I
108TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2210
To reauthorize the Head Start Act to improve the school readiness of
disadvantaged children, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 22, 2003
Mr. CASTLE (for himself, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr. REGULA, Mr. WILSON of South
Carolina, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. MCKEON,
and Mr. BROWN of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To reauthorize the Head Start Act to improve the school
readiness of disadvantaged children, and for other purposes.
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 ‘‘School Readiness Act
of 2003’’.
TITLE 
I—HEAD 
START 
REAU-
THORIZATION AND PROGRAM
IMPROVEMENTS
SEC. 101. PURPOSE.
Section 636 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831)
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 636. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
‘‘It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote
school readiness by enhancing the development of low-in-
come children, including through educational instruction
in prereading skills, premathematics skills, and language,
and through the provision to low-income children and their
families of health, educational, nutritional, social and
other services that are determined, based on family needs
assessments, to be necessary.’’.
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
Section 637 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9832)
is amended as follows:
(1) In paragraph (17) by striking ‘‘, but for fis-
cal year’’ and all that follows down to the period.
(2) By adding the following at the end thereof:
‘‘(18) The term ‘eligible entities’ means an in-
stitution of higher education or other agency with
expertise in delivering training in early childhood de-
velopment, family support, and other assistance de-
years 2004 through 2008 to assist participating States
with the administrative expenses associated with imple-
menting a program under section 643A.’’.
SEC. 104. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS; LIMITATIONS ON ASSIST-
ANCE.
Section 640 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835)
is amended as follows:
(1) By striking clauses (ii) and (iii) of sub-
section (a)(2)(B).
(2) By striking the last sentence of paragraph
(2).
(3) By amending subsection (a)(2)(C) to read
as follows:
‘‘(C) training and technical assistance ac-
tivities that are sufficient to meet the needs as-
sociated with program expansion and to foster
program and management improvement activi-
ties as described in section 648 of this title, in
an amount for each fiscal year which is not less
than one percent, and shall not exceed 2 per-
cent, of the amount appropriated for such fiscal
year, of which—
‘‘(i) not less than 50 percent shall be
made available to local Head Start agen-
cies to comply with the performance stand-
ards described in section 641A(a)(1), of
which not less than 50 percent shall be
used to comply with the performance
standards 
described 
in 
section
641A(a)(1)(B) and for the uses described
in 
subparagraph 
(a)(3)(B)(iii),
(a)(3)(B)(iv), and (a)(3)(B)(vii);
‘‘(ii) not less than 30 percent shall be
made available to support a State system
of early childhood education training and
technical assistance;
‘‘(iii) not less than 20 percent shall be
made available to the Secretary to assist
local programs to meet the performance
standards described in 641A(a)(1); and
‘‘(iv) not less than $3,000,000 of the
amount in clause (iii) appropriated for
such fiscal year shall be made available to
carry out activities described in section
648(d)(4);’’.
(4) In subsection (a)(3)(A)(i)(I) by striking
‘‘1999’’ and all that follows down to the semicolon
and inserting ‘‘2004 through 2008’’.
(5) In subsection (a)(3)(B)(i) by striking
‘‘(a)(1)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘(a)(1)’’.
(6) In subsection (a)(3)(B)(ii) by striking ‘‘staff
are’’ and inserting ‘‘staff is’’.
(7) In subsection (a)(3)(C) by redesignating
clause (vi) as clause (vii) and inserting the following
new clause after clause (v):
‘‘(vi) To conduct outreach to homeless families
in an effort to increase the program participation of
eligible homeless children.’’.
(8) In subsection (a)(5)(B)—
(A) by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting
‘‘shall’’; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘early childhood edu-
cation’’ after ‘‘regarding’’.
(9) In subsection (a)(5)(C)—
(A) by striking ‘‘A State’’ and inserting
‘‘In order to improve results for children, a
State’’;
(B) by striking clauses (i), (ii), and (iii)
and inserting:
‘‘(i) appoint an individual to serve as
the State collaborator between—
‘‘(I) the appropriate regional of-
fice of the Administration for Children
and Families;
‘‘(II) the State educational agen-
cy;
‘‘(III) the State Department of
Health and Human Services;
‘‘(IV) the State agency that over-
sees child care;
‘‘(V) the State agency that over-
sees children with developmental dis-
abilities;
‘‘(VI) the State Head Start Asso-
ciation;
‘‘(VII) the State network of child
care resource and referral agencies;
‘‘(VIII) local educational agen-
cies;
‘‘(IX) 
community-based 
and
faith-based organizations;
‘‘(X) State migrant and seasonal
Head Start associations;
‘‘(XI) State Indian Head Start
associations;
‘‘(XII) State and local providers
of early childhood education and child
care; and
‘‘(XIII) other entities carrying
out programs serving low-income chil-
dren and families in the State.’’.
