H. R. 1429—69 
of children, including improving the readiness of children 
for school by developing their literacy, phonemic, and print 
awareness, their understanding and use of language, their 
understanding and use of increasingly complex and varied 
vocabulary, their appreciation of books, their understanding 
of early math and early science, their problem-solving abili-
ties, and their approaches to learning; 
‘‘(B) establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy 
learning environment; 
‘‘(C) supporting the social and emotional development 
of children; and 
‘‘(D) encouraging the involvement of the families of 
the children in a Head Start program and supporting the 
development of relationships between children and their 
families. 
‘‘(2) DEGREE REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) HEAD
START
TEACHERS.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that not later than September 30, 2013, at least 
50 percent of Head Start teachers nationwide in center- 
based programs have— 
‘‘(i) a baccalaureate or advanced degree in early 
childhood education; or 
‘‘(ii) a baccalaureate or advanced degree and 
coursework equivalent to a major relating to early 
childhood education, with experience teaching pre-
school-age children. 
‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL STAFF.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that, not later than September 30, 2013, all— 
‘‘(i) Head Start education coordinators, including 
those that serve as curriculum specialists, nationwide 
in center-based programs— 
‘‘(I) have the capacity to offer assistance to 
other teachers in the implementation and adapta-
tion of curricula to the group and individual needs 
of children in a Head Start classroom; and 
‘‘(II) have— 
‘‘(aa) a baccalaureate or advanced degree 
in early childhood education; or 
‘‘(bb) a baccalaureate or advanced degree 
and coursework equivalent to a major relating 
to early childhood education, with experience 
teaching preschool-age children; and 
‘‘(ii) Head Start teaching assistants nationwide in 
center-based programs have— 
‘‘(I) at least a child development associate 
credential; 
‘‘(II) enrolled in a program leading to an asso-
ciate or baccalaureate degree; or 
‘‘(III) enrolled in a child development associate 
credential program to be completed within 2 years. 
‘‘(C) PROGRESS.— 
‘‘(i) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(I) require Head Start agencies to— 
‘‘(aa) describe continuing progress each 
year toward achieving the goals described in 
subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
H. R. 1429—70 
‘‘(bb) annually submit to the Secretary a 
report indicating the number and percentage 
of classroom personnel described in subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) in center-based programs 
with child development associate credentials 
or 
associate, 
baccalaureate, 
or 
advanced 
degrees; 
‘‘(II) compile and submit a summary of all 
program reports described in subclause (I)(bb) to 
the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
Senate; and 
‘‘(III) not impose any penalties or sanctions 
on any individual Head Start agency, program, 
or staff in the monitoring of local agencies and 
programs under this subchapter not meeting the 
requirements of subparagraph (A) or (B). 
‘‘(D) CONSTRUCTION.—In this paragraph a reference 
to a Head Start agency, or its program, services, facility, 
or personnel, shall not be considered to be a reference 
to an Early Head Start agency, or its program, services, 
facility, or personnel. 
‘‘(3) ALTERNATIVE
CREDENTIALING
AND
DEGREE
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure that, for center-based pro-
grams, each Head Start classroom that does not have a teacher 
who meets the qualifications described in clause (i) or (ii) of 
paragraph (2)(A) is assigned one teacher who has the following 
during the period specified: 
‘‘(A) Through September 30, 2011— 
‘‘(i) a child development associate credential that 
is appropriate to the age of children being served in 
center-based programs; 
‘‘(ii) a State-awarded certificate for preschool 
teachers that meets or exceeds the requirements for 
a child development associate credential; 
‘‘(iii) an associate degree in early childhood edu-
cation; 
‘‘(iv) an associate degree in a related field and 
coursework equivalent to a major relating to early 
childhood education, with experience teaching pre-
school-age children; or 
‘‘(v) a baccalaureate degree and has been admitted 
into the Teach For America program, passed a rigorous 
early childhood content exam, such as the Praxis II, 
participated in a Teach For America summer training 
institute that includes teaching preschool children, and 
is receiving ongoing professional development and sup-
port from Teach For America’s professional staff. 
