of the Omnibus 
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Public Law 97–35; 
95 Stat. 357) is amended by inserting after subchapter 
C the following: 
‘‘Subchapter D—High Quality Full-Day 
Prekindergarten Programs 
‘‘SEC. 661. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
‘‘(1) Investments in children and early edu-
cation should be a national priority. 
‘‘(2) The cost of high quality preschool is pro-
hibitive for poor families and is a significant finan-
cial strain for many working- and middle-class fami-
lies. 
‘‘(3) State-funded preschool is the most rapidly 
expanding segment of the United States educational 
system, but in many States a lack of stable funding 
poses an enormous threat to the provision or con-
tinuation of high quality preschool. 
‘‘(4) The provision of high quality prekinder-
garten is a cost-effective investment for children and 
for the Nation. Research shows that for every $1 in-
vested in high quality early childhood programs, tax-
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payers save more than $17 in crime, welfare, edu-
cation, and other costs. 
‘‘(5) Fewer than half the Nation’s poor pre-
school-age children attend preschool. The result is a 
significant preparation gap between poor and mid-
dle-class children and between minority and white 
children. 
‘‘(6) High quality early education increases aca-
demic success for schoolchildren who received that 
education by— 
‘‘(A) increasing high school graduation 
rates; 
‘‘(B) improving children’s performance on 
standardized tests; 
‘‘(C) reducing grade repetition; and 
‘‘(D) reducing the number of children 
placed in special education. 
‘‘(7) High quality early education promotes re-
sponsible behavior by teens and adults who received 
that education by— 
‘‘(A) reducing crime, delinquency, and 
unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and drug 
use; 
‘‘(B) lowering rates of teen pregnancy; 
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‘‘(C) leading to greater employment and 
higher wages for adults; and 
‘‘(D) contributing to more stable families. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to assist 
States in— 
‘‘(1) making voluntary high quality full-day pre-
kindergarten programs available and economically 
affordable for the families of all children for at least 
1 year preceding kindergarten; and 
‘‘(2) making the prekindergarten programs 
available to a target population of children from 
families with incomes at or below 200 percent of the 
poverty line, for whom the prekindergarten programs 
will be free of charge. 
‘‘SEC. 662. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘(a) In this Act: 
‘‘(1) FULL-DAY.—The term ‘full-day’, used with 
respect to a program, means a program with a min-
imum of a 6-hour schedule per day. 
‘‘(2) POVERTY LINE.—The term ‘poverty line’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 673(2) of 
the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 
9902(2)) and includes any revision required by that 
section. 
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‘‘(3) 
PREKINDERGARTEN.—The 
term 
‘pre-
kindergarten’ means a program that— 
‘‘(A) serves children who are ages 3 
through 5; 
‘‘(B) supports children’s cognitive, social, 
emotional, and physical development and ap-
proaches to learning; and 
‘‘(C) helps prepare children for a success-
ful transition to kindergarten. 
‘‘(4) PREKINDERGARTEN TEACHER.—The term 
‘prekindergarten teacher’ means an individual who— 
‘‘(A) has a bachelor of arts degree with a 
specialization in early childhood education or 
early childhood development; or 
‘‘(B) during the 6-year period following the 
first date on which the individual is employed 
as such a teacher under this Act, is working to-
ward that degree. 
‘‘(5) 
QUALIFIED
PREKINDERGARTEN
PRO-
VIDER.—The term ‘qualified prekindergarten pro-
vider’ includes a provider of a prekindergarten pro-
gram, a Head Start agency, a provider of a child 
care program, a school, and a for-profit or nonprofit 
organization that— 
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‘‘(A) is in existence on the date of the 
qualification determination; and 
‘‘(B) has met applicable requirements 
under State or local law that are designed to 
protect the health and safety of children and 
that are applicable to child care providers. 
‘‘(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
‘‘SEC. 663. PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION. 
‘‘(a) PREKINDERGARTEN INCENTIVE FUND.—The 
Secretary, in collaboration and consultation with the Sec-
retary of Education, shall create a Prekindergarten Incen-
tive Fund, to be administered by the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS.—In administering the Fund, the Sec-
retary shall award grants to eligible States, to pay for the 
Federal share of the cost of awarding subgrants to quali-
fied prekindergarten providers to establish, expand, or en-
hance voluntary high quality full-day prekindergarten pro-
grams. 