‘‘(ii) ensure that the State collabo-
rator holds a position with sufficient au-
thority and access to ensure that the col-
laboration described in subparagraph (B)
is effective and involves a range of State
agencies;
‘‘(iii) involve the entities described in
section 640(a)(5)(C)(i) to develop a stra-
tegic plan for the coordinated outreach to
identify eligible children and implementa-
tion strategies based on a needs assess-
ment conducted by the Office of the State
Collaborator;’’;
(C) by amending clause (v) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(v) consult with the chief State
school officer, local educational agencies,
and representatives of local Head Start
agencies in unified planning regarding
early care and education services at both
the State and local levels, including col-
the delivery system of early childhood education and
child care’’.
(13) By inserting the following after ‘‘manner
that will’’ in section 640(g)(2)(G): ‘‘leverage the ex-
isting delivery systems of such services and’’.
SEC. 105. DESIGNATION OF AGENCIES.
Section 641 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836)
is amended as follows:
(1) In subsection (a) by inserting after ‘‘com-
munity’’ in the first place it appears ‘‘any commu-
nity-based or faith-based organization’’ and by in-
serting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(a)’’ and by adding the fol-
lowing at the end thereof:
‘‘(2) In order to be designated as a Head Start agen-
cy and to receive a grant under this subchapter, a grantee
shall establish grantee-determined goals for improving the
school readiness of children participating in a program
under this subchapter, which shall include goals for—
‘‘(A) educational instruction in prereading,
premathematical, and language skills; and
‘‘(B) the provision of health, educational,
nutritional, social, and other services.
‘‘(3) In order to receive a grant subsequent to the
initial grant provided following the date of enactment of
this subchapter, the grantee shall demonstrate that it has
met the goals described in (2).’’
(2) In subsection (c)(1) by striking ‘‘unless’’
through ‘‘fails to meet’’ and inserting ‘‘that fulfills
the’’.
(3) By striking paragraph (2) of subsection (c).
(4) In subsection (d):
(A) By inserting the following new para-
graphs after paragraph (1):
‘‘(2) the capacity of such applicant to serve eli-
gible children with scientifically-based programs that
promote school readiness of children participating in
the program;
‘‘(3) the plan of such applicant to meet stand-
ards set forth in section 641A(a)(1), with particular
attention to the standards set forth in section
641A(a)(1)(B)(ii);’’.
(B) By striking paragraph (3) and redesig-
nating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4) and in
such paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘to aid partici-
pating children in attaining their full potential’’
and inserting ‘‘prepare children to succeed in
school’’.
(C) By inserting the following after para-
graph (4) and redesignating existing para-
graphs (4) through (10) as paragraphs (7)
through (13):
‘‘(5) the plan of such applicant to coordinate
the Head Start program it proposes to carry out
with other preschool programs, including Early
Reading First and Even Start programs under title
I, part B, subparts 1 and 2 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965; other preschool
programs carried out under title I of the Act; pro-
grams under part C and section 619 of the Individ-
uals with Disabilities Education Act; State pre-
kindergarten programs; and with the educational
programs such children will enter at the age of com-
pulsory school attendance;
‘‘(6) the plan of such applicant to coordinate
the Head Start program it proposes to carry out
with private entities with resources available to as-
sist the Head Start Program meet its program
needs;’’.
SEC. 106. QUALITY STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD
START AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS.
Section 641A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9836a)) is amended as follows:
(1) In subsection (a)(1)(B) by amending clause
(ii) to read as follows:
‘‘(ii) additional education standards to
ensure that the children participating in
the program, at a minimum develop and
demonstrate—
‘‘(I) language skills;
‘‘(II) prereading knowledge and
skills, including interest in and appre-
ciation of books, reading and writing
either alone or with others;
‘‘(III) premathematics knowledge
and skills;
‘‘(IV) cognitive abilities related to
academic achievement;
‘‘(V) social development impor-
tant for environments constructive for
child development, early learning, and
school success; and
‘‘(VI) in the case of limited-
English proficient children, progress
toward acquisition of the English lan-
guage.’’.
(2) In subsection (a)(2)(A) by amending the
parenthetical language to read as follows ‘‘(including
appropriate services to limited-English proficient
children and their families)’’.
(3) In subsection (a)(2)(B)—
(A) in clause (i) by striking ‘‘on the date
of enactment of this section’’ and inserting ‘‘on
October 27, 1998’’;
(B) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘since the
date of enactment of this section’’ and inserting
‘‘since October 27, 1998,’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause
(vi) and adding the following at the end thereof:
‘‘(viii) the unique challenges faced by
individual programs, including those that
are seasonal or short term, and those that
serve rural populations; and’’.
(4) In subsection (a)(2)(C)(ii) by striking all
that follows ‘‘in effect on’’ down to the period and
inserting ‘‘October 27, 1998’’.