‘‘(B) As of October 1, 2011— 
‘‘(i) an associate degree in early childhood edu-
cation; 
‘‘(ii) an associate degree in a related field and 
coursework equivalent to a major relating to early 
childhood education, with experience teaching pre-
school-age children; or
H. R. 1429—71 
‘‘(iii) a baccalaureate degree and has been admitted 
into the Teach For America program, passed a rigorous 
early childhood content exam, such as the Praxis II, 
participated in a Teach For America summer training 
institute that includes teaching preschool children, and 
is receiving ongoing professional development and sup-
port from Teach For America’s professional staff. 
‘‘(4) WAIVER.—On request, the Secretary shall grant— 
‘‘(A) through September 30, 2011, a 180-day waiver 
ending on or before September 30, 2011, of the require-
ments of paragraph (3)(A) for a Head Start agency that 
can demonstrate that the agency has attempted unsuccess-
fully to recruit an individual who has the qualifications 
described in any of clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph 
(3)(A) with respect to an individual who— 
‘‘(i) is enrolled in a program that grants a creden-
tial, certificate, or degree described in clauses (i) 
through (iv) of paragraph (3)(A); and 
‘‘(ii) will receive such credential, certificate, or 
degree under the terms of such program not later 
than 180 days after beginning employment as a teacher 
with such agency; and 
‘‘(B) as of October 1, 2011, a 3-year waiver of the 
requirements of paragraph (3)(B) for a Head Start agency 
that can demonstrate that— 
‘‘(i) the agency has attempted unsuccessfully to 
recruit an individual who has the qualifications 
described in clause (i) or (ii) of such paragraph, with 
respect to an individual who is enrolled in a program 
that grants a degree described in clause (i) or (ii) 
of such paragraph and will receive such degree in 
a reasonable time; and 
‘‘(ii) each Head Start classroom has a teacher who 
has, at a minimum— 
‘‘(I) a child development associate credential 
that is appropriate to the age of children being 
served in center-based programs; or 
‘‘(II) a State-awarded certificate for preschool 
teachers that meets or exceeds the requirements 
for a child development associate credential. 
‘‘(5) TEACHER IN-SERVICE REQUIREMENT.—Each Head Start 
teacher shall attend not less than 15 clock hours of professional 
development per year. Such professional development shall be 
high-quality, sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused in 
order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom 
instruction and the teacher’s performance in the classroom, 
and regularly evaluated by the program for effectiveness. 
‘‘(6) SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall establish 
requirements to ensure that, in order to enable Head Start 
agencies to comply with the requirements of paragraph (2)(A), 
individuals who receive financial assistance under this sub-
chapter to pursue a degree described in paragraph (2)(A) shall— 
‘‘(A) teach or work in a Head Start program for a 
minimum of 3 years after receiving the degree; or 
‘‘(B) repay the total or a prorated amount of the finan-
cial assistance received based on the length of service com-
pleted after receiving the degree.
H. R. 1429—72 
‘‘(7) USE OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall require that any 
Federal funds provided directly or indirectly to comply with 
paragraph (2)(A) shall be used toward degrees awarded by 
an institution of higher education, as defined by section 101 
or 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001, 
1002).’’; 
(2) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) FAMILY SERVICE WORKERS.—To improve the quality and 
effectiveness of staff providing in-home and other services (including 
needs assessment, development of service plans, family advocacy, 
and coordination of service delivery) to families of children partici-
pating in Head Start programs, the Secretary, in coordination with 
concerned public and private agencies and organizations examining 
the issues of standards and training for family service workers, 
shall— 
‘‘(1) review and, as necessary, revise or develop new quali-
fication standards for Head Start staff providing such services; 
‘‘(2) review, and as necessary, revise or develop maximum 
caseload requirements, as suggested by best practices; 
‘‘(3) promote the development of model curricula (on sub-
jects including parenting training and family literacy) designed 
to ensure the attainment of appropriate competencies by 
individuals working or planning to work in the field of early 
childhood and family services; 
‘‘(4) promote the establishment of a credential that 
indicates attainment of the competencies and that is accepted 
nationwide; and 
‘‘(5) promote the use of appropriate strategies to meet the 
needs of special populations (including populations of limited 
English proficient children).’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ‘‘(including a 
center)’’ after ‘‘agency’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘amounts appropriated 
under 
this 
subchapter 
and 
allotted 
under 
section 
640(a)(2)(D)’’ and inserting ‘‘amounts made available under 
section 640(a)(2)(E)’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS.—Each Head Start 
agency and program shall create, in consultation with an employee, 
a professional development plan for all full-time Head Start 
employees who provide direct services to children and shall ensure 
that such plans are regularly evaluated for their impact on teacher 
and staff effectiveness. The agency and the employee shall imple-
ment the plan to the extent feasible and practicable. 
