H. R. 1429—33 
‘‘(B) if such actual enrollment is less than the funded 
enrollment, any apparent reason for such enrollment short-
fall. 
‘‘(3) SECRETARIAL REVIEW AND PLAN.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) on a semiannual basis, determine which Head 
Start agencies are operating with an actual enrollment 
that is less than the funded enrollment based on not less 
than 4 consecutive months of data; 
‘‘(B) for each such Head Start agency operating a pro-
gram with an actual enrollment that is less than its funded 
enrollment, as determined under subparagraph (A), 
develop, in collaboration with such agency, a plan and 
timetable for reducing or eliminating underenrollment 
taking into consideration— 
‘‘(i) the quality and extent of the outreach, recruit-
ment, and communitywide strategic planning and 
needs assessment conducted by such agency; 
‘‘(ii) changing demographics, mobility of popu-
lations, and the identification of new underserved low- 
income populations; 
‘‘(iii) facilities-related issues that may impact 
enrollment; 
‘‘(iv) the ability to provide full-working-day pro-
grams, where needed, through funds made available 
under this subchapter or through collaboration with 
entities carrying out other early childhood education 
and development programs, or programs with other 
funding sources (where available); 
‘‘(v) the availability and use by families of other 
early childhood education and development options in 
the community served; and 
‘‘(vi) agency management procedures that may 
impact enrollment; and 
‘‘(C) provide timely and ongoing technical assistance 
to each agency described in subparagraph (B) for the pur-
pose of assisting the Head Start agency to implement the 
plan described in such subparagraph. 
‘‘(4) IMPLEMENTATION.—Upon receipt of the technical assist-
ance described in paragraph (3)(C), a Head Start agency shall 
immediately implement the plan described in paragraph (3)(B). 
The Secretary shall, where determined appropriate, continue 
to provide technical assistance to such agency. 
‘‘(5) SECRETARIAL REVIEW AND ADJUSTMENT FOR CHRONIC 
UNDERENROLLMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If, after receiving technical assist-
ance and developing and implementing the plan as 
described in paragraphs (3) and (4) for 12 months, a Head 
Start agency is operating a program with an actual enroll-
ment that is less than 97 percent of its funded enrollment, 
the Secretary may— 
‘‘(i) designate such agency as chronically under-
enrolled; and 
‘‘(ii) recapture, withhold, or reduce the base grant 
for the program by a percentage equal to the percent-
age difference between funded enrollment and actual 
enrollment for the program for the most recent year
H. R. 1429—34 
for which the agency is determined to be underenrolled 
under paragraph (3)(A). 
‘‘(B) WAIVER OR LIMITATION OF REDUCTIONS.—The Sec-
retary may, as appropriate, waive or reduce the percentage 
recapturing, withholding, or reduction otherwise required 
by subparagraph (A), if, after the implementation of the 
plan described in paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary finds 
that— 
‘‘(i) the causes of the enrollment shortfall, or a 
portion of the shortfall, are related to the agency’s 
serving significant numbers of highly mobile children, 
or are other significant causes as determined by the 
Secretary; 
‘‘(ii) the shortfall can reasonably be expected to 
be temporary; or 
‘‘(iii) the number of slots allotted to the agency 
is small enough that underenrollment does not create 
a significant shortfall. 
‘‘(6) REDISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Funds held by the Secretary as 
a result of recapturing, withholding, or reducing a base 
grant in a fiscal year shall be redistributed by the end 
of the following fiscal year as follows: 
‘‘(i) INDIAN HEAD START PROGRAMS.—If such funds 
are derived from an Indian Head Start program, then 
such funds shall be redistributed to increase enroll-
ment by the end of the following fiscal year in 1 or 
more Indian Head Start programs. 
‘‘(ii) MIGRANT
AND
SEASONAL
HEAD
START
PRO-
GRAMS.—If such funds are derived from a migrant 
or seasonal Head Start program, then such funds shall 
be redistributed to increase enrollment by the end 
of the following fiscal year in 1 or more programs 
of the type from which such funds are derived. 