(5) In subsection (b)(2):
(A) In subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘not
later than July 1, 1999; and’’ and inserting a
semicolon.
(B) By striking the period at the end of
subparagraph (C) and inserting ‘‘; and’’.
(C) By adding the following new subpara-
graph at the end thereof:
‘‘(D) be appropriate for the population
served; and
‘‘(E) be reviewed no less than every 5
years, based on advances in the science of early
childhood development.’’.
(D) In the language following new sub-
paragraph 
(E) 
by 
striking 
‘‘subsection
(a)(1)(ii)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(1)(A)
and (B)’’.
(6) In subsection (b) by amending paragraph
(4) to read as follows:
‘‘(4) EDUCATIONAL MEASURES.—Results based
measures shall be designed for the purpose of pro-
moting the competencies of children participating in
Head Start programs specified in subsection
(a)(1)(B)(ii), with an emphasis on measuring those
competencies that have a strong scientifically-based
predictability of a child’s school readiness and later
performance in school.’’.
(7) In subsection (c)(2):
(A) By striking subparagraphs (A) and
(B).
(B) In subparagraph (C) by striking ‘‘(in-
cluding linguistic and cultural)’’ and inserting
‘‘and limited-English proficient children’’ after
‘‘disabilities’’.
(C) At the end of subparagraph (D) by
striking ‘‘and’’.
(D) At the end of subparagraph (E) by
striking the period and inserting a semicolon
and the following new subparagraphs:
‘‘(F) include as part of the reviews of the
programs, a review and assessment of whether
a program is in conformity with the income eli-
gibility requirements, as defined in section 645
and regulations promulgated thereunder; and
‘‘(G) seek information from the commu-
nities where Head Start programs exist about
innovative or effective collaborative efforts, bar-
riers to collaboration, and the efforts of the
Head Start agencies and programs to collabo-
rate with the entities carrying out early child-
hood education and child care programs in the
community.’’.
SEC. 107. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGEN-
CIES.
Section 642 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9837(b) is amended as follows:
(1) By redesignating paragraphs (1) through
(4) of subsection (b) as (3) through (6) and by in-
serting the following new paragraphs after ‘‘shall
also—’’:
‘‘(1) establish a program with standards set
forth in section 641A(a)(1), with particular atten-
tion 
to 
the 
standards 
set 
forth 
in 
section
641A(a)(1)(B);
‘‘(2) demonstrate capacity to serve eligible chil-
dren with scientifically-based curricula and other
interventions that help ensure the school readiness
of children participating in the program;’’.
(2) By inserting the following new paragraph
after redesignated paragraph (6) of subsection (b)
and by redesignating existing paragraphs (5)
through (11) of subsection (b) as (8) through (14):
‘‘(7) conduct outreach to schools in which Head
Start children enroll, local educational agencies, the
local business community, community-based organi-
zations, faith-based organizations, museums, and li-
braries to generate support and leverage the re-
sources of the entire local community in order to im-
prove school readiness;’’.
(3) In subsection (d) by inserting the following
new paragraph after paragraph (1) and redesig-
nating paragraphs (2) through (5) as (3) through
(6):
‘‘(2) In communities where both public prekinder-
garten programs and Head Start programs operate, a
Head Start agency shall coordinate with the local edu-
cational agency or other public agency responsible for the
operation of the prekindergarten program, including for
outreach to identify eligible children.’’.
SEC. 108. HEAD START ALIGNMENT WITH K–12 EDUCATION.
The heading for section 642A of the Head Start Act
(42 U.S.C. 9837a) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 642A. HEAD START ALIGNMENT WITH K–12 EDU-
CATION.’’.
SEC. 109. ELIGIBILITY.
Section 645(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9843) is amended by adding the following new paragraph
at the end thereof:
‘‘(3) The amount of a basic allowance provided under
section 403 of title 37, United States Code, on behalf of
an individual who is a member of the uniformed services
for housing that is acquired or constructed under the au-
thority of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, United
States Code, or any other related provision of law, shall
not be considered to be income for purposes of deter-
mining the eligibility of a child of the individual for pro-
grams assisted under this subchapter.’’.
SEC. 110. INFANTS AND TODDLERS.
Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9643) is amended in subsection (b)(1) by striking ‘‘phys-
ical, emotional, and intellectual development’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘learning, health, and development’’.
SEC. 111. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.