‘‘(g) STAFF RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PROCEDURES.—Before 
a Head Start agency employs an individual, such agency shall— 
‘‘(1) conduct an interview of such individual; 
‘‘(2) verify the personal and employment references pro-
vided by such individual; and 
‘‘(3) obtain— 
‘‘(A) a State, tribal, or Federal criminal record check 
covering all jurisdictions where the grantee provides Head 
Start services to children; 
‘‘(B) a State, tribal, or Federal criminal record check 
as required by the law of the jurisdiction where the grantee 
provides Head Start services; or
H. R. 1429—73 
‘‘(C) a criminal record check as otherwise required 
by Federal law.’’. 
SEC. 20. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUATION. 
Section 649 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844) is 
amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (a)(1)(B) to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) use the Head Start programs to develop, test, 
and disseminate new ideas based on existing scientifically 
valid research, for addressing the needs of low-income pre-
school children (including children with disabilities, home-
less children, children who have been abused or neglected, 
and children in foster care) and their families and commu-
nities (including demonstrations of innovative non-center- 
based program models such as home-based and mobile 
programs), and otherwise to further the purposes of this 
subchapter.’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (8), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) by striking paragraphs (9) and (10), and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(10)(A) contribute to understanding the impact of Head 
Start services delivered in classrooms which include both chil-
dren with disabilities and children without disabilities, on all 
of the children; and 
‘‘(B) disseminate promising practices for increasing the 
availability and quality of such services and such classrooms.’’; 
(C) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘early childhood edu-
cation, or child development services’’ and inserting ‘‘early 
childhood education and development or services pro-
grams’’; 
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (8) as 
paragraphs (6) through (9), respectively; 
(E) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: 
‘‘(5)(A) identify successful strategies that promote good oral 
health and provide effective linkages to quality dental services 
through pediatric dental referral networks, for infants and tod-
dlers participating in Early Head Start programs and children 
participating in other Head Start programs; and 
‘‘(B) identify successful strategies that promote good vision 
health through vision screenings for such infants, toddlers, 
and children, and referrals for appropriate followup care for 
those identified as having a vision problem;’’; and 
(F) by striking the last sentence; and 
(3) in subsection (e)(3), by striking ‘‘child care, early child-
hood education, or child development services’’ and inserting 
‘‘early childhood education and development services or pro-
grams’’; 
(4) in subsection (g) by amending paragraph (7)(C) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(C) TRANSMITTAL OF REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later 
than September 30, 2009, the Secretary shall transmit 
the final report to the Committee on Education and Labor 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.’’; 
and 
(5) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
H. R. 1429—74 
‘‘(h) LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT CHILDREN.— 
‘‘(1) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act 
of 2007, the Secretary shall conduct a study on the status 
of limited English proficient children and their families partici-
pating in Head Start programs (including Early Head Start 
programs). 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—The Secretary shall prepare and submit to 
the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate, not later than September 30, 
2010, a report containing the results of the study, including 
information on— 
‘‘(A) the demographics of limited English proficient chil-
dren from birth through age 5, including the number of 
such children receiving Head Start services and Early Head 
Start services, and the geographic distribution of children 
described in this subparagraph; 
‘‘(B) the nature of the Head Start services and of the 
Early Head Start services provided to limited English pro-
ficient children and their families, including the types, 
content, duration, intensity, and costs of family services, 
language assistance, and educational services; 
‘‘(C) procedures in Head Start programs and Early 
Head Start programs for the assessment of language needs 