‘‘SEC. 664. STATE APPLICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS. 
‘‘(a) DESIGNATED STATE AGENCY.—To be eligible to 
receive a grant under this Act, a State shall designate a 
State agency to administer the State program of assist-
ance for prekindergarten programs funded through the 
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grant, including receiving and administering funds and 
monitoring the programs. 
‘‘(b) STATE APPLICATION.—In order for a State to 
be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, the designated 
State agency shall submit an application to the Secretary 
at such time, in such manner, and containing such infor-
mation as the Secretary may reasonably require, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(1) an assurance that, for prekindergarten 
programs funded through the grant, the State will 
ensure that the qualified prekindergarten providers 
target children from families with incomes at or 
below 200 percent of the poverty line, and provide 
prekindergarten programs to children from those 
families free of charge; 
‘‘(2) an assurance that the State will award 
subgrants for prekindergarten programs that are 
sufficient to provide a high quality prekindergarten 
experience; 
‘‘(3) an assurance that not less than 25 percent 
of the qualified prekindergarten providers receiving 
such subgrants will be providers of community-based 
programs; 
‘‘(4) a description of the number of children in 
the State who are eligible for the prekindergarten 
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programs and the needs that will be served through 
the prekindergarten programs; 
‘‘(5) a description of how the State will ensure 
that the subgrants are awarded to a wide range of 
types of qualified prekindergarten providers; 
‘‘(6) a description of how the designated State 
agency will collaborate and coordinate activities with 
State-funded providers of prekindergarten programs, 
providers of federally funded programs such as Head 
Start agencies, local educational agencies, and child 
care providers; 
‘‘(7) a description of how the State will ensure, 
through a monitoring process, that qualified pre-
kindergarten providers receiving the subgrants con-
tinue to place priority on the target population of 
children described in paragraph (1), provide pro-
grams that meet the standards of high quality early 
education, and use funds appropriately; 
‘‘(8) a description of how the State will meet 
the needs of working parents; and 
‘‘(9) a description of how the State will assist 
in providing professional development assistance to 
prekindergarten teachers and teacher aides. 
‘‘(c) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the 
cost described in section 663(b) shall be 50 percent. The 
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State shall provide the non-Federal share of the cost in 
cash. 
‘‘(d) SUPPLEMENTARY FEDERAL FUNDING.—Funds 
made available under this Act may be used only to supple-
ment and not supplant other Federal, State, local, or pri-
vate funds that would, in the absence of the funds made 
available under this Act, be made available for early child-
hood programs. 
‘‘(e) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.—A State that re-
ceives a grant under this Act for a fiscal year shall main-
tain the expenditures of the State for early childhood pro-
grams at a level not less than the level of such expendi-
tures of the State for the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘SEC. 665. STATE SET ASIDES AND EXPENDITURES. 
‘‘(a) INFANT AND TODDLER SET ASIDE.—Notwith-
standing sections 662 and 663, a State shall set aside not 
less than 10 percent of the funds made available through 
a grant awarded under this Act for the purpose of funding 
high quality early childhood development programs for 
children who are ages 0 through 3. Funds made available 
under this subsection may also be used for professional 
development for teachers and teacher aides in classrooms 
for children who are ages 0 through 3. 
‘‘(b) EXTENDED DAY AND EXTENDED YEAR SET 
ASIDE.—Notwithstanding section 663, a State shall set 
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aside not less than 10 percent of the funds made available 
through a grant awarded under this Act for the purpose 
of extending the hours of early childhood programs to cre-
ate extended day and extended year programs. 
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Not more than 5 
percent of the funds made available through such a grant 
may be used for administrative expenses, including moni-
toring. 
‘‘SEC. 666. LOCAL APPLICATIONS. 