Section 648 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843)
is amended as follows:
(1) By inserting the following new subsection
after subsection (a) and redesignating subsections
(b) through (e) as (c) through (f):
‘‘(b) The Secretary shall make available the money
reserved in section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) to support a State-
based system delivering training and technical assistance
that improves the capacity of Head Start programs within
a State to deliver services in accordance with the Head
Start performance standards in section 641A(a)(1), with
particular attention to the education standards in section
641A(a)(1)(B). The Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) ensure eligible entities within a State are
chosen by the Secretary through a competitive bid
process;
‘‘(2) ensure that existing agencies with dem-
onstrated expertise in providing high quality training
and technical assistance to improve the delivery of
Head Start services, including the State Head Start
Association, State agencies, and other entities cur-
rently providing training and technical assistance in
early education, be included in the planning and co-
ordination of the State system of training and tech-
nical assistance; and
‘‘(3) encourage States to supplement the funds
authorized in section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) with State,
Federal, or local funds other than Head Start funds,
to expand activities beyond Head Start agencies to
include other providers of other early childhood serv-
ices within a State.’’.
(2) By inserting the following at the end there-
of:
‘‘(g) For purposes of this section, the term ‘eligible
entities’ means an institution of higher education or other
entity with expertise in delivering training in early child-
hood development, family support, and other assistance
designed to improve the delivery of Head Start services.’’.
SEC. 112. STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT.
Section 648A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9843a) is amended as follows:
(1) In subparagraph (C) of subsection (a)(1) by
striking ‘‘and emotional’’ and inserting ‘‘to ensure
school readiness’’ after ‘‘children’’.
(2) In subparagraph (A) of subsection (a)(2) by
striking ‘‘2003’’ and inserting ‘‘2008’’ and by strik-
ing ‘‘an associate,’’ and inserting ‘‘a’’ in clauses (i)
and (ii).
(3) By adding the following at the end of sub-
section (a)(2):
‘‘(C) REQUIREMENT
FOR
NEW
HEAD
START
TEACHERS.—Within 3 years after the
date of enactment of this clause, the Secretary
shall require that all Head Start teachers na-
tionwide in center-based programs hired fol-
lowing 
the 
date 
of 
enactment 
of 
this
subparagraph—
‘‘(i) have an associate, baccalaureate,
or advanced degree in early childhood edu-
cation;
‘‘(ii) have an associate, baccalaureate,
or advanced degree in a field related to
early childhood education, with experience
in teaching preschool children; or
‘‘(iii) be currently enrolled in a pro-
gram of study leading to an associate de-
gree in early childhood education and
agree to complete degree requirements
within 3 years from the date of hire.
‘‘(D) SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec-
retary shall establish requirements to ensure
that individuals who receive financial assistance
under this Act in order to comply with the re-
quirements under section 648A(a)(2) shall sub-
sequently teach in a Head Start center for a pe-
riod of time equivalent to the period for which
they received assistance or repay the amount of
the funds.’’.
(4) By adding the following at the end thereof:
‘‘(f) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS.—Every
Head Start agency and program shall create, in consulta-
tion with an employee, a professional development plan for
all full-time employees who provide direct services to chil-
dren.’’.
SEC. 113. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUA-
TION.
Section 649 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844)
is amended as follows:
(1) By striking subsection (b).
(2) In subsection (c)(1)(C) by striking ‘‘multi-
cultural nature’’ and inserting ‘‘range’’.
(3) By striking paragraph (9) of subsection (d).
(4) In subsection (d)(10)(B) by striking ‘‘socio-
emotional’’.
(5) By striking clause (i) of subsection
(g)(1)(A) and redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as
clauses (i) and (ii).
(6) In subsection (g)(5)(A)(i) by striking ‘‘the
social competence of children, by increasing’’.
(7) By amending subsection (g)(5)(A)(ii)(I) to
read as follows:
‘‘(I) enhance the learning, health, and
development of children;’’.
(8) In subsection (g)(7)(C)(i) by striking
‘‘1999’’ and inserting ‘‘2003’’, striking ‘‘2001’’ and
inserting ‘‘2005’’, and striking ‘‘2003’’ and inserting
‘‘2006’’.
SEC. 114. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
Sections 640(a)(6)(B)(iii)(I), 648A(g)(7)(C)(ii), and
650(a) of the Head Start Act are each amended by strik-
ing ‘‘Labor and Human Resources’’ and inserting
‘‘Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’’.
SEC. 115. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this Act shall be effective
with respect to fiscal years beginning on and after October
1, 2003.
TITLE II—STATE
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
SEC. 201. STATE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
The Head Start Act is amended by inserting after
section 643 the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 643A. STATE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) GRANTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of each eligible
State that submits to the Secretary an application
that fulfills the requirements of this section, the Sec-
retary, from amounts appropriated under section
639(a), shall make a grant to the State to carry out
a State demonstration program under this section.
‘‘(2) STATE ELIGIBILITY.—A State shall be eli-
gible to participate in the program under this sec-
tion if it meets each of the following criteria:
‘‘(A) The State has an existing State sup-
ported system providing early childhood edu-
cation services to children prior to entry into
kindergarten.
‘‘(B) The State has existing standards for
school readiness that are aligned with State
kindergarten through twelfth grade academic
content standards or provides an assurance that
such standards will be aligned by the end of the
second fiscal year of participation.