and the transition of limited English proficient children 
to kindergarten, including the extent to which such pro-
grams meet the requirements of section 642A for limited 
English proficient children; 
‘‘(D) the qualifications and training provided to Head 
Start teachers and Early Head Start teachers who serve 
limited English proficient children and their families; 
‘‘(E) the languages in which Head Start teachers and 
Early Head Start teachers are fluent, in relation to the 
population, and instructional needs, of the children served; 
‘‘(F) the rate of progress made by limited English pro-
ficient children and their families in Head Start programs 
and in Early Head Start programs, including— 
‘‘(i) the rate of progress made by limited English 
proficient children toward meeting the additional edu-
cational standards described in section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii) 
while enrolled in such programs; 
‘‘(ii) a description of the type of assessment or 
assessments used to determine the rate of progress 
made by limited English proficient children; 
‘‘(iii) the correlation between such progress and 
the type and quality of instruction and educational 
programs provided to limited English proficient chil-
dren; and 
‘‘(iv) the correlation between such progress and 
the health and family services provided by such pro-
grams to limited English proficient children and their 
families; and 
‘‘(G) the extent to which Head Start programs and 
Early Head Start programs make use of funds under sec-
tion 640(a)(2)(D) to improve the quality of such services
H. R. 1429—75 
provided to limited English proficient children and their 
families. 
‘‘(i) RESEARCH
AND
EVALUATION
ACTIVITIES
RELEVANT
TO 
DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.—For purposes of conducting the study 
described in subsection (h), activities described in section 
640(l)(5)(A), and other research and evaluation activities relevant 
to limited English proficient children and their families, migrant 
and seasonal farmworker families, and other families from diverse 
populations served by Head Start programs, the Secretary shall 
award, on a competitive basis, funds from amounts made available 
under section 640(a)(2)(D) to 1 or more organizations with a dem-
onstrated capacity for serving and studying the populations 
involved. 
‘‘(j) REVIEW OF ASSESSMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) APPLICATION OF STUDY.—When the study on Develop-
mental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children by the 
National Academy of Sciences is made available to the Sec-
retary, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) integrate the results of the study, as appropriate 
and in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3), into each 
assessment used in Head Start programs; and 
‘‘(B) use the results of the study to develop, inform, 
and revise as appropriate the standards and measures 
described 
in 
section 
641A, 
consistent 
with 
section 
641A(a)(2)(C)(ii). 
‘‘(2) INFORM AND REVISE.—In informing and revising any 
assessment used in the Head Start programs, the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(A) receive recommendations from the Panel on 
Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Chil-
dren of the National Academy of Sciences; and 
‘‘(B) with respect to the development or refinement 
of such assessment, ensure— 
‘‘(i) consistency with relevant, nationally recog-
nized professional and technical standards; 
‘‘(ii) validity and reliability for all purposes for 
which assessments under this subchapter are designed 
and used; 
‘‘(iii) developmental and linguistic appropriateness 
of such assessments for children assessed, including 
children who are limited English proficient; and 
‘‘(iv) that the results can be used to improve the 
quality of, accountability of, and training and technical 
assistance in, Head Start programs. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary, in car-
rying out the process described in paragraph (2), shall ensure 
that— 
‘‘(A) staff administering any assessments under this 
subchapter have received appropriate training to admin-
ister such assessments; 
‘‘(B) appropriate accommodations for children with 
disabilities and children who are limited English proficient 
are made; 
‘‘(C) the English and Spanish (and any other language, 
as appropriate) forms of such assessments are valid and 
reliable in the languages in which they are administered; 
and
H. R. 1429—76 
‘‘(D) such assessments are not used to exclude children 
from Head Start programs. 
‘‘(4) SUSPENDED IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL REPORTING 
SYSTEM.—The Secretary shall suspend implementation and 
terminate further development and use of the National 
Reporting System. 