‘‘To be eligible to receive a subgrant under this Act, 
a qualified prekindergarten provider shall submit an appli-
cation to the designated State agency at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the agency 
may reasonably require, including— 
‘‘(1) a description of how the qualified pre-
kindergarten provider will meet the diverse needs of 
children in the community to be served, including 
children with disabilities, whose native language is 
not English, or with other special needs, children in 
the State foster care system, and homeless children; 
‘‘(2) a description of how the qualified pre-
kindergarten provider will serve eligible children who 
are not served through similar services or programs; 
‘‘(3) a description of a plan for involving fami-
lies in the prekindergarten program; 
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‘‘(4) a description of how children in the pre-
kindergarten program, and their parents and fami-
lies, will receive assistance through supportive serv-
ices provided within the community; 
‘‘(5) a description of how the qualified pre-
kindergarten provider collaborates with providers of 
other programs serving children and families, includ-
ing Head Start agencies, providers of child care pro-
grams, and local educational agencies, to meet the 
needs of children, families, and working families, as 
appropriate; and 
‘‘(6) a description of how the qualified pre-
kindergarten provider will collaborate with local edu-
cational agencies to ensure a smooth transition for 
participating students from the prekindergarten pro-
gram to kindergarten and early elementary edu-
cation. 
‘‘SEC. 667. LOCAL PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM REQUIRE-
MENTS. 
‘‘(a) MANDATORY USES OF FUNDS.—A qualified pre-
kindergarten provider that receives a subgrant under this 
Act shall use funds received through the grant to estab-
lish, expand, or enhance prekindergarten programs for 
children who are ages 3 through 5, including— 
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‘‘(1) providing a prekindergarten program that 
supports children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and 
physical development and approaches to learning, 
and helps prepare children for a successful transi-
tion to kindergarten; 
‘‘(2) purchasing educational equipment, includ-
ing educational materials, necessary to provide a 
high quality prekindergarten program; and 
‘‘(3) extending part-day prekindergarten pro-
grams to full-day prekindergarten programs. 
‘‘(b) PERMISSIBLE USE OF FUNDS.—A qualified pre-
kindergarten provider that receives a subgrant under this 
Act may use funds received through the grant to— 
‘‘(1) pay for transporting students to and from 
a prekindergarten program; and 
‘‘(2) provide professional development assist-
ance to prekindergarten teachers and teacher aides. 
‘‘(c) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—A qualified pre-
kindergarten provider that receives a subgrant under this 
Act shall carry out a high quality prekindergarten pro-
gram by— 
‘‘(1) maintaining a maximum class size of 20 
children, with at least 1 prekindergarten teacher per 
classroom; 
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‘‘(2) ensuring that the ratio of children to pre-
kindergarten teachers and teacher aides shall not ex-
ceed 10 to 1; 
‘‘(3) utilizing a prekindergarten curriculum that 
is research- and evidence-based, developmentally ap-
propriate, and designed to support children’s cog-
nitive, social, emotional, and physical development, 
and approaches to learning; 
‘‘(4) providing a program with a minimum of a 
6-hour schedule per day; and 
‘‘(5) ensuring that prekindergarten teachers 
meet the requirements of this Act. 
‘‘SEC. 668. REPORTING. 
‘‘(a) QUALIFIED PREKINDERGARTEN PROVIDER RE-
PORTS.—Each qualified prekindergarten provider that re-
ceives a subgrant from a State under this Act shall submit 
an annual report, to the designated State agency, that re-
views the effectiveness of the prekindergarten program 
provided. Such annual report shall include— 
‘‘(1) data specifying the number and ages of en-
rolled children, and the family income, race, gender, 
disability, and native language of such children; 
‘‘(2) a description of— 
‘‘(A) the curriculum used by the program; 
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‘‘(B) how the curriculum supports chil-
dren’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical 
development and approaches to learning; and 
‘‘(C) how the curriculum is appropriate for 
children of the culture, language, and ages of 
the children served; and 
‘‘(3) a statement of all sources of funding re-
ceived by the program, including Federal, State, 
local, and private funds. 
‘‘(b) STATE REPORTS.—Each State that receives a 
grant under this Act shall submit an annual report to the 
Secretary detailing the effectiveness of all prekindergarten 
programs funded under this Act in the State. 
‘‘(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall 
submit an annual report to Congress that describes the 
State programs of assistance for prekindergarten pro-
grams funded under this Act. 
‘‘SEC. 669. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act— 
‘‘(1) $5,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 
‘‘(2) $6,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 
‘‘(3) $7,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
‘‘(4) $8,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 
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‘‘(5) $9,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.’’. 
Æ 
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