‘‘(C) The State has established qualifica-
tions for early childhood educators.
‘‘(D) The State has established a means
for inter-agency coordination and collaboration
in the development of the plan under (h).
‘‘(b) LEAD AGENCY.—A program under this section
shall be administered by a State governmental entity des-
ignated by the Chief Executive Officer of the State as the
lead State agency.
‘‘(c) STATE OPERATION OF PROGRAM.—The State
may conduct all or any part of the program under this
section (including the activities specified in subsection (g))
directly or by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.
‘‘(d) TRANSITION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A local grantee that was
receiving funds under the Head Start Act of 1965,
as that Act was in effect prior to the date of enact-
ment of this section, and is serving the geographic
area covered by the plan in section 643A(h) shall
continue to receive funds from the State, in accord-
ance with the terms of that award for at least 12
months after a State receives approval to participate
in a program under this section, provided that the
applicant has not experienced substantial uncor-
rected deficiencies on Department of Health and
Human Services monitoring reports during any year
of the most recent 5-year period.
‘‘(2) AFTER TRANSITION.—Following the end of
the transition, States are strongly encouraged to
continue utilizing current service providers that have
demonstrated the ability to provide high quality
Head Start services consistent with State guidelines
for school preparedness for children entering kinder-
garten.
‘‘(e) FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—
‘‘(1) ALLOCATION
OF
FEDERAL
ALLOTMENTS
TO STATE PROGRAMS.—From each total amount de-
scribed in paragraph (2) allotted to a State for a fis-
cal year, the Secretary shall pay to a State with a
program approved under this section for such fiscal
year an amount equal to—
‘‘(A) if the State program is statewide,
100 percent of such total amount; and
‘‘(B) if the State program is limited to a
geographic area or areas, the sum of—
‘‘(i) an amount equal to the amount
received by grantees in such geographic
area or areas for the Federal fiscal year
preceding the first fiscal year of the State
program under this section; plus
‘‘(ii) an amount bearing the same
ratio to the excess (if any) above the total
amount for such preceding fiscal year as
the number of children less than 5 years of
age from families whose income is below
the poverty line in the geographic area or
areas included in the program bears to the
total number of such children in the State
(as determined using the same data used
pursuant to section 640(a)(4)(B)).
‘‘(2) FUNDS
ALLOCATED.—For purposes of
paragraph (1), amounts described in this paragraph
are:
‘‘(A) 
BASIC
STATE
ALLOTMENTS.—
Amounts allotted to States pursuant to section
640(a)(4), including amounts reserved pursuant
to section 640(a)(5).
‘‘(B) STATE ALLOTMENTS OF EXPANSION
FUNDS.—Amounts allotted to States pursuant
to section 640(a)(3)(D)(i)(I) for program ex-
pansion.
‘‘(C) QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT
FUNDS.—
Quality improvement funds (if any) reserved
pursuant to section 640(a)(3).
‘‘(D) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSIST-
ANCE FUNDS.—An amount bearing the same
ratio to the amount set aside for training and
technical assistance activities pursuant to sec-
tion 640(a)(2)(C)(i) and (ii) as the State’s
share of amounts allotted under section
640(a)(4)(B) bears to the total amount so allot-
ted (and for purposes of subparagraph (A),
such amount shall be considered an amount al-
lotted to the State for the fiscal year).
‘‘(3) NON-FEDERAL MATCH.—Financial assist-
ance made available to a State for programs carried
out under this section shall not exceed 95 percent of
the total amount expended for such programs. Non-
Federal contributions may be made in cash or in
kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or
services. The Secretary may not require non-Federal
contributions in excess of 5 percent of the total
amount expended for such programs. In determining
the amount of Federal and non-Federal contribu-
tions for purposes of this section, the amounts re-
quired to be expended by the State under subsection
(g)(1)(M)(iii)(relating to maintenance of effort) shall
be excluded.
‘‘(4) COMBINED
OPERATIONS
WITH
OTHER
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION
PROGRAMS.—A
State may combine funds for a program under this
section with funds for other early childhood pro-
grams serving children in the same age group, as
long as all applicable requirements of this sub-
chapter are met with respect to either—
‘‘(A) the entire combined program; or
‘‘(B) each child served in such combined
program for whom the services provided are
funded from appropriations under this sub-
chapter or non-Federal matching contributions
under this subchapter.
‘‘(5) USE OF FUNDS WITHOUT REGARD TO AL-
LOTMENT PURPOSES.—A State may use funds re-
ceived pursuant to this section for any program pur-
pose set forth in section 636, without regard to the
purposes for such funds specified in section 640.
‘‘(6) OTHER
FUNDS.—Funds received under
this section shall not supplant non-Federal funds
that would otherwise be used for activities author-
ized under this section.