‘‘(k) INDIAN HEAD START STUDY.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) work in collaboration with the Head Start agencies 
that carry out Indian Head Start programs, the Indian Head 
Start collaboration director, and other appropriate entities, 
including tribal governments and the National Indian Head 
Start Directors Association— 
‘‘(A) to undertake a study or set of studies designed 
to focus on the American Indian and Alaska Native Head 
Start-eligible population, with a focus on issues such as 
curriculum development, availability and need for services, 
appropriate research methodologies and measures for these 
populations, and best practices for teaching and educating 
American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Children; 
‘‘(B) to accurately determine the number of children 
nationwide who are eligible to participate in Indian Head 
Start programs each year; 
‘‘(C) to document how many of these children are 
receiving Head Start services each year; 
‘‘(D) to the extent practicable, to ensure that access 
to Indian Head Start programs for eligible children is com-
parable to access to other Head Start programs for other 
eligible children; and 
‘‘(E) to make the funding decisions required in section 
640(a)(4)(D)(ii), after completion of the studies required 
in that section, taking into account— 
‘‘(i) the Federal government’s unique trust respon-
sibility to American Indians and Alaska Natives; 
‘‘(ii) limitations faced by tribal communities in 
accessing non-Federal sources of funding to supplement 
Federal funding for early childhood programs; and 
‘‘(iii) other factors that uniquely and adversely 
impact children in American Indian and Alaska Native 
communities 
such 
as 
highly 
elevated 
poverty, 
unemployment and violent crime rates, as well as 
depressed levels of educational achievement and lim-
ited access to non-Federal health, social and edu-
cational resources; 
‘‘(2) in carrying out paragraph (1), consult with the Sec-
retary of Education about the Department of Education’s sys-
tems for collecting and reporting data about, and maintaining 
records on, American Indian and Alaska Native students; 
‘‘(3) not later than 9 months after the effective date of 
this subsection, publish in the Federal Register a notice of 
how the Secretary plans to carry out paragraph (1) and shall 
provide a period for public comment. To the extent practicable, 
the Secretary shall consider comments received before submit-
ting a report to the Congress; 
‘‘(4) not later than 1 year after the effective date of this 
subsection, submit a report to the Committee on Education 
and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate,
H. R. 1429—77 
detailing how the Department of Health and Human Services 
plans to carry out paragraph (1); 
‘‘(5) through regulation, ensure the confidentiality of any 
personally identifiable data, information, and records collected 
or maintained by the Secretary, by Head Start agencies that 
carry out Indian Head Start programs, and by State Directors 
of Head Start Collaboration, by the Indian Head Start 
Collaboration Project Director and by other appropriate entities 
pursuant to this subsection (such regulations shall provide 
the policies, protections, and rights equivalent to those provided 
a parent, student, or educational agency or institution under 
section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act); and 
‘‘(6) ensure that nothing in this subsection shall be con-
strued to authorize the development of a nationwide database 
of personally identifiable information on individuals involved 
in studies or other collections of data under this subsection. 
‘‘(l) MIGRANT AND SEASONAL HEAD START PROGRAM STUDY.— 
‘‘(1) DATA.—In order to increase access to Head Start serv-
ices for children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers, the 
Secretary shall work in collaboration with providers of migrant 
and seasonal Head Start programs, the Secretary of Agri-
culture, the Secretary of Labor, the Bureau of Migrant Health, 
and the Secretary of Education to— 
‘‘(A) collect, report, and share data, within a coordi-
nated system, on children of migrant and seasonal farm-
workers and their families, including health records and 
educational documents of such children, in order to ade-
quately account for the number of children of migrant 
and seasonal farmworkers who are eligible for Head Start 
services and determine how many of such children receive 
the services; and 
‘‘(B) identify barriers that prevent children of migrant 
and seasonal farmworkers who are eligible for Head Start 
services from accessing Head Start services, and develop 
a plan for eliminating such barriers, including certain 
requirements relating to tracking, health records, and edu-
cational documents, and increasing enrollment. 
