fare, child protective services, edu-
cation and community service activi-
ties, family literacy services, reading 
readiness programs (including such 
programs offered by public and school 
libraries), services relating to children 
with disabilities, other early childhood 
programs and services for limited 
English proficient children and home-
less children, and services provided for 
children in foster care and children re-
ferred to Head Start programs by child 
welfare agencies, including agencies 
and State officials responsible for such 
services; 
‘‘(II) assist Head Start agencies 
to develop a plan for the provision of 
full-working-day, full calendar year 
services for children enrolled in Head 
Start programs who need such care; 
‘‘(III) assist Head Start agencies 
to align curricula and assessments 
with the Head Start Child Outcomes 
Framework and to the State early 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
learning standards, as appropriate; 
and 
‘‘(IV) enable Head Start agencies 
in the State to better access profes-
sional development opportunities for 
Head Start staff, such as by— 
‘‘(aa) working with local 
Head Start agencies to meet the 
degree requirements described in 
section 648A(a)(2)(A), including 
providing distance learning op-
portunities for Head Start staff, 
where needed to make higher edu-
cation more accessible to Head 
Start staff; and 
‘‘(bb) 
enabling 
the 
State 
Head Start agencies to better con-
duct outreach to eligible families; 
‘‘(iii) promote partnerships between 
Head Start agencies, State and local gov-
ernments, and the private sector to help en-
sure that children, who are in Head Start 
programs, are receiving comprehensive serv-
ices to prepare the children to enter school 
ready to succeed; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(iv) consult with the chief State school 
officer, local educational agencies, and pro-
viders of early childhood education and 
care, regarding early care and education 
services at both the State and local levels; 
‘‘(v) promote partnerships between 
Head Start agencies, schools, law enforce-
ment, relevant community-based organiza-
tions, and substance abuse and mental 
health treatment agencies to strengthen fam-
ily and community environments and to re-
duce the impact on child development of 
substance abuse, child abuse, domestic vio-
lence, and other high risk behaviors that 
compromise healthy development; 
‘‘(vi) promote partnerships between 
Head Start agencies and other organiza-
tions in order to enhance Head Start pro-
gram quality, including partnerships to 
promote inclusion of more books in Head 
Start classrooms; 
‘‘(vii) identify other resources and or-
ganizations (both public and private) for 
the provision of in-kind services to Head 
Start agencies in the State; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(viii) work with the State Early 
Learning Council in order to assist the ef-
forts of Head Start agencies to engage in ef-
fective coordination and collaboration. 
‘‘(6) EARLY HEAD START.— 
‘‘(A) AMOUNTS RESERVED.—From amounts 
reserved and allotted pursuant to paragraphs (2) 
and (4), the Secretary shall use, for grants for 
programs described in section 645A(a), a portion 
of the combined total of such amounts that is not 
less than 12 percent for fiscal year 2008, not less 
than 14 percent for fiscal year 2009, not less 
than 16 percent for fiscal year 2010, not less 
than 18 percent for fiscal year 2011, and not less 
than 20 percent for fiscal year 2012 of the 
amount appropriated pursuant to section 639(a). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(i) For any fiscal year for which 
the Secretary determines that the 
amount appropriated under section 
639(a) is not sufficient to permit the 
Secretary to reserve the portion de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) without 
reducing the number of children served 
by Head Start programs or adversely 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
affecting the quality of Head Start 
services, relative to the number of chil-
dren served and the quality of the serv-
ices during the preceding fiscal year, 
the Secretary may reduce the percent-
age of funds required to be reserved for 
the portion described in subparagraph 
(A) for the fiscal year for which the de-
termination is made, but not below the 
percentage required to be so reserved 
for the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(ii) For any fiscal year for 
which the amount appropriated under 
section 639(a) is reduced to a level that 
requires a lower amount to be made 
available under this subchapter to 
Head Start agencies and entities de-
scribed in section 645A, relative to the 
amount made available to such agen-
cies and entities for the preceding fis-
cal year, adjusted as described in para-
graph (3)(A)(ii), the Secretary shall 
proportionately reduce— 
‘‘(I) the amounts made avail-
able to such entities for programs 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
carried out under section 645A; 
and 
‘‘(II) 
the 
amounts 
made 
available to such Head Start 
agencies for Head Start programs. 
‘‘(7) For purposes of this subsection, the term 
‘State’ does not include Guam, American Samoa, the 
Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, 
the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Repub-
lic of Palau.’’. 
(b) SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS.—Section 640(f) of 
the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(f)) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(f) SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS.— 
‘‘(1) Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of the Improving Head Start Act of 2007, 
the Secretary shall establish procedures to enable 
Head Start agencies to develop locally designed or 
specialized service delivery models to address local 
community needs, including models that leverage the 
existing capacity and capabilities of the delivery sys-
tem of early childhood education and child care. 
‘‘(2) In establishing the procedures, the Secretary 
shall establish procedures to provide for— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(A) the conversion of part-day programs to 
full-day programs or part-day slots to full-day 
slots; and 
‘‘(B) serving additional infants and tod-
dlers pursuant to section 645(a)(4).’’. 
(c) EXPANSION OF HEAD START PROGRAMS.—Section 
640(g) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(g)) is amend-
ed in paragraph (2)— 
(1) by striking ‘‘For the purpose of expanding 
Head Start programs, in’’ and inserting ‘‘In’’, and 
(2) by amending subparagraphs (C) through (H) 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(C) the extent to which the applicant has un-
dertaken community-wide strategic planning and 
needs assessments involving other community organi-
zations and local public agencies serving children and 
families with Federal, State, or local funds (including 
organizations and agencies providing family support 
services, child abuse prevention services, protective 
services, and foster care, and organizations serving 
families in whose homes English is not the language 
customarily spoken), and individuals, organizations, 
and public entities serving children with disabilities 
or homeless children, including the local educational 
agency 
liaison 
designated 
under 
section 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless As-
sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)); 
‘‘(D) the extent to which the family and commu-
nity needs assessment of the applicant reflects a need 
to provide full working-day or full calendar year serv-
ices and the extent to which, and manner in which, 
the applicant demonstrates the ability to collaborate 
and participate with the State and local community 
providers of child care or preschool services to provide 
full working-day full calendar year services; 
‘‘(E) the number of eligible children in each com-
munity who are not participating in a Head Start 
program or any other early childhood program; 
‘‘(F) the concentration of low-income families in 
each community; 
‘‘(G) the extent to which the applicant proposes 
to foster partnerships with other service providers in 
a manner that will leverage the existing delivery sys-
tems of such services and enhance the resource capac-
ity of the applicant; 
‘‘(H) the extent to which the applicant, in pro-
viding services, successfully coordinated its activities 
with the local educational agency serving the commu-
nity involved, (including the local educational agency 
liaison designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)) and with schools in which 
children participating in a Head Start program op-
erated by such agency will enroll following such pro-
gram, regarding such services and the education serv-
ices provided by such local educational agency; and 
‘‘(I) the amount of funds used by such agency to 
pay administrative expenses and the amount of avail-
able funds received by such agency under this section 
to service each enrolled child.’’. 
(d) TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.— 
(1) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall issue 
regulations establishing requirements for the safety 
features, and the safe operation, of vehicles used by 
Head Start agencies to transport children partici-
pating in Head Start programs. 
(2) GOOD CAUSE WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Sec-
retary shall allow Head Start agencies to annually 
request a good cause exception to the requirements of 
regulations promulgated under paragraph (1) for one 
or more vehicles used by the agency or its designee in 
transporting children enrolled in a Head Start pro-
gram or an Early Head Start program if— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
(A) such requirements would create a safety 
hazard in the circumstances faced by such agen-
cy; or 
(B) such requirements pertain to child re-
straint systems (45 C.F.R. 1310.11, 1310.15(a)) 
or bus monitors (45 C.F.R. 1310.15(c)); 
(C) the agency demonstrates that compli-
ance with such requirements will result in a sig-
nificant disruption to the Head Start program 
or the Early Head Start program; and 
(D) the waiver is in the best interest of the 
children involved. 
(e) MIGRANT
AND SEASONAL HEAD START PRO-
GRAMS.—Section 640(l) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
9835(l)) is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (3) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(3) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary 
shall continue the administrative arrangement at the na-
tional level for meeting the needs of Indian children and 
children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers and shall en-
sure that appropriate funding is provided to meet such 
needs, including training and technical assistance and the 
appointment of a national migrant and seasonal Head 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
Start collaboration director and a national Indian Head 
Start collaboration director.’’, and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4)(A) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the Sec-
retary shall conduct an annual consultation in each affected 
Head Start region, with tribal governments operating Head 
Start programs and Early Head Start programs. 
‘‘(B) The consultations shall be for the purpose of better 
meeting the needs of Indian children and children of Alas-
kan Natives, and their families, in accordance with sub-
sections (a), (b), and (c) of section 641, taking into consid-
eration funding allocations, distribution formulas, and 
other issues affecting the delivery of Head Start services in 
their geographic locations. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary shall publish a notification of the 
consultations in the Federal Register before conducting the 
consultations. 
‘‘(D) A detailed report of each consultation shall be 
prepared and made available within 90 days of the annual 
consultation to all Indian tribes that receive assistance 
under this subchapter.’’. 
(f) ENROLLMENT OF HOMELESS CHILDREN; RULE OF 
CONSTRUCTION; MATERIALS.—Section 640 of the Head 
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(m) ENROLLMENT OF HOMELESS CHILDREN.—The 
Secretary shall issue rules to establish policies and proce-
dures to remove barriers to the enrollment and participa-
tion of homeless children in Head Start programs. Such 
rules shall require Head Start agencies— 
‘‘(1) to implement policies and procedures to en-
sure that homeless children are identified and 
prioritized for enrollment; 
‘‘(2) to allow homeless families to apply to, en-
roll in and attend Head Start programs while re-
quired documents, such as proof of residency, immu-
nization and other medical records, birth certificates 
and other documents, are obtained within a reason-
able time frame; and 
‘‘(3) coordinate individual Head Start programs 
with efforts to implement subtitle B of title VII of the 
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
11431–11435). 
‘‘(n) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sub-
chapter 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 edu-
cation, to attend school, or to participate in any initial 
screening before participating in such program, except as 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
provided under sections 612(a)(3) and 635(a)(5) of the In-
dividuals with Disabilities Education Act. 
‘‘(o) MATERIALS.—All curricula and instructional 
materials funded under this subchapter shall be based on 
scientifically based research, age and developmentally ap-
propriate, and focused on all areas of development (cog-
nitive, social, emotional, and physical), learning (language 
and literacy, mathematics, science, and creative arts) and 
approaches to learning. Parents shall be permitted to in-
spect, upon request, any curricula or instructional mate-
rials used to carry out this subchapter.’’. 
SEC. 6. DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES. 
Section 641 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 641. DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE.—The Secretary is 
authorized to designate as a Head Start agency any local 
public or private nonprofit agency, including community- 
based and faith-based organizations, or for-profit agency, 
within a community, pursuant to the requirements of this 
section, except that until such time that the Secretary devel-
ops and implements the system of application review under 
this section, the Secretary is authorized to designate as a 
Head Start agency, any local public or private nonprofit 
agency, including community-based and faith-based organi-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
zations, or for-profit agency, within a community, in the 
manner and process utilized by the Secretary prior to the 
enactment of the Improving Head Start Act of 2007. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION FOR GRANTS.—Each entity shall 
submit a plan to the Secretary, at such time and in such 
manner as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(c) DEVELOPMENT OF APPLICATION REVIEW SYS-
TEM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop 
a system that integrates the recommendations of the 
expert panel convened under paragraph (3) to deter-
mine if a Head Start agency is providing a quality 
comprehensive early learning program that meets the 
educational, health, and nutritional needs of the chil-
dren and families it serves, and meets program and 
financial management requirements and performance 
standards described in section 641A(a)(1), based on— 
‘‘(A) annual budget data; 
‘‘(B) program reviews conducted under sec-
tion 641A(c); 
‘‘(C) annual audits required under section 
647; 
‘‘(D) classroom quality as measured under 
section 641A(c)(2)(H); and 
‘‘(E) Program Information Report. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(2) EXPERT PANEL.—No later than six months 
after the enactment of the Improving Head Start Act 
of 2007, the Secretary shall convene an expert panel 
of 7 members to make recommendations to the Sec-
retary on the development of a transparent, reliable, 
and valid system for evaluating grant renewal appli-
cations. 