‘‘(f) COORDINATION AND CHOICE.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—A State demonstration
Program shall be coordinated with the education
programs of local educational agencies in the State
to ensure that the program is effectively designed to
develop in children in the program the knowledge
and behaviors necessary to transition successfully to
kindergarten and to succeed in school.
‘‘(2) PROGRAMS CONCERNED.—
‘‘(A) REQUIRED PROGRAMS.—Such coordi-
nation shall occur regarding the implementation
of the following:
‘‘(i) The Early Reading First and
Even Start programs under title I, part B,
subparts 2 and 3 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, and
other preschool programs carried out
under title I of that Act.
‘‘(ii) State prekindergarten programs.
‘‘(iii) The Ready-to-Learn Television
Program under subpart 3 of Part D of
title II of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act.
‘‘(B) OPTIONAL PROGRAMS.—Such coordi-
nation may occur regarding the implementation
of the following:
‘‘(i) Programs under the Child Care
and Development Block Grant Act.
‘‘(ii) Other publicly funded early child-
hood education programs.
‘‘(3) PARENTAL CHOICE.—The program shall
allow parents to choose the preschool program for
their child.
‘‘(g) REQUIRED SERVICES.—With funds under this
section, the State shall provide services described in sec-
tion 641A (and, if applicable, services described in section
645A) at least as extensive as were provided, and to at
least as many children and families in each fiscal year as
were provided such services, with such funds in the base
year in the State (or, if applicable, in the geographic area
included in the State program). A program under this sec-
tion shall include the following comprehensive activities
designed to promote school readiness and success in
school:
‘‘(1) CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION.—
Activities with enrolled children that promote—
‘‘(A) cognitive development, language de-
velopment, prereading, and premathematics
knowledge and skills;
‘‘(B) physical development, health, and nu-
trition (including through coordination with),
and referral of children and families to local
health service entities; and
‘‘(C) social development important for en-
vironments constructive for child development,
early learning, and school success.
‘‘(2) 
PARENT
EDUCATION
AND
INVOLVE-
MENT.—Activities with the parents of enrolled chil-
dren directed at enhancing and encouraging—
‘‘(A) involvement in, and ability to sup-
port, their children’s educational development,
‘‘(B) parenting skills and understanding of
child development, and
‘‘(C) ability to participate effectively in de-
cisions relating to the education of their chil-
dren.
‘‘(3) SOCIAL
AND
FAMILY
SUPPORT
SERV-
ICES.—Activities directed at securing appropriate so-
cial and family support services for enrolled children
and their families, primarily through referral and co-
ordination with local, State, and Federal entities
that provide such services.
‘‘(4) HEAD START SERVICES.—For purposes of
paragraph (1):
‘‘(A) Head Start services furnished in a
State program under this section shall include
all Head Start services, other than—
‘‘(i) Indian Head Start programs and
migrant and seasonal Head Start pro-
grams supported with funds reserved
under section 640(a)(2)(A); and
‘‘(ii) Early Head Start services, except
as provided in subparagraph (B); and
‘‘(B) Services furnished may, at State op-
tion, include Early Head Start services, either
Statewide or in selected geographic areas of the
State. In the case of a State that elects to ad-
minister an Early Head Start program under
this section, the State shall provide a program
of family-centered services for low-income in-
fants, toddlers and pregnant women, meeting
the requirements of section 645A, designed to
promote the development of the children, and to
enable their parents to fulfill their roles as par-
ents and to move toward self-sufficiency.
‘‘(h) STATE PLAN.—A State proposing to administer
a program under this section shall submit a State plan
to the Secretary. The State plan shall include the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(1) LEAD
STATE
AGENCY.—The plan shall
identify the entity designated by the Chief Executive
Officer of the State as the lead State agency.
‘‘(2) GEOGRAPHIC AREA.—The plan shall speci-
fy whether the program is statewide, and, if it is
not, identify the geographic area or areas covered by
the plan. A geographic area may be a city, county,
standard metropolitan statistical area, or such other
geographic area in the State.
‘‘(3) PROGRAM PERIOD.—The plan shall specify
the period during which the program will be in ef-
fect.
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—A State program
under this section shall be in effect for a period
of at least three and not more than 5 Federal
fiscal years.
‘‘(B) EXTENSION.—A State that has ad-
ministered a program in accordance with the
requirements of this section—
‘‘(i) shall be allowed to extend such
program through fiscal year 2008, upon
submission to the Secretary, of a proposed
plan meeting the requirements for ap-
proval; and
‘‘(ii) shall notify the Secretary, at
least one year before the end of the current
plan period, whether the State intends to
extend the program.
‘‘(4) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION.—The plan shall
describe the services under subsection (f) to be pro-
vided in the program and arrangements the State
proposes to use to provide the services specified in
subsection (f).
‘‘(5) NEEDS ASSESSMENT.—The plan shall pro-
vide an assurance that the State has identified the
needs for services within a State or geographic area
to be served and is targeting services to those areas
of greatest need.
‘‘(6) ASSURANCE OF COMPLIANCE.—The plan
shall provide an assurance that the State program
will comply with the requirements of this section, in-
cluding each of the following:
‘‘(A) PRIORITY
FOR
LOW-INCOME
CHIL-
DREN.—Requirements established pursuant to
section 645(a) concerning the eligibility and pri-
ority of individuals for participation in Head
Start programs.
‘‘(B) CONTINUATION FOR EXISTING PRO-
VIDERS.—An applicant who received funds
under this subchapter in prior fiscal years and
has not corrected any substantial deficiencies
identified in the past 5 years shall not be eligi-
ble to receive any grants, contract, or coopera-
tive agreements under this section.
‘‘(C) PARTICIPATION OF CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES.—Requirements pursuant to sec-
tion 640(d) concerning Head Start enrollment
opportunities and services for children with dis-
abilities.
‘‘(D) PROVISIONS CONCERNING FEES AND
COPAYMENTS.—The 
provisions 
of 
section
645(b) concerning the charging of fees and the
circumstances under which copayments are per-
missible.
‘‘(E) FEDERAL SHARE; STATE AND LOCAL
MATCHING.—The provisions of section 640(b)
limiting Federal financial assistance for Head
Start programs, and providing for non-Federal
contributions.
‘‘(F) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The provi-
sions of section 644(b) limiting the share of
program funds that may be used for developing
and administering a program.
‘‘(G) FEDERAL
PROPERTY
INTEREST.—
Applicable provisions of this subchapter regard-
ing the Federal Government interest in prop-
erty (including real property) purchased, leased,
or renovated with Federal funds.
‘‘(7) IDENTIFICATION OF BARRIERS.—The plan
shall identify barriers in the State to the effective
use of Federal, State, and local public funds, and
private funds, for early education and care that are
available to the State on the date on which the ap-
plication is submitted.
‘‘(8) STATE GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL READI-
NESS.—The plan shall include—
‘‘(A) a State definition of school readiness;
‘‘(B) a description of the State’s general
goals for school readiness, including how the
State intends to—
‘‘(i) promote and maintain ongoing
communication and collaboration between
providers of early care and education and
local educational agencies in the State;
‘‘(ii) align early childhood and kinder-
garten curricula to ensure program con-
tinuity; and
‘‘(iii) ensure that children successfully
transition to kindergarten.
‘‘(9) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.—The plan
shall provide a description of the State plan for as-
suring the ongoing professional development of early
childhood educators and administrators including
how the State intends to—
‘‘(A) improve the competencies of early
childhood educators in meeting the cognitive
and other developmental needs of young chil-
dren through effective instructional strategies,
methods, and skills;
‘‘(B) develop and implement initiatives to
effectively recruit and promote the retention of
early childhood educators;
‘‘(C) encourage institutions of higher edu-
cation, providers of community-based training,
and other qualified providers to develop high-
quality programs to prepare students to be
early childhood education professionals; and
‘‘(D) improve the quality of professional
development available to meet the needs of
teachers that serve preschool children.
‘‘(10) QUALITY ASSURANCE.—
‘‘(A) To assure the quality of early child-
hood services provided to preschool age children
the plan shall—
‘‘(i) describe State early childhood
teacher credentials and qualifications;
‘‘(ii) assure that the program has in
place scientifically-based curricula;
‘‘(iii) describe student-teacher ratio
for each age group served;
‘‘(iv) assure the program has in place
services to promote congitive development,
language, prereading, and premathematical
knowledge and skills; and
‘‘(v) assure that the program has in
place services to promote the health, safe-
ty, nutrition, and other developmental
needs of preschool age children.
‘‘(B) The State plan shall provide an ex-
planation for any of the above that do not con-
form to requirements under this subchapter.
‘‘(11) STATE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.—
‘‘(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
State 
plan
shall—
‘‘(i) ensure that individual providers
are achieving results in advancing the
knowledge and behaviors identified by the
State as prerequisites for effective kinder-
garten performance; and
‘‘(ii) specify the measures the State
will use to evaluate the progress toward
achieving such results and the effectiveness
of the State program under this section,
and of individual providers in such pro-
gram.
‘‘(B) PUBLICATION OF RESULTS.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause
(ii), the results shall be made publicly
available in the communities served by the
program.
‘‘(ii) 
CONFIDENTIALITY
SAFE-
GUARDS.—The system shall have in effect
privacy safeguards ensuring that informa-
tion on children included in data and re-
sults made public in accordance with
clause (i) shall be in aggregated form, and
shall not include information allowing iden-
tification of individual children.
‘‘(12) TRANSITION
PLAN.—The initial State
plan shall make provision for transition from the di-
rect Federal program under section 640 to the dem-
onstration program.