‘‘(2) PUBLICATION OF PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of the Improving Head Start for School 
Readiness Act of 2007, the Secretary shall publish in the Fed-
eral Register a notice about how the Secretary plans to imple-
ment the activities identified in paragraph (1) and shall provide 
a period for public comment. To the extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall consider comments received before imple-
menting any of the activities identified in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness 
Act of 2007, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit 
a report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Edu-
cation, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate detailing how the 
Secretary plans to implement the activities identified in para-
graph (1), including the progress made in reaching out to and 
serving eligible children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers, 
and information on States where such children are still under-
served.
H. R. 1429—78 
‘‘(4) PROTECTION
OF
CONFIDENTIALITY.—The Secretary 
shall, through regulation, ensure the protection of the confiden-
tiality of any personally identifiable data, information, and 
records collected or maintained by the Secretary, by Head Start 
agencies that carry out migrant or seasonal Head Start pro-
grams, by the State director of Head Start Collaboration, and 
by the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Collaboration project 
Director (such regulations shall provide the policies, protections, 
and rights equivalent to those provided a parent, student, or 
educational agency or institution under section 444 of the Gen-
eral Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g)). 
‘‘(5) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this subsection 
shall be construed to authorize the development of a nationwide 
database of personally identifiable data, information, or records 
on individuals involved in studies or other collections of data 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(m) PROGRAM EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.— 
‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this subsection is to evaluate 
the emergency preparedness of the Head Start programs, 
including Early Head Start programs, and make recommenda-
tions for how Head Start shall enhance its readiness to respond 
to an emergency. 
‘‘(2) STUDY.—The Secretary shall evaluate the Federal, 
State, and local preparedness of Head Start programs, including 
Early Head Start programs, to respond appropriately in the 
event of a large-scale emergency, such as the hurricanes 
Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, the terrorist attacks of September 
11, 2001, or other incidents where assistance may be warranted 
under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 
‘‘(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of the enactment of the Improving Head Start for 
School Readiness Act of 2007, the Secretary shall prepare and 
submit to Committee on Education and Labor of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report containing the 
results of the evaluation required under paragraph (2), 
including— 
‘‘(A) recommendations for improvements to Federal, 
State, and local preparedness and response capabilities 
to large-scale emergencies, including those that were devel-
oped in response to hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, 
as they relate to Head Start programs, including Early 
Head Start programs, and the Secretary’s plan to imple-
ment such recommendations; 
‘‘(B) an evaluation of the procedures for informing fami-
lies of children in Head Start programs about the program 
protocols for response to a large-scale emergency, including 
procedures for communicating with such families in the 
event of a large-scale emergency; 
‘‘(C) an evaluation of such procedures for staff training 
on State and local evacuation and emergency protocols; 
and 
‘‘(D) an evaluation of procedures for Head Start agen-
cies and the Secretary to coordinate with appropriate Fed-
eral, State, and local emergency management agencies in
H. R. 1429—79 
the event of a large scale emergency and recommendations 
to improve such procedures.’’. 
SEC. 21. REPORTS. 
Section 650 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9846) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Education and the Workforce’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Education and Labor’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Labor and Human Resources’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’’; 
and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘(including disabled and non- 
English language background children)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(including children with disabilities, limited English 
proficient children, homeless children, children in 
foster care, and children participating in Indian Head 
Start programs and migrant or seasonal Head Start 
programs)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting before the semicolon 
the following: ‘‘, and information on the number of children 
served under this subsection, disaggregated by type of eligi-
bility criterion’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘funds expended’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘640(a)(3),’’ and inserting 
‘‘funds made available under section 640(a)’’; 
(D) in paragraph (8), by inserting ‘‘homelessness, 
whether the child is in foster care or was referred by 
a child welfare agency,’’ after ‘‘background,’’; 
(E) in paragraph (12), by inserting ‘‘vision care,’’ after 
‘‘dental care,’’; 
(F) in paragraph (14)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Alaskan Natives’’ and inserting 
‘‘Alaska Natives’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘seasonal farmworkers’’ and 
inserting ‘‘seasonal farmworker families’’; and 
(G) in the flush matter at the end— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Education and the Workforce’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Education and Labor’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Labor and Human Resources’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Education and the Workforce’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Education and Labor’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘Labor and Human Resources’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘Native Alaskan’’ and inserting ‘‘Alaska 
Native’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) FISCAL PROTOCOL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct an annual 
review to assess whether the design and implementation of 
the triennial reviews described in section 641A(c) include 
compliance procedures that provide reasonable assurances that 
Head Start agencies are complying with applicable fiscal laws 
and regulations.
