I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3007
To assist States in establishing a universal prekindergarten program to ensure 
that all children 3, 4, and 5 years old have access to a high-quality 
full-day, full-calendar-year prekindergarten education. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 4, 2003
Mr. KUCINICH (for himself, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. OWENS, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. 
LEE, Mr. NADLER, Ms. NORTON, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. 
PALLONE, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. DEUTSCH, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. 
HINCHEY, Mr. WEXLER, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. 
MCGOVERN, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. OLVER, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. 
GUTIERREZ, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. ANDREWS, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. 
RUSH, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee, Ms. 
JACKSON-LEE of Texas, and Ms. WOOLSEY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To assist States in establishing a universal prekindergarten 
program to ensure that all children 3, 4, and 5 years 
old have access to a high-quality full-day, full-calendar-
year prekindergarten education.
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 ‘‘Universal Prekinder-
garten Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
(1) High-quality prekindergarten programs help 
children to succeed academically. Children who at-
tended a high-quality prekindergarten program have 
higher academic achievement, lower rates of grade 
retention, are less likely to be placed in special edu-
cation, and graduate from high school at higher 
rates than those who did not. 
(2) Early childhood education can reduce juve-
nile delinquency rates. A 15-year study following 
989 low-income children who attended high-quality, 
comprehensive prekindergarten found that they were 
33 percent less likely to be arrested, and 42 percent 
less likely to be arrested for a violent crime, than 
children in the control group. 
(3) There is currently a drastic shortage of af-
fordable, quality early education programs that are 
accessible for working families. 
(4) Full-day, full-calendar-year universal pre-
kindergarten programs would ensure all children 3, 
4, and 5 years old have access to school readiness 
programs and quality child care. 
(5) Research shows that investing in quality 
prekindergarten programs will provide savings in the 
form of reduced need for remedial education, de-
creased crime rates, lower school dropout rates, and 
decreased welfare dependence. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to ensure 
that all children 3, 4, and 5 years old have access to a 
high-quality full-day, full-calendar-year prekindergarten 
program by providing grants to States to assist in devel-
oping a universal prekindergarten program that is vol-
untary and free-of-charge. 
SEC. 3. PREKINDERGARTEN GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZA-
TION. 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Education, shall provide 
grants to an agency designated by each State (hereafter 
in this Act referred to as the ‘‘designated State agency’’) 
for the development of high-quality full-day, full-calendar-
year universal prekindergarten programs for all children 
3, 4, and 5 years old in the State. 
SEC. 4. STATE REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) STATE MATCHING FUNDS.—Federal funds made 
available to a designated State agency under this Act shall 
be matched at least 20 percent by State funds. 
(b) STATE APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive 
funds under this Act, a designated State agency shall sub-
mit an application at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary of Health and
Human Services may require. The application shall in-
clude the following: 
(1) How the designated State agency, in over-
seeing the State’s universal prekindergarten pro-
gram, will coordinate with other State agencies re-
sponsible for early childhood education and health 
programs. 
(2) A State plan to establish and implement a 
statewide universal prekindergarten program, in ac-
cordance with subsection (c). 
(c) STATE PLAN.—The State plan required under 
subsection (b)(2) shall include each of the following: 
(1) A description of the universal prekinder-
garten program that will be established and how it 
will support children’s cognitive, social, emotional, 
and physical development. 
(2) A statement of the goals for universal pre-
kindergarten programs and how program outcomes 
will be measured. 
(3) A description of—
(A) how funding will be distributed to eli-
gible prekindergarten program providers based 
on the need for early childhood education in 
each geographical area served by such pro-
viders; and
(B) how the designated State agency will 
involve representatives of early childhood pro-
gram providers (including child care providers, 
Head Start programs, and State and local 
agencies) that sponsor programs addressing 
children 3, 4, and 5 years old. 
(4) A description of how the designated State 
agency will coordinate with existing State-funded 
prekindergarten programs, federally funded pro-
grams (such as Head Start programs), public school 
programs, and child care providers. 
(5) A description of how an eligible prekinder-
garten program provider may apply to the des-
ignated State agency for funding under this Act. 
(6) A plan to address the shortages of qualified 
early childhood education teachers, including how to 
increase such teachers’ compensation to be com-
parable to that of public school teachers. 
(7) How the designated State agency will pro-
vide ongoing professional development opportunities 
to help increase the number of teachers in early 
childhood programs who meet the State’s education 
or credential requirements for prekindergarten 
teachers.
(8) A plan to address how the universal pre-
kindergarten program will meet the needs of chil-
dren with disabilities, limited English proficiency, 
and other special needs. 
(9) A plan to provide transportation to children 
to and from the universal prekindergarten program. 
(10) A description of how the State will provide 
the 20 percent match of Federal funds. 
(d) ADMINISTRATION.—A designated State agency 
may not use more than 5 percent of a grant under this 
Act for costs associated with State administration of the 
program under this Act. 
SEC. 5. LOCAL REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—An eligible prekindergarten pro-
gram provider receiving funding under this Act shall—
(1) maintain a maximum class size of 20 chil-
dren; 
(2) maintain a ratio of not more than 10 chil-
dren for each member of the teaching staff; 
(3)(A) ensure that all prekindergarten teachers 
meet the requirements for teachers at a State-fund-
ed prekindergarten program under an applicable 
State law; and 
(B) document that the State is demonstrating 
significant progress in assisting prekindergarten
teachers on working toward a bachelor of arts de-
gree with training in early childhood development or 
early childhood education; 
(4)(A) be accredited by a national organization 
with demonstrated experience in accrediting pre-
kindergarten programs; or 
(B) provide assurances that it shall obtain such 
accreditation not later than 3 years after first re-
ceiving funding under this Act; and 
(5) meet applicable State and local child care li-
censing health and safety standards. 
(b) LOCAL APPLICATION.—Eligible prekindergarten 
program providers desiring to receive funding under this 
Act shall submit an application to the designated State 
agency overseeing funds under this Act containing the fol-
lowing: 
(1) A description of the prekindergarten pro-
gram. 
(2) A statement of the demonstrated need for 
a program, or an enhanced or expanded program, in 
the area served by the eligible prekindergarten pro-
gram provider. 
(3) A description of the age-appropriate and de-
velopmentally appropriate educational curriculum to 
be provided that will help children be ready for
school and assist them in the transition to kinder-
garten. 
(4) A description of how the eligible prekinder-
garten program provider will collaborate with exist-
ing community-based child care providers and Head 
Start programs. 
(5) A description of how students and families 
will be assisted in obtaining supportive services 
available in their communities. 
(6) A plan to promote parental involvement in 
the prekindergarten program. 
(7) A description of how teachers will receive 
ongoing professional development in early childhood 
development and education. 
(8) An assurance that prekindergarten pro-
grams receiving funds under this Act provide the 
data required in section 7(c). 
SEC. 6. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SET-ASIDE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A designated State agency may 
set aside up to 5 percent of a grant under this Act for 
ongoing professional development activities for teachers 
and staff at prekindergarten programs that wish to par-
ticipate in the universal prekindergarten grant program 
under this Act. A designated State agency using the set-
of higher education to provide scholarships and 
other financial assistance to prekindergarten staff. 
(6) A description of how the State educational 
agency will provide a financial incentive, such as a 
financial stipend or a bonus, to educators who par-
ticipate in and complete such professional develop-
ment. 
(7) A description of how the professional devel-
opment activities will be carried out, including the 
following: 
(A) How programs and educators will be 
selected to participate. 
(B) How professional development pro-
viders will be selected, based on demonstrated 
experience in providing research-based profes-
sional development to early childhood educators. 
(C) The types of research-based profes-
sional development activities that will be carried 
out in all domains of children’s physical, cog-
nitive, social, and emotional development and 
on early childhood pedagogy. 
(D) How the program will train early 
childhood educators to meet the diverse edu-
cational needs of children in the community, es-
pecially children who have limited English pro-
ficiency, disabilities, and other special needs. 
(E) How the program will coordinate with 
and build upon, but not supplant or duplicate, 
early childhood education professional develop-
ment activities that exist in the community. 
(b) USES OF FUNDS.—Funds set aside under this 
section may be used for ongoing professional develop-
ment—
(1) to provide prekindergarten teachers and 
staff with the knowledge and skills for the applica-
tion of recent research on child cognitive, social, 
emotional, and physical development, including lan-
guage and literacy development, and on early child-
hood pedagogy; 
(2) to provide the cost of education needed to 
obtain a credential or degree with specific training 
in early childhood development or education; 
(3) to work with children who have limited 
English proficiency, disabilities, and other special 
needs; and 
(4) to select and use developmentally appro-
priate screening and diagnostic assessments to im-
prove teaching and learning and make appropriate
referrals for services to support prekindergarten 
children’s development and learning. 
SEC. 7. REPORTING. 
(a) REPORT BY SECRETARY.—For each year in which 
funding is provided under this Act, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall submit an annual report 
to the Congress on the implementation and effectiveness 
of the universal prekindergarten program under this Act. 
(b) REPORT BY DESIGNATED STATE AGENCY.—Each 
designated State agency that provides grants to eligible 
prekindergarten program providers under this Act shall 
submit to the Secretary an annual report on the imple-
mentation and effectiveness of the programs in the State 
supported under this Act. Such report shall contain such 
additional information as the Secretary may reasonably 
require. 
(c) REPORT BY GRANT RECIPIENT.—Each eligible 
prekindergarten program provider that receives a grant 
under this Act shall submit to the designated State agency 
an annual report that includes, with respect to the pro-
gram supported by such grant, the following: 
(1) A description of the type of program and a 
statement of the number and ages of children served 
by the program, as well as the number and ages of
children with a disability or a native language other 
than English. 
(2) A description of the qualifications of the 
program staff and the type of ongoing professional 
development provided to such staff. 
(3) A statement of all sources of Federal, State, 
local, and private funds received by the program. 
(4) A description of the curricula, materials, 
and activities used by the program to support early 
childhood development and learning. 
(5) Such other information as the designated 
State agency may reasonably require. 
SEC. 8. FEDERAL FUNDS SUPPLEMENTARY. 
Funds made available under this Act may not be used 
to supplant other Federal, State, local, or private funds 
that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be made 
available for the program assisted under this Act. 
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) The term ‘‘eligible prekindergarten program 
provider’’ means a prekindergarten program pro-
vider that is—
(A) a school; 
(B) supported, sponsored, supervised, or 
carried out by a local educational agency;
(C) a Head Start program; or 
(D) a child care provider. 
(2) The term ‘‘prekindergarten program’’ 
means a program serving children 3, 4, and 5 years 
old that supports children’s cognitive, social, emo-
tional, and physical development and helps prepare 
those children for the transition to kindergarten. 
(3) The term ‘‘local educational agency’’ has 
the meaning given that term in the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 
et seq.). 
(4) The term ‘‘prekindergarten teacher’’ means 
an individual who has received, or is working to-
ward, a bachelor of arts degree in early childhood 
education. 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act—
(1) $10,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; 
(2) $20,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; 
(3) $30,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2005; 
(4) $40,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and 
(5) $50,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
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