‘‘(iii) EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS.—If such funds 
are derived from an Early Head Start program in 
a State, then such funds shall be redistributed to 
increase enrollment by the end of the following fiscal 
year in 1 or more Early Head Start programs in that 
State. If such funds are derived from an Indian Early 
Head Start program, then such funds shall be redistrib-
uted to increase enrollment by the end of the following 
fiscal year in 1 or more Indian Early Head Start pro-
grams. 
‘‘(iv) OTHER HEAD START PROGRAMS.—If such funds 
are derived from a Head Start program in a State 
(excluding programs described in clauses (i) through 
(iii)), then such funds shall be redistributed to increase 
enrollment by the end of the following fiscal year in 
1 or more Head Start programs (excluding programs 
described in clauses (i) through (iii)) that are carried 
out in such State. 
‘‘(B) ADJUSTMENT TO FUNDED ENROLLMENT.—The Sec-
retary shall adjust as necessary the requirements relating 
to funded enrollment indicated in the grant agreement 
of a Head Start agency receiving redistributed funds under 
this paragraph.’’.
H. R. 1429—35 
SEC. 9. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES. 
Section 642 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 642. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—To be designated as a Head Start agency 
under this subchapter, an agency shall have authority under its 
charter or applicable law to receive and administer funds under 
this subchapter, funds and contributions from private or local public 
sources that may be used in support of a Head Start program, 
and funds under any Federal or State assistance program pursuant 
to which a public or private nonprofit or for-profit agency (as the 
case may be) organized in accordance with this subchapter, could 
act as grantee, contractor, or sponsor of projects appropriate for 
inclusion in a Head Start program. Such an agency shall also 
be empowered to transfer funds so received, and to delegate powers 
to other agencies, subject to the powers of its governing board 
and its overall program responsibilities. The power to transfer 
funds and delegate powers shall include the power to make transfers 
and delegations covering component projects in all cases where 
this will contribute to efficiency and effectiveness or otherwise 
further program objectives. 
‘‘(b) FAMILY
AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT; FAMILY SERV-
ICES.—To be so designated, a Head Start agency shall, at a min-
imum, do all the following to involve and serve families and commu-
nities: 
‘‘(1) Provide for the regular and direct participation of 
parents and community residents in the implementation of 
the Head Start program, including decisions that influence 
the character of such program, consistent with paragraphs 
(2)(D) and (3)(C) of subsection (c). 
‘‘(2) Seek the involvement of parents, community residents, 
and local business in the design and implementation of the 
program. 
‘‘(3) Establish effective procedures— 
‘‘(A) to facilitate and seek the involvement of parents 
of participating children in activities designed to help such 
parents become full partners in the education of their chil-
dren; and 
‘‘(B) to afford such parents the opportunity to partici-
pate in the development and overall conduct of the program 
at the local level, including transportation assistance as 
appropriate. 
‘‘(4) Offer (directly or through referral to local entities, 
such as entities carrying out Even Start programs under sub-
part 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381 et seq.), public and 
school libraries, and entities carrying out family support pro-
grams) to such parents— 
‘‘(A) family literacy services; and 
‘‘(B) parenting skills training. 
‘‘(5) Offer to parents of participating children substance 
abuse counseling (either directly or through referral to local 
entities), if needed, including information on the effect of drug 
exposure on infants and fetal alcohol syndrome. 
‘‘(6) At the option of such agency, offer (directly or through 
referral to local entities) to such parents—
H. R. 1429—36 
‘‘(A) training in basic child development (including cog-
nitive, social, and emotional development); 
‘‘(B) assistance in developing literacy and communica-
tion skills; 
‘‘(C) opportunities to share experiences with other par-
ents (including parent-mentor relationships); 
‘‘(D) health services, including information on maternal 
depression; 
‘‘(E) regular in-home visitation; or 
‘‘(F) any other activity designed to help such parents 
become full partners in the education of their children. 
‘‘(7) Provide, with respect to each participating family, a 
family needs assessment that includes consultation with such 
parents (including foster parents, grandparents, and kinship 
caregivers, where applicable), in a manner and language that 
such parents can understand (to the extent practicable), about 
the benefits of parent involvement and about the activities 
described in this subsection in which such parents may choose 
to be involved (taking into consideration their specific family 
needs, work schedules, and other responsibilities). 
‘‘(8) Consider providing services to assist younger siblings 
of children participating in its Head Start program to obtain 
health services from other sources. 
‘‘(9) Perform community outreach to encourage individuals 
previously unaffiliated with Head Start programs to participate 
in its Head Start program as volunteers. 
‘‘(10)(A) Inform custodial parents in single-parent families 
that participate in programs, activities, or services carried out 
or provided under this subchapter about the availability of 
child support services for purposes of establishing paternity 
and acquiring child support. 
‘‘(B) Refer eligible parents to the child support offices of 
State and local governments. 
‘‘(11) Provide to parents of limited English proficient chil-
dren outreach and information, in an understandable and uni-
form format and, to the extent practicable, in a language that 
the parents can understand. 
‘‘(12) Provide technical and other support needed to enable 
parents and community residents to secure, on their own behalf, 
available assistance from public and private sources. 
‘‘(13) Promote the continued involvement of the parents 
(including foster parents, grandparents, and kinship caregivers, 
as appropriate) of children that participate in Head Start pro-
grams in the education of their children upon transition of 
their children to school, by working with the local educational 
agency— 
‘‘(A) to provide training to the parents— 
‘‘(i) to inform the parents about their rights and 
responsibilities concerning the education of their chil-
dren; and 
‘‘(ii) to enable the parents— 
‘‘(I) to understand and work with schools in 
order to communicate with teachers and other 
school personnel; 
‘‘(II) to support the schoolwork of their chil-
dren; and
H. R. 1429—37 
‘‘(III) to participate as appropriate in decisions 
relating to the education of their children; and 
‘‘(B) to take other actions, as appropriate and feasible, 
to support the active involvement of the parents with 
schools, school personnel, and school-related organizations. 
‘‘(14) Establish effective procedures for timely referral of 
children with disabilities to the State or local agency providing 
services under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.), and 
collaboration with that agency, consistent with section 
640(d)(3). 
‘‘(15) Establish effective procedures for providing necessary 
early intervening services to children with disabilities prior 
to an eligibility determination by the State or local agency 
responsible for providing services under section 619 or part 
C of such Act, consistent with section 640(d)(2). 
‘‘(16) At the option of the Head Start agency, partner 
with an institution of higher education and a nonprofit 
organization to provide college students with the opportunity 
to serve as mentors or reading partners for Head Start partici-
pants. 
‘‘(c) PROGRAM GOVERNANCE.—Upon receiving designation as a 
Head Start agency, the agency shall establish and maintain a 
formal structure for program governance, for the oversight of quality 
services for Head Start children and families and for making 
decisions related to program design and implementation. Such 
structure shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) GOVERNING BODY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The governing body shall have legal 
and fiscal responsibility for the Head Start agency. 
‘‘(B) COMPOSITION.—The governing body shall be com-
posed as follows: 
‘‘(i) Not less than 1 member shall have a back-
ground and expertise in fiscal management or 
accounting. 
‘‘(ii) Not less than 1 member shall have a back-
ground and expertise in early childhood education and 
development. 
‘‘(iii) Not less than 1 member shall be a licensed 
attorney familiar with issues that come before the gov-
erning body. 
‘‘(iv) Additional members shall— 
‘‘(I) reflect the community to be served and 
include parents of children who are currently, or 
were formerly, enrolled in Head Start programs; 
and 
‘‘(II) are selected for their expertise in edu-
cation, business administration, or community 
affairs. 
‘‘(v) Exceptions shall be made to the requirements 
of clauses (i) through (iv) for members of a governing 
body when those members oversee a public entity and 
are selected to their positions with the public entity 
by public election or political appointment. 
‘‘(vi) If a person described in clause (i), (ii), or 
(iii) is not available to serve as a member of the gov-
erning body, the governing body shall use a consultant,
H. R. 1429—38 
or an other individual with relevant expertise, with 
the qualifications described in that clause, who shall 
work directly with the governing body. 
‘‘(C) CONFLICT
OF
INTEREST.—Members of the gov-
erning body shall— 
‘‘(i) not have a financial conflict of interest with 
the Head Start agency (including any delegate agency); 
‘‘(ii) not receive compensation for serving on the 
governing body or for providing services to the Head 
Start agency; 
‘‘(iii) not be employed, nor shall members of their 
immediate family be employed, by the Head Start 
agency (including any delegate agency); and 
‘‘(iv) operate as an entity independent of staff 
employed by the Head Start agency. 
‘‘(D) EXCEPTION.—If an individual holds a position as 
a result of public election or political appointment, and 
such position carries with it a concurrent appointment 
to serve as a member of a Head Start agency governing 
body, and such individual has any conflict of interest 
described in clause (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (C)— 
‘‘(i) such individual shall not be prohibited from 
serving on such body and the Head Start agency shall 
report such conflict to the Secretary; and 
‘‘(ii) if the position held as a result of public election 
or political appointment provides compensation, such 
individual shall not be prohibited from receiving such 
compensation. 
‘‘(E) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The governing body shall— 
‘‘(i) have legal and fiscal responsibility for admin-
istering and overseeing programs under this sub-
chapter, including the safeguarding of Federal funds; 
‘‘(ii) adopt practices that assure active, inde-
pendent, and informed governance of the Head Start 
agency, including practices consistent with subsection 
(d)(1), and fully participate in the development, plan-
ning, and evaluation of the Head Start programs 
involved; 
‘‘(iii) be responsible for ensuring compliance with 
Federal laws (including regulations) and applicable 
State, tribal, and local laws (including regulations); 
and 
‘‘(iv) be responsible for other activities, including— 
‘‘(I) selecting delegate agencies and the service 
areas for such agencies; 
‘‘(II) establishing procedures and criteria for 
recruitment, selection, and enrollment of children; 
‘‘(III) reviewing all applications for funding 
and amendments to applications for funding for 
programs under this subchapter; 
‘‘(IV) establishing procedures and guidelines 
for accessing and collecting information described 
in subsection (d)(2); 
‘‘(V) reviewing and approving all major policies 
of the agency, including— 
‘‘(aa) the annual self-assessment and 
financial audit;
H. R. 1429—39 
‘‘(bb) such agency’s progress in carrying 
out the programmatic and fiscal provisions in 
such agency’s grant application, including 
implementation of corrective actions; and 
‘‘(cc) personnel policies of such agencies 
regarding the hiring, evaluation, termination, 
and compensation of agency employees; 
‘‘(VI) developing procedures for how members 
of the policy council are selected, consistent with 
paragraph (2)(B); 
‘‘(VII) 
approving 
financial 
management, 
accounting, and reporting policies, and compliance 
with laws and regulations related to financial 
statements, including the— 
‘‘(aa) approval of all major financial 
expenditures of the agency; 
‘‘(bb) annual approval of the operating 
budget of the agency; 
‘‘(cc) selection (except when a financial 
auditor is assigned by the State under State 
law or is assigned under local law) of inde-
pendent financial auditors who shall report 
all critical accounting policies and practices 
to the governing body; and 
‘‘(dd) monitoring of the agency’s actions 
to correct any audit findings and of other 
action necessary to comply with applicable 
laws (including regulations) governing finan-
cial statement and accounting practices; 
‘‘(VIII) reviewing results from monitoring con-
ducted under section 641A(c), including appro-
priate followup activities; 
‘‘(IX) approving personnel policies and proce-
dures, including policies and procedures regarding 
the hiring, evaluation, compensation, and termi-
nation of the Executive Director, Head Start 
Director, Director of Human Resources, Chief 
Fiscal Officer, and any other person in an equiva-
lent position with the agency; 
‘‘(X) establishing, adopting, and periodically 
updating written standards of conduct that estab-
lish standards and formal procedures for dis-
closing, addressing, and resolving— 
‘‘(aa) any conflict of interest, and any 
appearance of a conflict of interest, by mem-
bers of the governing body, officers and 
employees of the Head Start agency, and 
consultants and agents who provide services 
or furnish goods to the Head Start agency; 
and 
‘‘(bb) complaints, including investigations, 
when appropriate; and 
‘‘(XI) to the extent practicable and appropriate, 
at the discretion of the governing body, estab-
lishing advisory committees to oversee key respon-
sibilities related to program governance and 
improvement of the Head Start program involved.
H. R. 1429—40 
‘‘(2) POLICY COUNCIL.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with paragraph (1)(E), 
each Head Start agency shall have a policy council respon-
sible for the direction of the Head Start program, including 
program design and operation, and long- and short-term 
planning goals and objectives, taking into account the 
annual communitywide strategic planning and needs 
assessment and self-assessment. 
‘‘(B) COMPOSITION AND SELECTION.— 
‘‘(i) The policy council shall be elected by the par-
ents of children who are currently enrolled in the Head 
Start program of the Head Start agency. 
‘‘(ii) The policy council shall be composed of— 
‘‘(I) parents of children who are currently 
enrolled in the Head Start program of the Head 
Start agency (including any delegate agency), who 
shall constitute a majority of the members of the 
policy council; and 
‘‘(II) members at large of the community 
served by the Head Start agency (including any 
delegate agency), who may include parents of chil-
dren who were formerly enrolled in the Head Start 
program of the agency. 
‘‘(C) CONFLICT OF INTEREST.—Members of the policy 
council shall— 
‘‘(i) not have a conflict of interest with the Head 
Start agency (including any delegate agency); and 
‘‘(ii) not receive compensation for serving on the 
policy council or for providing services to the Head 
Start agency. 
‘‘(D) 
RESPONSIBILITIES.—The 
policy 
council 
shall 
approve and submit to the governing body decisions about 
each of the following activities: 
‘‘(i) Activities to support the active involvement 
of parents in supporting program operations, including 
policies to ensure that the Head Start agency is respon-
sive to community and parent needs. 
‘‘(ii) Program recruitment, selection, and enroll-
ment priorities. 
‘‘(iii) Applications for funding and amendments to 
applications for funding for programs under this sub-
chapter, prior to submission of applications described 
in this clause. 
‘‘(iv) Budget planning for program expenditures, 
including policies for reimbursement and participation 
in policy council activities. 
‘‘(v) Bylaws for the operation of the policy council. 
‘‘(vi) Program personnel policies and decisions 
regarding the employment of program staff, consistent 
with paragraph (1)(E)(iv)(IX), including standards of 
conduct for program staff, contractors, and volunteers 
and criteria for the employment and dismissal of pro-
gram staff. 
‘‘(vii) Developing procedures for how members of 
the policy council of the Head Start agency will be 
elected.
H. R. 1429—41 
‘‘(viii) Recommendations on the selection of dele-
gate agencies and the service areas for such agencies. 
‘‘(3) POLICY
COMMITTEES.—Each delegate agency shall 
create a policy committee, which shall— 
‘‘(A) be elected and composed of members, consistent 
with paragraph (2)(B) (with respect to delegate agencies); 
‘‘(B) follow procedures to prohibit conflict of interest, 
consistent with clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (2)(C) (with 
respect to delegate agencies); and 
‘‘(C) be responsible for approval and submission of 
decisions about activities as they relate to the delegate 
agency, consistent with paragraph (2)(D) (with respect to 
delegate agencies). 
‘‘(d) PROGRAM GOVERNANCE ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IMPASSE POLICIES.—The Secretary shall develop poli-
cies, procedures, and guidance for Head Start agencies con-
cerning— 
‘‘(A) the resolution of internal disputes, including any 
impasse in the governance of Head Start programs; and 
‘‘(B) the facilitation of meaningful consultation and 
collaboration about decisions of the governing body and 
policy council. 
‘‘(2) CONDUCT
OF
RESPONSIBILITIES.—Each Head Start 
agency shall ensure the sharing of accurate and regular 
information for use by the governing body and the policy 
council, about program planning, policies, and Head Start 
agency operations, including— 
‘‘(A) monthly financial statements, including credit card 
expenditures; 
‘‘(B) monthly program information summaries; 
‘‘(C) program enrollment reports, including attendance 
reports for children whose care is partially subsidized by 
another public agency; 
‘‘(D) monthly reports of meals and snacks provided 
through programs of the Department of Agriculture; 
‘‘(E) the financial audit; 
‘‘(F) the annual self-assessment, including any findings 
related to such assessment; 
‘‘(G) the communitywide strategic planning and needs 
assessment of the Head Start agency, including any 
applicable updates; 
‘‘(H) communication and guidance from the Secretary; 
and 
‘‘(I) the program information reports. 
‘‘(3) TRAINING
AND
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—Appropriate 
training and technical assistance shall be provided to the mem-
bers of the governing body and the policy council to ensure 
that the members understand the information the members 
receive and can effectively oversee and participate in the pro-
grams of the Head Start agency. 
‘‘(e) COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION.—To be so designated, 
a Head Start agency shall collaborate and coordinate with public 
and private entities, to the maximum extent practicable, to improve 
the availability and quality of services to Head Start children and 
families, including carrying out the following activities: 
‘‘(1) Conduct outreach to schools in which children partici-
pating in the Head Start program will enroll following the
H. R. 1429—42 
program, local educational agencies, the local business commu-
nity, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, 
museums, and libraries to generate support and leverage the 
resources of the entire local community in order to improve 
school readiness. 
‘‘(2)(A) In communities where both a public prekindergarten 
program and a Head Start program operate, collaborate and 
coordinate activities with the local educational agency or other 
public agency responsible for the operation of the prekinder-
garten program and providers of prekindergarten, including 
outreach activities to identify eligible children. 
‘‘(B) With the permission of the parents of children enrolled 
in the Head Start program, regularly communicate with the 
schools in which the children will enroll following the program, 
to— 
‘‘(i) share information about such children; 
‘‘(ii) collaborate with the teachers in such schools 
regarding professional development and instructional 
strategies, as appropriate; and 
‘‘(iii) ensure a smooth transition to school for such 
children. 
‘‘(3) Coordinate activities and collaborate with programs 
under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), the agencies responsible for 
administering section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and 
Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a) and parts B and E of title 
IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq., 670 et 
seq.), programs under subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney- 
Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.), Even 
Start programs under subpart 3 of part B of title I of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
6381 et seq.), programs under section 619 and part C of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 
1431 et seq.), and other entities providing early childhood edu-
cation and development programs or services, serving the chil-
dren and families served by the Head Start agency. 
‘‘(4) Take steps to coordinate activities with the local edu-
cational agency serving the community involved and with 
schools in which children participating in the Head Start pro-
gram will enroll following the program, including— 
‘‘(A) collaborating on the shared use of transportation 
and facilities, in appropriate cases; 
‘‘(B) collaborating to reduce the duplication and 
enhance the efficiency of services while increasing the pro-
gram participation of underserved populations of eligible 
children; and 
‘‘(C) exchanging information on the provision of non-
educational services to such children. 
‘‘(5) Enter into a memorandum of understanding, not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Improving 
Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, with the appro-
priate local entity responsible for managing publicly funded 
preschool programs in the service area of the Head Start 
agency, that shall— 
‘‘(A)(i) provide for a review of each of the activities 
described in clause (ii); and
H. R. 1429—43 
‘‘(ii) include plans to coordinate, as appropriate, activi-
ties regarding— 
‘‘(I) educational activities, curricular objectives, 
and instruction; 
‘‘(II) public information dissemination and access 
to programs for families contacting the Head Start 
program or any of the preschool programs; 
‘‘(III) selection priorities for eligible children to 
be served by programs; 
‘‘(IV) service areas; 
‘‘(V) staff training, including opportunities for joint 
staff training on topics such as academic content stand-
ards, instructional methods, curricula, and social and 
emotional development; 
‘‘(VI) program technical assistance; 
‘‘(VII) provision of additional services to meet the 
needs of working parents, as applicable; 
‘‘(VIII) communications and parent outreach for 
smooth transitions to kindergarten as required in para-
graphs (3) and (6) of section 642A(a); 
‘‘(IX) provision and use of facilities, transportation, 
and other program elements; and 
‘‘(X) other elements mutually agreed to by the 
parties to such memorandum; 
‘‘(B) be submitted to the Secretary and the State 
Director of Head Start Collaboration not later than 30 
days after the parties enter into such memorandum, except 
that— 
‘‘(i) where there is an absence of publicly funded 
preschool programs in the service area of a Head Start 
agency, this paragraph shall not apply; or 
‘‘(ii) where the appropriate local entity responsible 
for managing the publicly funded preschool programs 
is unable or unwilling to enter into such a memo-
randum, this paragraph shall not apply and the Head 
Start agency shall inform the Secretary and the State 
Director of Head Start Collaboration of such inability 
or unwillingness; and 
‘‘(C) be revised periodically and renewed biennially 
by the parties to such memorandum, in alignment with 
the beginning of the school year. 
‘‘(f) QUALITY STANDARDS, CURRICULA, AND ASSESSMENT.—To 
be so designated, each Head Start agency shall— 
‘‘(1) take steps to ensure, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, that children maintain the developmental and edu-
cational gains achieved in Head Start programs and build upon 
such gains in further schooling; 
‘‘(2) establish a program with the standards set forth in 
section 641A(a)(1), with particular attention to the standards 
set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section; 
‘‘(3) implement a research-based early childhood curriculum 
that— 
‘‘(A) promotes young children’s school readiness in the 
areas of language and cognitive development, early reading 
and mathematics skills, socio-emotional development, phys-
ical development, and approaches to learning;
H. R. 1429—44 
‘‘(B) is based on scientifically valid research and has 
standardized training procedures and curriculum materials 
to support implementation; 
‘‘(C) is comprehensive and linked to ongoing assess-
ment, with developmental and learning goals and measur-
able objectives; 
‘‘(D) is focused on improving the learning environment, 
teaching practices, family involvement, and child outcomes 
across all areas of development; and 
‘‘(E) is aligned with the Head Start Child Outcomes 
Framework developed by the Secretary and, as appropriate, 
State early learning standards; 
‘‘(4) implement effective interventions and support services 
that help promote the school readiness of children participating 
in the program; 
‘‘(5) use research-based assessment methods that reflect 
the characteristics described in section 641A(b)(2) in order to 
support the educational instruction and school readiness of 
children in the program; 
‘‘(6) use research-based developmental screening tools that 
have been demonstrated to be standardized, reliable, valid, 
and accurate for the child being assessed, to the maximum 
extent practicable, for the purpose of meeting the relevant 
standards described in section 641A(a)(1); 
‘‘(7) adopt, in consultation with experts in child develop-
ment and with classroom teachers, an evaluation to assess 
whether classroom teachers have mastered the functions dis-
cussed in section 648A(a)(1); 
‘‘(8) use the information provided from the assessment con-
ducted under section 641A(c)(2)(F) to inform professional 
development plans, as appropriate, that lead to improved 
teacher effectiveness; 
‘‘(9) establish goals and measurable objectives for the provi-
sion of health, educational, nutritional, and social services pro-
vided under this subchapter and related to the program mission 
and to promote school readiness; and 
‘‘(10) develop procedures for identifying children who are 
limited English proficient, and informing the parents of such 
children about the instructional services used to help children 
make progress towards acquiring the knowledge and skills 
described in section 641A(a)(1)(B) and acquisition of the English 
language. 
‘‘(g) FUNDED ENROLLMENT; WAITING LIST.—Each Head Start 
agency shall enroll 100 percent of its funded enrollment and main-
tain an active waiting list at all times with ongoing outreach 
to the community and activities to identify underserved populations. 
‘‘(h) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PLAN.—In order to 
receive funds under this subchapter, a Head Start agency shall 
develop an annual technical assistance and training plan. Such 
plan shall be based on the agency’s self-assessment, the community-
wide strategic planning and needs assessment, the needs of parents 
and children to be served by such agency, and the results of the 
reviews conducted under section 641A(c). 
‘‘(i) FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.—In order to receive funds under 
this subchapter, a Head Start agency shall document strong fiscal 
controls, including the employment of well-qualified fiscal staff with
H. R. 1429—45 
a history of successful management of a public or private organiza-
tion.’’. 
SEC. 10. HEAD START TRANSITION AND ALIGNMENT WITH K–12 EDU-
CATION. 
Section 642A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837a) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 642A. HEAD START TRANSITION AND ALIGNMENT WITH K–12 
EDUCATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each Head Start agency shall take steps 
to coordinate with the local educational agency serving the commu-
nity involved and with schools in which children participating in 
a Head Start program operated by such agency will enroll following 
such program to promote continuity of services and effective transi-
tions, including— 
‘‘(1) developing and implementing a systematic procedure 
for transferring, with parental consent, Head Start program 
records for each participating child to the school in which 
such child will enroll; 
‘‘(2) establishing ongoing channels of communication 
between Head Start staff and their counterparts in the schools 
(including teachers, social workers, local educational agency 
liaisons designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the 
McKinney-Vento 
Homeless 
Assistance 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), and health staff) to facilitate coordination 
of programs; 
‘‘(3) establishing ongoing communications between the 
Head Start agency and local educational agency for developing 
continuity of developmentally appropriate curricular objectives 
(which for the purpose of the Head Start program shall be 
aligned with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and, 
as appropriate, State early learning standards) and for shared 
expectations for children’s learning and development as the 
children transition to school; 
‘‘(4) organizing and participating in joint training, including 
transition-related training for school staff and Head Start staff; 
‘‘(5) establishing comprehensive transition policies and 
procedures that support children transitioning to school, 
including by engaging the local educational agency in the 
establishment of such policies; 
‘‘(6) conducting outreach to parents and elementary school 
(such as kindergarten) teachers to discuss the educational, 
developmental, and other needs of individual children; 
‘‘(7) helping parents of limited English proficient children 
understand— 
‘‘(A) the instructional and other services provided by 
the school in which such child will enroll after participation 
in Head Start; and 
‘‘(B) as appropriate, the information provided to par-
ents of limited English proficient children under section 
3302 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7012); 
‘‘(8) developing and implementing a family outreach and 
support program, in cooperation with entities carrying out 
parental involvement efforts under title I of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), 
and family outreach and support efforts under subtitle B of
H. R. 1429—46 
title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 11431 et seq.), taking into consideration the language 
needs of parents of limited English proficient children; 
‘‘(9) assisting families, administrators, and teachers in 
enhancing educational and developmental continuity and con-
tinuity of parental involvement in activities between Head Start 
services and elementary school classes; 
‘‘(10) linking the services provided in such Head Start 
program with educational services, including services relating 
to language, literacy, and numeracy, provided by such local 
educational agency; 
‘‘(11) helping parents (including grandparents and kinship 
caregivers, as appropriate) to understand the importance of 
parental involvement in a child’s academic success while 
teaching them strategies for maintaining parental involvement 
as their child moves from Head Start to elementary school; 
‘‘(12) helping parents understand the instructional and 
other services provided by the school in which their child will 
enroll after participation in the Head Start program; 
‘‘(13) developing and implementing a system to increase 
program participation of underserved populations of eligible 
children; and 
‘‘(14) coordinating activities and collaborating to ensure 
that curricula used in the Head Start program are aligned 
with— 
‘‘(A) the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework, as 
developed by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) State early learning standards, as appropriate, 
with regard to cognitive, social, emotional, and physical 
competencies that children entering kindergarten are 
expected to demonstrate. 
‘‘(b) CONSTRUCTION.—In this section, a reference to a Head 
Start agency, or its program, services, facility, or personnel, shall 
not be construed to be a reference to an Early Head Start agency, 
or its program, services, facility, or personnel. 
‘‘(c) DISSEMINATION
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Sec-
retary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall— 
‘‘(1) disseminate to Head Start agencies information on 
effective policies and activities relating to the transition of 
children from Head Start programs to public schools; and 
‘‘(2) provide technical assistance to such agencies to pro-
mote and assist such agencies to adopt and implement such 
effective policies and activities.’’. 
SEC. 11. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, COORDINATION, AND 
IMPROVEMENT. 
(a) HEAD START COLLABORATION.—The Head Start Act (42 
U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 642A 
the following: 
‘‘HEAD START COLLABORATION; STATE EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE 
‘‘SEC. 642B. (a)(1) From amounts made available under section 
640(a)(2)(B)(vi), the Secretary shall award the collaboration grants 
described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4). 
‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary shall award, upon submission of a written 
request, a collaboration grant to each State and to each national 
administrative office serving Indian Head Start programs and