‘‘(3) COMPOSITION OF EXPERT PANEL.—The Sec-
retary, in convening such panel, shall appoint the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) 5 members, who are competent, by vir-
tue of their training, expertise, and experience, 
in each of at least one of the following areas: 
‘‘(i) Early childhood program accredi-
tation or quality assessment. 
‘‘(ii) Research on early childhood de-
velopment. 
‘‘(iii) Governance and finance of non- 
profit organizations. 
‘‘(iv) Delivery of services to children 
and families with limited English pro-
ficiency. 
‘‘(v) Delivery of services to children 
with disabilities. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(B) An employee from the Office of Head 
Start. 
‘‘(C) An executive director of a Head Start 
agency. 
‘‘(4) 
EXPERT
PANEL
REPORT.—Within 
months of being convened by the Secretary, the expert 
panel shall issue a report to the Secretary that pro-
vides recommendations on a proposed system of ap-
plication review that takes into account the criteria 
in paragraph (1) to evaluate whether a Head Start 
grantee is meeting mission to provide a high quality 
comprehensive early education program, including 
adequately meeting its governance and financial 
management requirements. 
‘‘(5) PUBLIC
COMMENT; 
REPORT
TO
CON-
GRESS.—No later than 6 months after receiving the 
report described in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall 
publish a proposed system of application review in 
the Federal Register, providing at least 90 days for 
public comment and shall provide a report to the 
Education and Labor Committee of the U.S. House of 
Representatives and the Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions Committee of the U.S. Senate that pro-
vides a detailed description of such proposed system, 
including clear rationale for any differences between 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
the proposed system and the recommendations of the 
expert panel, if any such differences exist. 
‘‘(6) IMPLEMENTATION OF APPLICATION REVIEW 
SYSTEM.—After the Secretary has reviewed all public 
comments and finalized the system of application re-
view, the Secretary will use this system to determine 
which grantees are successfully delivering a high qual-
ity comprehensive early education program. Grantees 
who are determined under such system to be— 
‘‘(A) successfully delivering a high quality 
comprehensive early education program shall be 
designated a Head Start agency for a period of 
5 years; 
‘‘(B) under-performing and may enter into 
an open competition as described in subsection 
(e); and 
‘‘(C) notwithstanding paragraph (B), if an 
Indian Head Start agency is determined to be 
underperforming, the Secretary shall engage in 
government-to-government consultation with the 
appropriate tribal government or governments 
for the purpose of establishing a performance en-
hancement plan for that agency. Such plan is to 
be developed and implemented within 6 months 
of the Secretary’s determination. Not more than 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
6 months after implementation of that plan, the 
Secretary shall re-evaluate the performance of the 
Indian Head Start agency. If the Indian Head 
Start agency remains underperforming, the Sec-
retary shall conduct an open competition as de-
scribed in subsection (e), subject to the following 
limitations: 
‘‘(i) Except as provided in paragraph 
(ii), a non-Indian Head Start agency may 
not receive a grant to carry out an Indian 
Head Start program. 
‘‘(ii) In a community in which there is 
no Indian Head Start agency available for 
designation to carry out an Indian Head 
Start program, a non-Indian Head Start 
agency, on an interim basis, may receive a 
grant to carry out an Indian Head Start 
program, but only until such time as an In-
dian Head Start agency in such community 
becomes available. 
‘‘(d) TRANSPARENCY, RELIABILITY, AND VALIDITY.— 
The Secretary shall ensure the system of application evalua-
tion is fair, consistent, and transparent and applied in a 
manner that designates, in a timely manner grantees as 
Head Start agencies for a period of 5 years if such grantees 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
are providing a high quality comprehensive early education 
program. The Secretary shall periodically evaluate whether 
the criteria are being applied in a manner that is trans-
parent, reliable, and valid. 