H. R. 1429—80 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the date the 
Secretary completes the annual review under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall report the findings and conclusions of the 
annual review to the Committee on Education and Labor of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. 
‘‘(d) DISABILITY-RELATED SERVICES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall track the provision 
of disability-related services for children, in order to— 
‘‘(A) determine whether Head Start agencies are 
making timely referrals to the State or local agency respon-
sible for providing services under section 619 or part C 
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.); 
‘‘(B) identify barriers to timely evaluations and eligi-
bility determinations by the State or local agency respon-
sible for providing services under section 619 or part C 
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; and 
‘‘(C) determine under what circumstances and for what 
length of time Head Start agencies are providing disability- 
related services for children who have not been determined 
under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) to be children with disabilities. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act 
of 2007, the Secretary shall provide a report to the Committee 
on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
the Senate on the activities described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(e) EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING OBESITY 
PREVENTION.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 
the Secretary shall submit 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 
on the Secretary’s progress in assisting program efforts to prevent 
and reduce obesity in children who participate in Head Start pro-
grams, including progress on implementing initiatives within the 
Head Start program to prevent and reduce obesity in such chil-
dren.’’. 
SEC. 22. COMPARABILITY OF WAGES. 
Section 653 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9848) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary shall take’’ and inserting 
‘‘(a) COMPARABILITY OF WAGES.—The Secretary shall take’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, no Federal funds may be used to pay any part of the 
compensation of an individual employed by a Head Start 
agency, if such compensation, including non-Federal funds, 
exceeds an amount equal to the rate payable for level II of 
the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
‘‘(2) COMPENSATION.—In this subsection, the term ‘com-
pensation’—
H. R. 1429—81 
‘‘(A) includes salary, bonuses, periodic payments, sever-
ance pay, the value of any vacation time, the value of 
a compensatory or paid leave benefit not excluded by 
subparagraph (B), and the fair market value of any 
employee perquisite or benefit not excluded by subpara-
graph (B); and 
‘‘(B) excludes any Head Start agency expenditure for 
a health, medical, life insurance, disability, retirement, 
or any other employee welfare or pension benefit.’’. 
SEC. 23. LIMITATION WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN UNLAWFUL ACTIVI-
TIES. 
Section 655 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9850) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘or in’’ after ‘‘assigned by’’. 
SEC. 24. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. 
Section 656 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9851) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking all that precedes ‘‘chapter 15’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 656. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. 
‘‘(a) STATE OR LOCAL AGENCY.—For purposes of’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) RESTRICTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—A program assisted under this sub-
chapter, and any individual employed by, or assigned to or 
in, a program assisted under this subchapter (during the hours 
in which such individual is working on behalf of such program), 
shall not engage in— 
‘‘(A) any partisan or nonpartisan political activity or 
any other political activity associated with a candidate, 
or contending faction or group, in an election for public 
or party office; or 
‘‘(B) any activity to provide voters or prospective voters 
with transportation to the polls or similar assistance in 
connection with any such election. 
‘‘(2) REGISTRATION.—No funds appropriated under this sub-
chapter may be used to conduct voter registration activities. 
Nothing in this subchapter prohibits the availability of Head 
Start facilities during hours of operation for the use of any 
nonpartisan organization to increase the number of eligible 
citizens who register to vote in elections for Federal office. 
‘‘(3) RULES AND REGULATIONS.—The Secretary, after con-
sultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Manage-
ment, may issue rules and regulations to provide for the 
enforcement of this section, which may include provisions for 
summary suspension of assistance or other action necessary 
to permit enforcement on an emergency basis.’’. 
SEC. 25. PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR HEALTH SERVICES. 
The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: