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, 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 years’’ 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-
signed to improve the quality of early childhood edu-
cations programs.
‘‘(19) The term ‘homeless children’ has the
meaning given such term in subtitle B of title VII
of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 11431 et seq.).’’.
SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION.
Section 639 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9834)
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 639. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated for carrying out the provisions of this sub-
chapter $6,870,000,000 for the fiscal year 2004,
$6,988,750,000 for fiscal year 2005, $7,106,500,000 for
fiscal year 2006, $7,245,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, and
$7,427,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
‘‘(b) SPECIFIC PROGRAMS.—From the amount ap-
propriated under subsection (a), the Secretary shall make
available not more than $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2004,
and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005
through 2008 to carry out such other research, dem-
onstration, and evaluation activities, including longitu-
dinal studies, under section 649.
‘‘(1) not more than $7,000,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2004 through 2008 to carry out impact
studies under section 649(g); and
‘‘(2) not more than $13,000,000 for fiscal year
2004, and such sums as may be necessary for each
of fiscal years 2005 through 2008, to carry out
other research, demonstration, and evaluation activi-
ties, including longitudinal studies, under section
649.
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—There are au-
thorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal
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) In subsection (a)(2):
(A) By striking ‘‘1998’’ in subparagraph
(A) and inserting ‘‘2003’’.
(B) By amending subparagraph (B) to
read as follows:
‘‘(B) payments, subject to paragraph (7) to
Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands of
the United States;’’.
(2) By striking the last sentence of paragraph
(2) of subsection (a).
(3)(A) By amending subsection (a)(2)(C) to
read as follows:
‘‘(C) training and technical assistance activities
that are sufficient to meet the needs associated with
program expansion and to foster program and man-
agement improvement as described in section 648 of
this subchapter, in an amount for each fiscal year
which is equal to one percent of the amount appro-
priated for such fiscal year, of which—
‘‘(i) not less than 50 percent shall be made
available to local Head Start agencies to comply
with 
the 
standards 
described 
in 
section
641A(a)(1), of which not less than 50 percent
shall be used to comply with the standards de-
scribed in section 641A(a)(1)(B) and for the
uses described in clauses (iii), (iv), and (vii) of
subsection (a)(3)(B);
‘‘(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 in meeting the standards described in
section 641A(a)(1); and
‘‘(iv) not less than $3,000,000 of the
amount in clause (iii) appropriated for such fis-
cal year shall be made available to carry out ac-
tivities described in section 648(c)(4);’’.
(B) By inserting the following at the end of
subsection (a)(2):
‘‘Of an additional one percent of the amount appropriated
for such fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not less than
25 percent of such funds to fund the expansion of services
to migrant and seasonal Head Start children. If sufficient
migrant and seasonal eligible children are not available to
use such funds, then enrollment priority shall be given to
other disadvantaged populations referred to in subpara-
graph (A). Not less than 60 percent of such one percent
amount shall be used to fund quality improvement
activites as described in sec 640(a)(3)(B) and (C)’’.
(4) In subsection (a)(3)(A) by inserting at the
end thereof:
‘‘(iii) After the reservation of amounts under para-
graph (2) and the 60 percent amount referred to in sub-
paragraph (A) of this paragraph, a portion of the remain-
ing funds shall be made available for quality to expand
services to underserved populations, such as children re-
ceiving services under the Early Head Start and Migrant
and Seasonal Head Start programs.’’.
(5) In subsection (a)(3)(A)(i)(I) by striking
‘‘1999’’ and all that follows down to the semicolon
and inserting ‘‘2004 through 2008’’.
(6) By amending subsection (a)(3)(B) to read
as follows:
‘‘(B) Funds reserved under this paragraph (referred
to in this paragraph as ‘quality improvement funds’) shall
be used to accomplish any or all of the following goals:
‘‘(i) Ensuring that Head Start programs meet
or exceed standards pursuant to section 641A(a)(1).
‘‘(ii) Ensuring that such programs have ade-
quate numbers of qualified staff, and that such staff
is furnished adequate training, including developing
skills to promote the development of language skills,
premathematic skills, and prereading in young chil-
dren and in working with children with non-English
language background, children referred by child wel-
fare services, and children with disabilities, when ap-
propriate.
‘‘(iii) Developing and financing the salary scales
described under section 644(a) and section 653, in
order to ensure that salary levels and benefits are
adequate to attract and retain qualified staff for
such programs.
‘‘(iv) Using salary increases to improve staff
qualifications, and to assist with the implementation
of programs specifically designed to enable lead in-
structors to become more effective educators, for the
staff of Head Start programs, and to encourage the
staff to continually improve their skills and expertise
by informing the staff of the availability of Federal
and State incentive and loan forgiveness programs
for professional development.
‘‘(v) Improving community-wide strategic plan-
ning and needs assessments for such programs and
collaboration efforts for such programs, including
collaborations to increase program participation by
underserved populations of eligible children.
‘‘(vi) Ensuring that the physical environments
of Head Start programs are conducive to providing
effective program services to children and families,
and are accessible to children with disabilities and
their parents.
‘‘(vii) Ensuring that such programs have quali-
fied staff that can promote language skills and lit-
eracy growth of children and that can provide chil-
dren with a variety of skills that have been identi-
fied, through scientifically based reading research, as
predictive of later reading achievement.
‘‘(viii) Providing assistance to complete post-
secondary 
course 
work 
needed 
to 
attain
baccalaureate degrees in early childhood education.
‘‘(ix) Making such other improvements in the
quality of such programs as the Secretary may des-
ignate.
‘‘(x) To promote the regular attendance and
stability of highly mobile children, including migrant
and homeless children.’’.
(7) By amending subsection (a)(3)(C) to read
as follows:
‘‘(C) Quality improvement funds shall be used to
carry out any or all of the following activities:
‘‘(i)(I) Not less than one-half of the amount re-
served under this paragraph, to improve the com-
pensation (including benefits) of classroom teachers
and other staff of Head Start agencies providing in-
structional services and thereby enhancing recruit-
ment and retention of qualified staff, including re-
cruitment and retention pursuant to achieving the
requirements set forth in section 648A(a). The ex-
penditure of funds under this clause shall be subject
to section 653. Salary increases, in excess of cost-of-
living allowance, provided with such funds shall be
subject to the specific standards governing salaries
and salary increases established pursuant to section
644(a).
‘‘(II) If a Head Start agency certifies to the
Secretary for such fiscal year that part of the funds
set aside under subclause (I) to improve wages can-
not be expended by such agency to improve wages
because of the operation of section 653, then such
agency may expend such part for any of the uses
specified in this subparagraph (other than wages).
‘‘(III) From the remainder of the amount re-
served under this paragraph (after the Secretary
carries out subclause (I)), the Secretary shall carry
out any or all of the activities described in clauses
(ii) through (vii), placing the highest priority on the
activities described in clause (ii).
‘‘(ii) To train classroom teachers and other
staff to meet the education standards described in
section 641A(a)(1)(B), through activities—
‘‘(I) to promote children’s language and
prereading growth, through techniques identi-
fied through scientifically based reading re-
search;
‘‘(II) to promote the acquisition of the
English language for non-English background
children and families;
‘‘(III) to foster children’s school readiness
skills through activities described in section
648A(a)(1); and
‘‘(IV) to educate and provide training nec-
essary to improve the qualifications particularly
with respect to such assistance to enable more
instructors to meet the degree requirements
under section 648A(a)(2)(A) and to support
staff training, child counseling, and other serv-
ices necessary to address the problems of chil-
dren participating in Head Start programs, in-
cluding children from dysfunctional families,
children who experience chronic violence in their
communities, and children who experience sub-
stance abuse in their families.
‘‘(iii) To employ additional Head Start staff, in-
cluding staff necessary to reduce the child-staff ratio
lead instructors who meet the qualifications of sec-
tion 648A(a) and staff necessary to coordinate a
Head Start program with other services available to
children participating in such program and to their
families.
‘‘(iv) To pay costs incurred by Head Start
agencies to purchase insurance (other than employee
benefits) and thereby maintain or expand Head
Start services.
‘‘(v) To supplement amounts provided under
paragraph (2)(C) to provide training necessary to
improve the qualifications of the staff of the Head
Start agencies, and to support staff training, child
counseling, and other services necessary to address
the problems of children participating in Head Start
programs, including children from dysfunctional
families, children who experience chronic violence in
their communities, and children who experience sub-
stance abuse in their families.
‘‘(vi) To conduct outreach to homeless families
in an effort to increase the program participation of
eligible homeless children.
‘‘(vii) Such other activities as the Secretary
may designate.
‘‘(viii) To conduct outreach to migrant and sea-
sonal farm-working families and families with chil-
dren with a limited English proficiency.’’.
(8) In subsection (a)(4) by striking ‘‘1998’’ in
subparagraph (A) and inserting ‘‘2003’’.
(9) In subsection (a)(5)(B)—
(A) by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting
‘‘shall’’; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘early childhood edu-
cation’’ after ‘‘regarding’’.
(10) By amending subsection (a)(5)(C) to read
as follows:
‘‘(C) In order to improve results for children, a State
that receives a grant under subparagraph (B) shall—
‘‘(i) appoint an individual to serve as the State
Director of Collaboration between—
‘‘(I) the appropriate regional office of the
Administration for Children and Families;
‘‘(II) the State educational agency;
‘‘(III) the State Department of Health and
Human Services;
‘‘(IV) the State agency that oversees child
care;
‘‘(V) the State agency that assists children
with developmental disabilities;
‘‘(VI) the State Head Start Association;
‘‘(VII) the State network of child care re-
source and referral agencies;
‘‘(VIII) local educational agencies;
‘‘(IX) community-based and faith-based or-
ganizations;
‘‘(X) State representatives of migrant and
seasonal Head Start programs;
‘‘(XI) State representatives of Indian Head
Start programs;
‘‘(XII) State and local providers of early
childhood education and child care; and
‘‘(XIII) other entities carrying out pro-
grams serving low-income children and families
in the State;
‘‘(ii) ensure that the State Director of Collabo-
ration holds a position with sufficient authority and
access to ensure that the collaboration described in
subparagraph (B) is effective and involves a range
of State agencies;
‘‘(iii) involve the entities described in section
clause (i) to develop a strategic plan for the coordi-
nated outreach to identify eligible children and im-
plementation strategies based on a needs assessment
conducted by the Office of the State Director of Col-
laboration which shall include an assessment of the
availability of high quality prekindergarten services
for low-income children in the State. Such assess-
ment shall be completed within one year after the
date of enactment of the ‘School Readiness Act of
2003’ and be updated on an annual basis and shall
be made available to the general public within the
State;
‘‘(iv) ensure that the collaboration described in
subparagraph (B) involves coordination of Head
Start services with health care, welfare, child care,
child protective services, education, and community
service activities, family literacy services, activities
relating to children with disabilities (including co-
ordination of services with those State officials who
are responsible for administering part C and section
619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act), and services for homeless children (including
coordination of services with the Office of Coordi-
nator for Education of Homeless Children and
Youth designated under section 722 (g)(1)(J)(ii) of
the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance
Improvements Act of 2001;
‘‘(v) consult with the chief State school officer,
local educational agencies, and representatives of
local Head Start agencies and providers of early
childhood education and care in unified planning re-
garding early care and education services at both the
State and local levels, including collaborative efforts
to develop school readiness standards; and
‘‘(vi) consult with the chief State school officer,
local educational agencies, State child care adminis-
trators, State human services administrators, rep-
resentatives of local resource and referral agencies,
local early childhood councils, providers of early
childhood education and care and other relevant
State and local agencies, and representatives of the
State Head Start Associations to plan for the provi-
sion of full-working-day, full calendar year early care
and education services for children.’’.
(11) By amending clause (i) of subsection
(a)(5)(D) by inserting ‘‘and providers of services
supporting early childhood education and child care’’
after ‘‘Associations’’.
(12) By amending subsection (a)(6)(A) to read
as follows:
‘‘(A) From amounts reserved and allotted pursuant
to paragraphs (2) and (4), the Secretary shall use, for
grants for programs described in section 645A(a) of this
subchapter, a portion of the combined total of such
amounts equal to at least 10 percent for fiscal years 2004
through 2008, of the amount appropriated pursuant to
section 639(a), except as provided in subparagraph (B).’’.
(13) By inserting the following before the pe-
riod at the end of subsection (f): ‘‘, including models
that leverage the existing capacity and capabilities of
the delivery system of early childhood education and
child care’’.
(14) By inserting the following after ‘‘manner
that will’’ in subsection (g)(2)(G): ‘‘leverage the ex-
isting delivery systems of such services and’’.
(15) By amending subsection (g)(2)(C) to read
as follows:
‘‘(C) the extent to which the applicant has un-
dertaken community-wide strategic planning and
needs assessments involving other community orga-
nizations and public agencies serving children and
families (including organizations and agencies pro-
viding family support services and protective services
to children and families, and organizations serving
families in whose homes English is not the language
customarily spoken), and organizations and public
entities serving children with disabilities and home-
less children (including the local educational agency
liaison designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of
the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance
Improvements Act of 2001);’’.
(16) By inserting in subsection (g)(2)(H) after
‘‘serving the community involved’’ the following: ‘‘,
including the liaison designated under section
722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001,’’.
(17) By adding the following new subsections at
the end thereof:
‘‘(m) ENROLLMENT OF HOMELESS CHILDREN.—The
Secretary shall by regulation prescribe policies and proce-
dures to remove barriers to the enrollment and participa-
tion of eligible homeless children in Head Start programs.
Such regulations shall require Head Start agencies to:
‘‘(1) implement policies and procedures to en-
sure that eligible homeless children are identified
and prioritized for enrollment,
‘‘(2) allow homeless families to apply to, enroll
in and attend Head Start programs while required
documents, such as proof of residency, immunization
and other medical records, birth certificates and
other documents, are obtained within a reasonable
time frame, and
‘‘(3) coordinate individual Head Start centers
and programs with efforts to implement Subtitle
VII–B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
Act.
‘‘(n) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this Act shall
be construed to require a State to establish a program
of early education for children in the State, to require any
child to participate in a program of early education, to
attend school, or to participate in any initial screening
prior to participation in such program, except as provided
under 
section 
612(a)(3), 
(consistent 
with 
section
614(a)(1)(C)), of the Individuals with Disabilities Edu-
cation Act.
‘‘(o) MATERIALS.—All curricula and instructional
materials funded under this subchapter shall be scientif-
ically based and age appropriate. Parents shall have the
ability to inspect, upon request, any curricula or instruc-
tional materials.’’.
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)—
(A) by inserting after ‘‘community’’ in the
first place it appears ‘‘, including a community-
based or faith-based organization’’;
(B) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(a)’’;
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and
(2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
and
(D) by adding the following 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, nutri-
tional, 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 paragraph (2).
‘‘(4) Progress in meeting such goals shall not be
measured primarily or solely by the results of assess-
ments.’’.
(2) By amending subsection (c) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(c) In the administration of the provisions of this
section, the Secretary shall, in consultation with the chief
executive officer of the State involved if such State ex-
pends non-Federal funds to carry out Head Start pro-
grams, give priority in the designation of Head Start
agencies to any local public or private nonprofit or for-
profit agency which is receiving funds under any Head
Start program on the date of the enactment of this Act
that fulfills the program and financial management re-
quirements, standards described in section 641A(a)(1), re-
sults-based performance measures developed by the Sec-
retary under section 641A(b), or other requirements es-
tablished by the Secretary.’’.
(3) By amending subsection (d) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(d) If no entity in a community is entitled to the
priority specified in subsection (c), then the Secretary may
designate a Head Start agency from among qualified ap-
plicants in such community. In selecting from among
qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start agen-
cy, the Secretary shall give priority to any qualified agency
that functioned as a Head Start delegate agency in the
community and carried out a Head Start program that
the Secretary determines met or exceeded such perform-
ance standards and such results-based performance meas-
ures. In selecting from among qualified applicants for des-
ignation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall con-
sider the effectiveness of each such applicant to provide
Head Start services, based on—
‘‘(1) any past performance of such applicant in
providing services comparable to Head Start serv-
ices, including how effectively such applicant pro-
vided such comparable services;
‘‘(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 subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) of such section;
‘‘(4) the plan of such applicant to provide com-
prehensive health, nutritional, educational, social,
and other services needed to prepare children to suc-
ceed in school;
‘‘(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;
‘‘(7) the plan of such applicant—
‘‘(A) to seek the involvement of parents of
participating children in activities (at home and
in the center involved where practicable) de-
signed to help such parents become full part-
ners in the education of their children;
‘‘(B) to afford such parents the oppor-
tunity to participate in the development, con-
duct, and overall performance of the program
at the local level;
‘‘(C) to offer (directly or through referral
to local entities, such as entities carrying out
Even Start programs under part B of chapter
1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2741 et
seq.), public and school libraries, and family
support programs) to such parents—
‘‘(i) family literacy services; and
‘‘(ii) parenting skills training;
‘‘(D) to offer to parents of participating
children substance abuse counseling (either di-
rectly or through referral to local entities), in-
cluding information on drug-exposed infants
and fetal alcohol syndrome;
‘‘(E) at the option of such applicant, to
offer (directly or through referral to local enti-
ties) to such parents—
‘‘(i) training in basic child develop-
ment;
‘‘(ii) assistance in developing commu-
nication skills;
‘‘(iii) opportunities for parents to
share experiences with other parents; or
‘‘(iv) any other activity designed to
help such parents become full partners in
the education of their children;
‘‘(F) to provide, with respect to each par-
ticipating family, a family needs assessment
that includes consultation with such parents
about the benefits of parent involvement and
about the activities described in subparagraphs
(C) (D), and (E) in which such parents may
choose to become involved (taking into consider-
ation their specific family needs, work sched-
ules, and other responsibilities); and
‘‘(G) to extend out reach to fathers in
order to strengthen the role of fathers in fami-
lies by working directly with fathers and father-
figures through such activities as including fa-
thers in home visits; implementing father out-
reach efforts, providing opportunities for direct
father-child interactions; and targeting in-
creased male participation in the program;
‘‘(8) the ability of such applicant to carry out
the plans described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4);
‘‘(9) other factors related to the requirements
of this subchapter;
‘‘(10) the plan of such applicant to meet the
needs of non-English background children and their
families, including needs related to the acquisition of
the English language;
‘‘(11) the plan of such applicant to meet the
needs of children with disabilities;
‘‘(12) the plan of such applicant who chooses to
assist younger siblings of children who will partici-
pate in the proposed Head Start program to obtain
health services from other sources;
‘‘(13) the plan of such applicant to collaborate
with other entities carrying out early childhood edu-
cation and child care programs in the community;
and
‘‘(14) the plan of such applicant to meet the
needs of homeless children.’’.