‘‘(e) DESIGNATION WHEN NO ENTITY HAS PRI-
ORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If no entity in a community 
is determined to be successfully delivering a high 
quality comprehensive early education program, as 
specified in subsection (c), the Secretary shall, after 
conducting an open competition, designate for a 5- 
year period a Head Start agency from among quali-
fied applicants in such community. 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATIONS IN DESIGNATION.—In se-
lecting from among qualified applicants for designa-
tion as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall con-
sider the effectiveness of each such applicant to pro-
vide Head Start services, based on— 
‘‘(A) any past performance of such appli-
cant in providing services comparable to Head 
Start services, including how effectively such ap-
plicant provided such comparable services; 
‘‘(B) the plan of such applicant to provide 
comprehensive health (including mental and be-
havioral health), educational, nutritional, social, 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
and other services needed to prepare children to 
succeed in school and in life; 
‘‘(C) the plan of such applicant to attract 
and retain qualified staff capable of delivering a 
high quality comprehensive early education pro-
gram, including demonstrating the ability to 
provide adequate salary and benefits to main-
tain a high quality staff; 
‘‘(D) the ability of such applicant to main-
tain child-teacher ratios and family service 
worker caseloads that reflect best practices and 
are tied to high quality service delivery; 
‘‘(E) the capacity of such applicant to serve 
eligible children with curriculum and teaching 
practices that are based on scientifically based 
research, are developmentally appropriate, and 
that promote the school readiness of children 
participating in the program; 
‘‘(F) the plan of such applicant to meet 
standards set forth in section 641A(a)(1), with 
particular attention to the standards set forth in 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section; 
‘‘(G) the proposed budget and plan of such 
applicant to maintain strong fiscal controls and 
cost effective fiscal management; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(H) the plan of such applicant to coordi-
nate the Head Start program the applicant pro-
poses to carry out, with other local early learn-
ing programs for young children, including— 
‘‘(i) programs implementing grants 
under the Early Reading First and Even 
Start programs under subparts 2 and 3 of 
part B of title I of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
6371 et seq., 6381 et seq.); 
‘‘(ii) and programs under section 619 
and part C of the Individuals with Disabil-
ities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 
et seq.); 
‘‘(iii) State prekindergarten programs; 
‘‘(iv) child care programs; and 
‘‘(v) the educational programs that the 
children participating in the Head Start 
program will enter at the age of compulsory 
school attendance; 
‘‘(I) the plan of such applicant to coordi-
nate the Head Start program that the applicant 
proposes to carry out, with public and private 
entities that are willing to commit resources to 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
assist the Head Start program in meeting its 
program needs; 
‘‘(J) the plan of such applicant— 
‘‘(i) to seek the involvement of parents 
(including grandparents and kinship care-
givers, as appropriate) of children partici-
pating in the proposed Head Start pro-
gram, in activities (at home and, if prac-
ticable, at the location of the Head Start 
program) designed to help such parents be-
come full partners in the education of their 
children; 
‘‘(ii) to afford such parents the oppor-
tunity to participate in the development 
and overall conduct of the program at the 
local level; 
‘‘(iii) to offer (directly or through re-
ferral to local entities, such as entities car-
rying out Even Start programs under sub-
chapter 3 of part B of title I of the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 6381 et seq.), public and school 
libraries, and entities carrying out family 
support programs) to such parents— 
‘‘(I) family literacy services; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(II) parenting skills training; 
‘‘(iv) to offer to parents of partici-
pating children, mental health services (ei-
ther directly or through referral to local en-
tities), including substance abuse counseling 
and information on maternal depression 
and on the effect of drug-exposure on in-
fants and fetal alcohol syndrome; 
‘‘(v) at the option of such applicant, to 
offer (directly or through referral to local 
entities) to such parents— 
‘‘(I) training in basic child devel-
opment (including cognitive, social, 
and emotional development); 
‘‘(II) assistance in developing lit-
eracy and communication skills; 
‘‘(III) opportunities to share expe-
riences with other parents (including 
parent mentor relationships); 
‘‘(IV) regular in-home visitation; 
‘‘(V) mental and behavioral health 
services; or 
‘‘(VI) any other activity designed 
to help such parents become full part-
ners in the education of their children; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(vi) to provide, with respect to each 
participating family, a family needs assess-
ment that includes consultation with such 
parents, in a manner and language that 
such parents can understand, about the ben-