‘‘(13) COOPERATION
WITH
RESEARCH
STUD-
IES.—The plan shall provide assurances that the
State will cooperate with research activities de-
scribed in section 649.
‘‘(14) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.—The State
plan shall—
‘‘(A) contain a commitment to provide
data, at such times and in such format as the
Secretary requires, concerning non-Federal ex-
penditures and numbers of children and fami-
lies served in preschool and Head Start pro-
grams during the base year and each fiscal year
covered under the State plan, sufficient to sat-
isfy the Secretary that the State program will
meet its obligation with respect to the mainte-
nance of effort requirement under subpara-
graph (B); and
‘‘(B) assure that the resources (which may
be cash or in-kind) contributed by the State
government to child care for preschool-aged
children and other preschool programs, includ-
ing Head Start, in the State (or, if applicable,
in the geographic area included in the State
program) for each fiscal year in which the pro-
gram under this section is in effect shall be in
an amount at least equal to the total amount
of such State governmental resources contrib-
uted to support such programs in the State (or
geographic area) for the base year.
‘‘(i) RECORDS, REPORTS AND AUDITS.—The State
agency administering the State program, and each entity
participating as a Head Start service provider, shall main-
tain such records, make such reports, and cooperate with
such audits as the Secretary may require for oversight of
program activities and expenditures.
‘‘(j) INAPPLICABILITY OF PROVISIONS CONCERNING
PRIORITY IN AGENCY DESIGNATION.—The provisions of
subsections (c) and (d) of section 641 (concerning priority
in designation of Head Start agencies, successor agencies,
and delegate agencies) shall not apply to a State program
under this section.
‘‘(k) CONSULTATION.—A State proposing to admin-
ister a program under this section shall submit, with the
plan under this section, assurances that the plan was de-
veloped through timely and meaningful consultation with
appropriate public and private sector entities, including—
‘‘(G) museums and libraries;
‘‘(H) other relevant entities in the State;
and
‘‘(I) other agencies that provide resources
for young children.
‘‘(l) STATE PLAN SUBMISSION.—An application shall
be submitted by a State pursuant to this section to the
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Edu-
cation, and shall be deemed to be approved by the Sec-
retary unless the Secretary makes a written determina-
tion, prior to the expiration of a reasonable time beginning
on the date on which the Secretary received the applica-
tion, that the application is not in compliance with this
section.
‘‘(m) FEDERAL OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY; CORREC-
TIVE ACTION; WITHDRAWAL OF APPROVAL.—
‘‘(1) FEDERAL
OVERSIGHT.—The Secretary
shall retain the authority to oversee the operation of
the State program under this section, including
through review of records and reports, audits, and
onsite inspection of records and facilities and moni-
toring of program activities and operations.
‘‘(2) CORRECTION
OF
DEFICIENCIES.—If the
Secretary determines that a State program under
this section substantially fails to meet the require-
ments of this section, the Secretary shall notify the
State of the deficiencies identified and require cor-
rective action as follows:
‘‘(A) DEFICIENCIES
CAUSING
IMMEDIATE
JEOPARDY.—The Secretary shall require imme-
diate corrective action to eliminate a deficiency
that the Secretary finds threatens the health or
safety of staff or program participants or poses
a threat to the integrity of Federal funds.
‘‘(B) OTHER
DEFICIENCIES.—The Sec-
retary, taking into consideration the nature and
magnitude of a deficiency not described in sub-
paragraph (A), and the time reasonably re-
quired for correction, may—
‘‘(i) require the State to correct the
deficiency within 90 days after notification
under this paragraph; or
‘‘(ii) require the State to implement a
quality improvement plan designed to cor-
rect the deficiency within one year from
identification of the deficiency.
‘‘(3) WITHDRAWAL OF APPROVAL.—If the defi-
ciencies identified under paragraph (2) are not cor-
rected by the deadlines established by the Secretary,
the Secretary shall initiate proceedings to withdraw
approval of the State program under this section.
‘‘(4) PROCEDURAL RIGHTS.—A State subject to
adverse action under this subsection shall have the
same procedural rights as a Head Start agency sub-
ject to adverse action under section 641A.
‘‘(n) EVALUATION.—(1) The Secretary shall appoint
an independent advisory committee to design, oversee, and
compile findings from an evaluation of the state dem-
onstration program—
‘‘(2) The evaluation shall include—
‘‘(A) data on the characteristics of preschool
age children served;
‘‘(B) an assessment of the quality and charac-
teristics of the services provided;
‘‘(C) the rate of progress of the State in im-
proving the school readiness of disadvantaged chil-
dren in the key domains of development; and
‘‘(D) an assessment of the impact of the pro-
grams supported under this section on the access
and quality of early childhood education systems.
‘‘(o) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘base year’ means the most recent Federal fiscal year
preceding the first fiscal year of the State program under
this section for which adequate and reliable data are avail-
able, as determined by the Secretary.’’.
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