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 en-
sure that the children participating in the pro-
gram, 
at 
a 
minimum 
develop 
and
demonstrate—
‘‘(I) language skills;
‘‘(II) prereading knowledge and skills,
including interest in and appreciation of
books, reading and writing either alone or
with others;
‘‘(III) premathematics knowledge and
skills, including aspects of classification,
seriation, number, spatial relations, and
time;
‘‘(IV) cognitive abilities related to aca-
demic achievement;
‘‘(V) social and emotional development
important for environments constructive
for child development, early learning, and
school success; and
‘‘(VI) in the case of limited-English
proficient children, progress toward acqui-
sition of the English language.’’.
(2) By amending subsection (a)(2)(B) to read
as follows:
‘‘(B) take into consideration—
‘‘(i) past experience with use of the
standards in effect under this subchapter
on October 27, 1998;
‘‘(ii) changes over the period since Oc-
tober 27, 1998, in the circumstances and
problems typically facing children and fam-
ilies served by Head Start agencies;
‘‘(iii) developments concerning best
practices with respect to early childhood
education and development, children with
disabilities, family services, program ad-
ministration, and financial management;
‘‘(iv) projected needs of an expanding
Head Start program;
‘‘(v) guidelines and standards cur-
rently in effect or under consideration that
promote child health services, and pro-
jected needs of expanding Head Start pro-
grams;
‘‘(vi) changes in the population of
children who are eligible to participate in
Head Start programs, including the lan-
guage background and family structure of
such children;
‘‘(vii) the need for, and state-of-the-
art developments relating to, local policies
and activities designed to ensure that chil-
dren participating in Head Start programs
make a successful transition to schools;
and
‘‘(viii) the unique challenges faced by
individual programs, including those that
are seasonal or short term, and those that
serve rural populations; and’’.
(3) In subsection (a)(2)(C)(ii) by striking all
that follows ‘‘in effect on’’ down to the period and
inserting ‘‘October 27, 1998’’.
(4) By amending subsection (b)(2) to read as
follows:
‘‘(2) CHARACTERISTICS
OF
MEASURES.—The
performance measures developed under this sub-
section shall—
‘‘(A) be used to assess the impact of the
various services provided by Head Start pro-
grams and, to the extent the Secretary finds
appropriate, administrative and financial man-
agement practices of such programs;
‘‘(B) be adaptable for use in self-assess-
ment, peer review, and program evaluation of
individual Head Start agencies and programs;
‘‘(C) be developed for other program pur-
poses as determined by the Secretary;
‘‘(D) be appropriate for the population
served; and
‘‘(E) be reviewed no less than every 4
years, based on advances in the science of early
childhood development.
The performance measures shall include the per-
formance 
standards 
described 
in 
subsection
(a)(1)(A) and (B).’’.
(5) By amending subsection (b)(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.’’.
(6) In subsection (c)(1)(C) by striking ‘‘the
standards’’ and inserting ‘‘one or more of the per-
formance measures developed by the Secretary under
subsection (b)’’.
(7) By amending subsection (c)(2) to read as
follows:
‘‘(2) CONDUCT
OF
REVIEWS.—The Secretary
shall ensure that reviews described in subparagraphs
(A) through (C) of paragraph (1)—
‘‘(A) that incorporate a monitoring visit,
do so without prior notice of the visit to the
local agency or program;
‘‘(B) are conducted by review teams that
shall include individuals who are knowledgeable
about Head Start programs and, to the max-
imum extent practicable, the diverse (including
linguistic and cultural) needs of eligible children
(including children with disabilities) and lim-
ited-English proficient children and their fami-
lies;
‘‘(C) include as part of the reviews of the
programs, a review and assessment of program
effectiveness, as measured in accordance with
the results-based performance measures devel-
oped by the Secretary pursuant to subsection
(b) and with the standards established pursuant
to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection
(a)(1);
‘‘(D) seek information from the commu-
nities and the States involved about the per-
formance of the programs and the efforts of the
Head Start agencies to collaborate with other
entities carrying out early childhood education
and child care programs in the community;
‘‘(E) 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;
‘‘(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;
‘‘(G) include as part of the reviews of the
programs, a review and assessment of whether
programs have adequately addressed the popu-
lation and community needs (including popu-
lations of children with a limited English pro-
ficiency and children of migrant and seasonal
farm-working families); and
‘‘(H) include as part of the review the ex-
tent to which the program addresses the com-
munity needs and strategic plan identified in
section 640(g)(2)(C).’’.
(8) By amending so much of subsection (d)(1)
as precedes subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
‘‘(1) DETERMINATION.—If the Secretary deter-
mines, on the basis of a review pursuant to sub-
section (c), that a Head Start agency designated
pursuant to section 641 fails to meet the standards
described in subsection (a) or results-based perform-
ance measures developed by the Secretary under
subsection (b), or fails to adequately address the
community needs and strategic plan identified in
640(g)(2)(C), the Secretary shall—’’
(9) By amending subsection (d)(2) to read as
follows:
‘‘(2) QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN.—
‘‘(A) AGENCY AND PROGRAM RESPONSIBIL-
ITIES.—In order to retain a designation as a
Head Start agency under this subchapter, or in
the case of a Head Start Program, in order to
continue to receive funds from such agency, a
Head Start agency, or Head Start program
that is the subject of a determination described
in paragraph (1) (other than an agency or pro-
gram required to correct a deficiency imme-
diately or during a 90-day period under clause
(i) or (ii) of paragraph (1)(B)) shall—
‘‘(i) develop in a timely manner, a
quality improvement plan which shall be
subject to the approval of the Secretary, or
in the case of a program, the sponsoring
agency, and which shall specify—
‘‘(I) the deficiencies to be cor-
rected;
‘‘(II) the actions to be taken to
correct such deficiencies; and
‘‘(III) the timetable for accom-
plishment of the corrective actions
specified; and
‘‘(ii) eliminate each deficiency identi-
fied, not later than the date for elimination
of such deficiency specified in such plan
(which shall not be later than 1 year after
the date the agency or program received
notice of the determination and of the spe-
cific deficiency to be corrected).
‘‘(B) SECRETARIAL RESPONSIBILITY.—Not
later than 30 days after receiving from a Head
Start agency a proposed quality improvement
plan pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Sec-
retary shall either approve such proposed plan
or specify the reasons why the proposed plan
cannot be approved.
‘‘(C) AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRO-
GRAM IMPROVEMENT.—Not later than 30 days
after receiving from a Head Start program, a
proposed quality improvement plan pursuant to
subparagraph (A), the sponsoring agency shall
either approve such proposed plan or specify
the reasons why the proposed plan cannot be
approved.’’.
(10) In subsection (d)(3) by inserting ‘‘and pro-
grams’’ after ‘‘agencies’’.
(11) Subsection (e) is amended to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(e) SUMMARIES OF MONITORING OUTCOMES.—Not
later than 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, the
Secretary shall publish a summary report on the findings
of reviews conducted under subsection (c) and on the out-
comes of quality improvement plans implemented under
subsection (d), during such fiscal year. Such information
shall be made available to all parents with students receiv-
ing assistance under this Act in a understandable and uni-
form format, and to the extent practicable, provided in a
language that the parents can understand, and in addi-
tion, make the information widely available through public
means such as distribution through public agencies, and
at a minimum posting such information on the Internet
immediately upon publication.’’.
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 amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(b) In order to be so designated, a Head Start agen-
cy 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 subparagraphs (A)
and (B) of such section;
‘‘(2) demonstrate capacity to serve eligible chil-
dren with scientifically-based curricula and other
interventions that help promote the school readiness
of children participating in the program;
‘‘(3) establish effective procedures by which
parents and area residents concerned will be enabled
to directly participate in decisions that influence the
character of programs affecting their interests;
‘‘(4) provide for their regular participation in
the implementation of such programs;
‘‘(5) provide technical and other support needed
to enable parents and area residents to secure on
their own behalf available assistance from public and
private sources;
‘‘(6) seek the involvement of parents of partici-
pating children in activities designed to help such
parents become full partners in the education of
their children, and to afford such parents the oppor-
tunity to participate in the development, conduct,
and overall performance of the program at the local
level;
‘‘(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;
‘‘(8) offer (directly or through referral to local
entities, such as entities carrying out Even Start
programs under part B of chapter 1 of title I of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 2741 et seq.)), to parents of partici-
pating children, family literacy services and par-
enting skills training;
‘‘(9) offer to parents of participating children
substance abuse counseling (either directly or
through referral to local entities), including informa-
tion on drug-exposed infants and fetal alcohol syn-
drome;
‘‘(10) at the option of such agency, offer (di-
rectly or through referral to local entities), to such
parents—
‘‘(A) training in basic child development;
‘‘(B) assistance in developing communica-
tion skills;
‘‘(C) opportunities to share experiences
with other parents;
‘‘(D) regular in-home visitation; or
‘‘(E) any other activity designed to help
such parents become full partners in the edu-
cation of their children;
‘‘(11) provide, with respect to each partici-
pating family, a family needs assessment that in-
cludes consultation with such parents about the ben-
efits of parent involvement and about the activities
described in paragraphs (4) through (7) in which
such parents may choose to be involved (taking into
consideration their specific family needs, work sched-
ules, and other responsibilities);
‘‘(12) consider providing services to assist
younger siblings of children participating in its Head
Start program to obtain health services from other
sources;
‘‘(13) perform community outreach to encour-
age individuals previously unaffiliated with Head
Start programs to participate in its Head Start pro-
gram as volunteers; and
‘‘(14)(A) inform custodial parents in single-par-
ent families that participate in programs, activities,
or services carried out or provided under this sub-
chapter about the availability of child support serv-
ices for purposes of establishing paternity and ac-
quiring child support; and
‘‘(B) refer eligible parents to the child support
offices of State and local governments.’’.
(2) Amend subsection (c) to read as follows:
‘‘(c) The head of each Head Start agency shall co-
ordinate and collaborate with the State agency responsible
for administering the State program carried out under the
Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), and other early childhood education
and development programs, including programs under
subtitle VII–B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431–11435), Even Start programs
under part B of chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2741
et seq.), and programs under Part C and section 619 of
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C.
1431–1445, 1419), and the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a), serving the children
and families served by the Head Start agency to carry out
the provisions of this subchapter.’’.
(3) In subsection (d) by redesignating para-
graphs (2) through (4) as paragraph (3) through (5)
and inserting the following new paragraph after
paragraph (1):
‘‘(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 and providers
of prekindergarten, including for outreach to identify eligi-
ble children.’’.
(5) In paragraph (3) (as redesignated) of subsection
(d), strike ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (A) and in-
sert the following after subparagraph (A) and redesignate
subparagraph (B) as (C):
‘‘(B) collaborating to increase the program
participation of underserved populations of eli-
gible children; and’’.
SEC. 108. HEAD START ALIGNMENT WITH K–12 EDUCATION.
Section 642A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9837a) is amended as follows:
(1) The heading is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 642A. HEAD START ALIGNMENT WITH K–12 EDU-
CATION.’’.
(2) In paragraph (2) after ‘‘social workers,’’ in-
sert the following: ‘‘McKinney-Vento liaisons as es-
tablished under section 722 (g)(1)(J)(ii) of the
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance
Improvements Act of 2001,’’.
(3) Add the following new paragraph after
paragraph (2) and redesignated paragraphs (3)
through (7) as (4) through (8):
‘‘(3) developing continuity of developmentally
appropriate curricula between Head Start and local
educational agencies to ensure an effective transition
and appropriate shared expectations for children’s
learning and development as they make such transi-
tion to school;’’.
(4) Paragraph (6)(as redesignated by para-
graph (3) of this section) is amended to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(6) developing and implementing a family out-
reach and support program in cooperation with enti-
ties carrying out parental involvement efforts under
title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 and family outreach and support efforts
under subtitle VII–B of the McKinney-Vento Home-
less Assistance Act;’’.
(4) In paragraph (7)(as redesignated by para-
graph (3) of this section) by inserting ‘‘and con-
tinuity in parental involvement activities’’ after ‘‘de-
velopmental continuity’’.
(5) Strike ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (7)(as
redesignated by paragraph (3) of this section) and
strike the period at the end of paragraph (8)(as re-
designated by paragraph (3) of this section) and in-
sert a semicolon.
(6) Add the following after paragraph (8):
‘‘(9) helping parents to understand the impor-
tance of parental involvement in a child’s academic
success while teaching them strategies for maintain-
ing parental involvement as their child moves from
Head Start to elementary school; and
‘‘(10) developing and implementing a system to
increase program participation of underserved popu-
lations of eligible children.’’.
SEC. 109. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND STAND-
ARDS.
Section 644 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9839)
is amended in subsection (f)(2) by redesignating subpara-
graphs (A) through (E) as (B) through (F) and inserting
the following new subparagraph before subparagraph (B)
(as so redesignated):
‘‘(A) a description of the consultation conducted
by the Head Start agency with the providers in the
community demonstrating capacity and capability to
provide services under this Act, and of the potential
for collaboration with such providers and the cost ef-
fectiveness of such collaboration as opposed to the
cost effectiveness of the purchase of a facility;’’
SEC. 110. ELIGIBILITY.
Section 645(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9843) is amended as follows:
(1) By striking ‘‘to a reasonable extent’’ in
paragraph (1)(B)(i) and inserting ‘‘not to exceed 10
percent of the total enrollment’’ and by striking
‘‘benefit from such programs’’ and inserting ‘‘benefit
from such programs, including children referred by
child welfare services,’’.
(2) 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. 111. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 645A of the Head Start
Act (42 U.S.C. 9643) is amended as follows:
(1) By amending paragraphs (4) and (5) of
subsection (b) to read as follows:
‘‘(4) provide services to parents to support their
role as parents (including parenting skills training
and training in basic child development) and to help
the families move toward self-sufficiency (including
educational and employment services as appro-
priate);
‘‘(5) coordinate services with services (including
home-based services) provided by programs in the
State and programs in the community (including
programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities)
to ensure a comprehensive array of services (such as
health and mental health services, and family sup-
port services);’’.
(2) By amending paragraph (8) of subsection
(b) to read as follows:
‘‘(8) ensure formal linkages with the agencies
and entities described in section 644(b) of the Indi-
viduals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C.
1444(b)) and providers of early intervention services
for infants and toddlers with disabilities under the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20
U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) and the agency responsible for
administering the section 106 of the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a);
and’’.
(3) In subsection (g)(2)(B) by striking ‘‘and’’
at the end of clause (iii), by striking the period at
the end of clause (iv) and inserting ‘‘; and’’ and by
inserting the following at the end:
‘‘(v) providing professional develop-
ment designed to increase program partici-
pation for underserved populations of eligi-
ble children.’’.
(b) MIGRANT AND SEASONAL PROGRAMS.—Section
645A(d)(1) of the Head Start Act (42 US.C. 9643(d)(1))
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(1) entities operating Head Start programs
under this subpart, including migrant and seasonal
Head Start programs; and’’.
(c) COMMUNITY- AND
FAITH-BASED
ORGANIZA-
TIONS.—Section 645A(d)(2) of the Head Start Act (42
US.C. 9643(d)(21)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, including
community- and faith-based organizations’’ after ‘‘enti-
ties’’ in the second place it appears.
SEC. 112. 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 subsections (c) through (f):
‘‘(b) The Secretary shall make available to each State
the money reserved in section 640(a)(2)(C)(ii) to support
a State-based system delivering training and technical as-
sistance that improves the capacity of Head Start pro-
grams within a State to deliver services in accordance with
the Head Start standards in section 641A(a)(1), with par-
ticular attention to the standards set forth in subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) of such section. The Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) ensure eligible entities within a State are
chosen by the Secretary, in consultation with the
State Collaboration Board described in section
640(a)(5)(C)(i), 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, migrant and seasonal
Head Start programs operating in the State, and
other entities currently providing training and tech-
nical assistance in early education, be included in
the planning and coordination of the State system of
training and technical 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) In subsection (d) (as redesignated):
(A) In paragraph (2), after ‘‘disabilities’’
insert ‘‘and for activities described in section
1221(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965’’.
(B) In paragraph (5) after ‘‘assessment’’
insert ‘‘, including the needs of homeless chil-
dren and their families’’.
(C) By striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (10), by striking the period at the end of
paragraph (11) and inserting ‘‘; and’’ and by
inserting the following at the end:
‘‘(12) assist Head Start agencies and programs
in increasing program participation of eligible home-
less children.’’.
(3) In subsection (e) (as redesignated by para-
graph (1)) by inserting ‘‘, including community- and
faith-based organizations’’ after ‘‘entities’’.
(4) By amending subsection (f) (as redesig-
nated by paragraph (1)) to read as follows:
‘‘(f) The Secretary shall provide, either directly or
through grants or other arrangements, funds from pro-
grams authorized under this subchapter to support an or-
ganization to administer a centralized child development
and national assessment program leading to recognized
credentials for personnel working in early childhood devel-
opment and child care programs, training for personnel
providing services to non-English language background
children (including services to promote the acquisition of
the English language), training for personnel providing
services to children determined to be abused or neglected,
training for personnel providing services to children re-
ferred by or receiving child welfare services, training for
personnel in helping children cope with community vio-
lence, and resource access projects for personnel working
with disabled children.’’.
(5) Insert at the end of the section:
‘‘(g) HELPING PERSONNEL BETTER SERVE MI-
GRANT
AND SEASONAL FARM-WORKING COMMUNITIES
AND HOMELESS FAMILIES.—The Secretary shall provide,
either directly or through grants, or other arrangements,
funds for training of Head Start personnel in addressing
the unique needs of migrant and seasonal working fami-
lies, families with a limited English proficiency, and home-
less families.
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—The majority of
funds expended under this section shall be used to provide
high quality, sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused
training and technical assistance in order to have a posi-
tive and lasting impact on classroom instruction. Funds
shall be used to carry out activities related to any or all
of the following:
‘‘(1) Education and early childhood develop-
ment.
‘‘(2) Child health, nutrition, and safety.
‘‘(3) Family and community partnerships.
‘‘(4) Other areas that impact the quality or
overall effectiveness of Head Start programs.
‘‘(i) PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Funds under
this subchapter used for training shall be used for needs
identified annually by a grant applicant or delegate agency
in their program improvement plan, except that funds
shall not be used for long-distance travel expenses for
training activities available locally or regionally or for
training activities substantially similar to locally or region-
ally available training activities.
‘‘(j) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘eligible entities’ means an institution of higher edu-
cation or other entity with expertise in delivering training
in early childhood development, family support, and other
assistance designed to improve the delivery of Head Start
services.’’.
SEC. 113. STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT.
Section 648A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9843a) is amended as follows:
(1) By amending paragraph (2) of subsection
(a) to read as follows:
‘‘(2) DEGREE REQUIREMENTS.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall
ensure that not later than September 30, 2008,
at least 50 percent of all Head Start teachers
nationwide in center-based programs have—
‘‘(i) a baccalaureate, or advanced de-
gree in early childhood education; or
‘‘(ii) a baccalaureate, or advanced de-
gree in a field related to early childhood
education, with experience in teaching pre-
school children.
‘‘(B) PROGRESS.—Each Head State agen-
cy shall provide to the Secretary a report indi-
cating the number and percentage of classroom
instructors with child development associate
credentials and associate, baccalaureate, or ad-
vanced degrees. The Secretary shall compile all
program reports and make them available to
the Committee on Education and the Workforce
of the United States House of Representatives
and the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the United States Sen-
ate.
‘‘(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.’’.
(2) 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. 114. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUA-
TION.
Section 649 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844)
is amended as follows:
(1) By amending subsection (a)(1)(B) to read
as follows:
‘‘(B) use the Head Start programs to de-
velop, test, and disseminate new ideas and ap-
proaches for addressing the needs of low-income
preschool children (including children with dis-
abilities and children determined to be abused
or neglected) and their families and commu-
nities (including demonstrations of innovative
non-center based program models such as
home-based and mobile programs), and other-
wise to further the purposes of this sub-
chapter.’’.
(1) By striking paragraph (9) of subsection (d)
and inserting ‘‘(9) REPEALED.—’’.
(2) By striking clause (i) of subsection
(g)(1)(A) and redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as
clauses (i) and (ii).
(3) In subsection (g)(7)(C)(i) by striking
‘‘1999’’ and inserting ‘‘2003’’, striking ‘‘2001’’ and
inserting ‘‘2005’’, and striking ‘‘2003’’ and inserting
‘‘2006’’.
(4) By amending subsection (h) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(h) NAS STUDY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall use
funds allocated in section 640(a)(2)(C)(iii) to con-
tract with the National Academy of Sciences for the
Board on Children, Youth, and Families of the Na-
tional Research Council to establish an independent
panel of experts to review and synthesize research,
theory and applications in the social, behavioral and
biological sciences and shall make recommendations
on early childhood pedagogy with regard to each of
the following:
‘‘(A) Age and developmentally appropriate
Head Start academic requirements and out-
comes, including but not limited to the domains
in 641A(a)(B).
‘‘(B) Differences in the type, length, mix
and intensity of services necessary to ensure
that children from challenging family and social
backgrounds including: low-income children,
children of color, children with special needs,
and children with limited English proficiency
enter kindergarten ready to succeed.
‘‘(C) Appropriate assessments of young
children for the purposes of improving instruc-
tion, services, and program quality, including
systematic observation assessment in a child’s
natural environment, parent and provider inter-
views, and accommodations for children with
disabilities and appropriate assessments for
children with special needs, including English
language learners.
‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.—The panel shall consist of
multiple experts in each of the following areas:
‘‘(A) Child development and education, in-
cluding cognitive, social, emotional, physical,
approaches to learning, and other domains of
child development and learning.
‘‘(B) Professional development, including
teacher preparation, to individuals who teach
young children in programs.
‘‘(C) Assessment of young children, includ-
ing screening, diagnostic and classroom-based
instructional assessment; children with special
needs, including children with disabilities and
limited English proficient children.
‘‘(3) 
TIMING.—The 
National 
Academy 
of
Sciences and the Board shall establish the panel not
later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this paragraph. The panel should complete its rec-
ommendations within 18 months of its convening.
‘‘(4) APPLICATION
OF PANEL REPORT.—The
results of the panel study shall be used as guidelines
by the Secretary to develop, inform and revise,
where appropriate, the Head Start education per-
formance measures and standards and the assess-
ments utilized in the Head Start program.’’.
SEC. 115. REPORTS.
Section 650 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9845)
is amended as follows:
(1) The first sentence of subsection (a) is
amended to read as follows: ‘‘At least once during
every 2-year period, the Secretary shall prepare and
submit, to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pen-
sions of the Senate, a report concerning the status
of children (including disabled, homeless, and non-
English language background children) in Head
Start programs, including the number of children
and the services being provided to such children.’’.
(2) Paragraph (8) of subsection (a) is amended
by inserting ‘‘, homelessness’’ after ‘‘background’’.
SEC. 116. HEAD START NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISIONS.
Section 654 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9849)
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 654. NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISIONS.
‘‘(a)(1) The Secretary shall not provide financial as-
sistance for any program, project, or activity under this
subchapter unless the grant or contract with respect there-
to specifically provides that no person with responsibilities
in the operation thereof will discriminate with respect to
any such program, project, or activity because of race,
creed, color, national origin, sex, political affiliation, or be-
liefs.
‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a recipient of
financial assistance under this subchapter that is a reli-
gious corporation, association, educational institution, or
society, with respect to the employment of individuals of
a particular religion to perform work connected with the
carrying on by such corporation, association, educational
institution, or society of its activities. Such recipients shall
comply with the other requirements contained in this sub-
section.
‘‘(b) No person in the United States shall on the
ground of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied
the benefits of, be subjected to discrimination under, or
be denied employment in connection with any program or
activity receiving assistance under this subchapter. The
Secretary shall enforce the provisions of the preceding sen-
tence in accordance with section 602 of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964. Section 603 of such Act shall apply with re-
spect to any action taken by the Secretary to enforce such
sentence. This section shall not be construed as affecting
any other legal remedy that a person may have if such
person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefit
of, subjected to discrimination under, or denied employ-
ment (except as provided in subsection (a)(2)), in the ad-
ministration of any program, project, or activity receiving
assistance under this subchapter.
‘‘(c) The Secretary shall not provide financial assist-
ance for any program, project, or activity under this sub-
chapter unless the grant or contract relating to the finan-
cial assistance specifically provides that no person with re-
sponsibilities in the operation of the program, project, or
activity will discriminate against any individual because of
a handicapping condition in violation of section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, except as provided in sub-
section (a)(2).’’.
SEC. 117. 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.—
‘‘(A) ELIGIBLE STATES.—In the case of
each eligible State that submits to the Sec-
retary an application that fulfills the require-
ments of this section, the Secretary, from
amounts appropriated under section 639(a),
shall make a grant to the State to carry out a
State demonstration program under this sec-
tion, except that the Secretary shall not make
such grants to more than 8 eligible States.
‘‘(B) 
DETERMINATION.—The 
Secretary
shall make awards to those States that
demonstrate—
‘‘(i) that the State standards generally
meet or exceed the standards that ensure
the quality and effectiveness of programs
operated by Head Start agencies;
‘‘(ii) the capacity to deliver high qual-
ity early childhood education services to
prepare children, including low-income chil-
dren, for school; and
‘‘(iii) success in improving the school
readiness of children.
‘‘(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 public prekindergarten
to children prior to entry into kindergarten.
‘‘(B) The State has implemented standards
as of fiscal year 2003 for school readiness that
include standards for language, prereading and
premathematics development for prekinder-
garten that are aligned with State kindergarten
through twelfth grade academic content stand-
ards and which shall apply to all programs re-
ceiving funds under this part or provides an as-
surance that such standards will be aligned by
the end of the second fiscal year of participa-
tion.
‘‘(C) State and locally appropriated funds
for prekindergarten services and Head Start
services in the base year under this section shall
not be less than 50 percent of the Federal
funds that the grantees in the State received
under this Act in the base year for services to
Head Start eligible children, excluding amounts
for services provided under section 645A.
‘‘(D) The State has established a means
for inter-agency coordination and collaboration
in the development of the plan under subsection
(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.—For 60 months after the
effective date of this section, the State shall continue
to provide funds to each local grantee who—
‘‘(A) was receiving funds under this sub-
chapter, as in effect prior to the date of enact-
ment of this section, and
‘‘(B) is serving the geographic area cov-
ered by the plan in section 643A(h).
Such continuing grants shall be made in accordance
with the terms of the grant made to the local grant-
ee immediately prior to such date of enactment. This
paragraph shall not apply to a grant applicant who
has experienced substantial uncorrected deficiencies
on Department of Health and Human Services mon-
itoring reports during any year of the most recent
5-year period, or to a grantee that, as determined by
the State, does not comply with the State plan de-
scribed in subsection 643A(h) submitted to the Sec-
retary.
‘‘(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), excluding amounts for
services provided under section 645A.
‘‘(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.—(A) In deter-
mining the amount of Federal and non-Federal con-
tributions for purposes of this section, the amounts
required to be expended by the State under sub-
section (h)(14)(B) (relating to maintenance of ef-
fort) shall be excluded.
‘‘(B) Financial assistance made available to a
State under this subchapter shall be in an amount
equal to 95 percent of the total amount expended for
such programs. The Secretary shall require non-Fed-
eral contributions in an amount equal to 5 percent
of the total amount expended under this subchapter
for such programs.
‘‘(C) Non-Federal contributions may be made
in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant,
equipment, or services.
‘‘(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 any non-Federal,
State or local funds that would otherwise be used for
activities authorized under this section or similar ac-
tivities carried out in the State.
‘‘(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 Edu-
cation 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 at least as extensive as were provided, and to
at least as many low-income 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 geo-
graphic area included in the State program). A program
under this section shall include the following comprehen-
sive 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) Head Start services furnished in a
State program under this section shall include all
Head Start services, other than—
‘‘(A) Indian Head Start programs and mi-
grant and seasonal Head Start programs sup-
ported with funds reserved under section
640(a)(2)(A); and
‘‘(B) Early Head Start services provided
under section 645A.
‘‘(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.—A State program
under this section shall be in effect for 5 Federal fis-
cal years.
‘‘(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 (g), including how the State will leverage
existing delivery systems for such services.
‘‘(5) NEEDS ASSESSMENT.—The plan shall de-
scribe the results of a State needs assessment and
shall provide an assurance that the State will use
the results to identify the needs for early childhood
education services within a State or geographic area
to be served and is targeting services to those areas
of greatest need and to expand and improve services
to disadvantaged children in the State.
‘‘(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) TEACHER
QUALIFICATIONS.—The plan
shall assure that the qualifications and credentials
for early childhood teachers meet or exceed the
standards in section 648A(a)(2)(A), (B), and (C).
‘‘(10) 
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT.—The
plan shall provide a description of the State plan for
assuring the ongoing professional development of
early childhood educators and administrators includ-
ing 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
well-qualified 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.
‘‘(11) QUALITY STANDARDS.—The State shall
describe the State’s standards, applicable to all
agencies, programs, and projects that receive funds
under this subchapter, including a description of—
‘‘(A) standards with respect to services re-
quired to be provided, including health, parental
involvement, nutritional, social, transition ac-
tivities described in section 642(d) of this sub-
chapter, and other services;
‘‘(B)(i) education standards to promote the
school readiness of children participating in a
State program under title II of this subchapter;
and
‘‘(ii) additional education standards to en-
sure that the children participating in the pro-
gram, 
at 
a 
minimum 
develop 
and
demonstrate—
‘‘(I) language skills;
‘‘(II) prereading knowledge and skills,
including interest in and appreciation of
books, reading and writing either alone or
with others;
‘‘(III) premathematics knowledge and
skills, including aspects of classification,
seriation, number, spatial relations, and
time;
‘‘(IV) cognitive abilities related to aca-
demic achievement;
‘‘(V) social development important for
environments constructive for child devel-
opment, early learning, and school success;
and
‘‘(VI) in the case of limited-English
proficient children, progress toward acqui-
sition of the English language;
‘‘(C) the State’s minimum standards for
early childhood teacher credentials and quali-
fications;
‘‘(D) the student-teacher ratio for each
age-group served;
‘‘(E) administrative and financial manage-
ment standards;
‘‘(F) standards relating to the condition
and location of facilities for such agencies, pro-
grams, and projects; and
‘‘(G) such other standards as the State
finds to be appropriate.
‘‘(12) 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 kindergarten
success; 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.
‘‘(13) 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.
‘‘(14) COOPERATION
WITH
RESEARCH
STUD-
IES.—The plan shall provide assurances that the
State will cooperate with research activities de-
scribed in section 649.
‘‘(15) 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
‘‘(4) REPORT.—(A) The Secretary shall provide
an interim report on the progress of such evaluation
and of the progress of States participating in the
State demonstration in increasing the availability of
high quality prekindergarten services for low-income
children not later than October 1, 2006 to the Com-
mittee on Education and the Workforce in the
House of Representatives and the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in the Sen-
ate.
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall provide a final report
to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
in the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in the
Senate, not later than October 1, 2007, which shall
include an overall evaluation of the State demonstra-
tion program, including an assessment of its success
in increasing the overall availability of high quality
prekindergarten services for low income children in
each of the participating States as compared to a
representative sample of non-participating States.
‘‘(p) STATE
PARTICIPATION
AGREEMENT.—Fol-
lowing the submission of an application fulfilling all re-
quirements of this section, a State that meets all eligibility
requirements set forth in section 643A(a)(2) and is se-