efits of parent involvement and about the 
activities described in subparagraph (H) in 
which such parents may choose to become 
involved (taking into consideration their 
specific family needs, work schedules, and 
other responsibilities); and 
‘‘(vii) to extend outreach to fathers, in 
appropriate cases, in order to strengthen the 
role of fathers in families, in the education 
of their young children, and in the Head 
Start program, by working directly with fa-
thers and father figures through activities 
such as— 
‘‘(I) in appropriate cases, includ-
ing fathers in home visits and pro-
viding culturally appropriate opportu-
nities for direct father-child inter-
actions; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(II) targeting increased male 
participation in the conduct of the pro-
gram; 
‘‘(K) the plan of such applicant to meet the 
needs of limited English proficient children and 
their families, including procedures to identify 
such children, plans to provide trained per-
sonnel, and plans to provide services to assist the 
children in making progress toward the acquisi-
tion of the English language, while making 
meaningful progress in attaining the knowledge, 
skills, abilities, and development described in sec-
tion 641A(a)(1)(B); 
‘‘(L) the plan of such applicant to meet the 
diverse cultural needs of the population served; 
‘‘(M) the plan of such applicant to meet the 
needs of children with disabilities; 
‘‘(N) the plan of such applicant who chooses 
to assist younger siblings of children who will 
participate in the Head Start program to obtain 
health, including mental health, services from 
other sources; 
‘‘(O) the plan of such applicant to collabo-
rate with other entities carrying out public or 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
private early childhood education and child care 
programs in the community; 
‘‘(P) the plan of such applicant to meet the 
needs of homeless children, including transpor-
tation needs, and children in foster care and 
children and families experiencing toxic stress; 
‘‘(Q) the plan of such applicant to main-
tain a qualified staff, including a teaching staff 
qualified to implement research-based curricula 
aligned with the Head Start Child Outcomes 
Framework developed by the Secretary and to 
the early learning standards in State in which 
such program would operate; 
‘‘(R) the plan of such applicant to enter 
into memoranda of understanding with local 
educational agencies within the service area, as 
described in section 642B(a); and 
‘‘(S) other factors related to the require-
ments of this subchapter. 
‘‘(f) INTERIM PROVIDER.—If no agency in the commu-
nity receives priority designation under subsection (c), and 
there is no qualified applicant in the community, the Sec-
retary shall designate a qualified agency to carry out the 
Head Start program in the community on an interim basis 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
until a qualified applicant from the community is so des-
ignated. 
‘‘(g) PARENT AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.—The 
Secretary shall require that the practice of significantly in-
volving parents and area residents affected by the program 
in the selection of Head Start agencies be continued. 
‘‘(h) COMMUNITY.—For purposes of this subchapter, a 
community may be a city, county, or multicity or multi-
county unit within a State, an Indian reservation (includ-
ing Indians in any off-reservation area designated by an 
appropriate tribal government in consultation with the Sec-
retary) or a neighborhood or other area (irrespective of 
boundaries or political subdivisions) which provides a suit-
able organizational base and possesses the commonality of 
interest needed to operate a Head Start program.’’. 
SEC. 7. QUALITY STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD 
START AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS. 
Section 641A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836a) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 641A. QUALITY STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD 
START AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS. 
‘‘(a) QUALITY STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS.—The Sec-
retary shall modify, as necessary, program perform-
ance standards by regulation applicable to Head 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
Start agencies, programs, and projects under this sub-
chapter, including— 
‘‘(A) performance standards with respect to 
services required to be provided, including 
health, parental involvement, nutritional, social, 
transition activities described in section 642(d), 
and other services; 
‘‘(B) 
scientifically 
based 
and 
develop-
mentally appropriate early learning standards 
related to school readiness that are based on the 
Head Start Child Outcomes Framework to en-
sure that the children participating in the pro-
gram, at a minimum develop and demonstrate— 
‘‘(i) language knowledge and skills, in-
cluding oral language and listening com-
prehension; 
‘‘(ii) prereading knowledge and skills 
that prepare children for early literacy in 
schools including phonological awareness, 
print awareness and print skills, and al-
phabetic knowledge; 
‘‘(iii) 
mathematics 
knowledge 
and 
skills, including aspects of classification, se-
riation, number, spatial relations, and 
time; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(iv) science knowledge and skills, in-
cluding measurement; 
‘‘(v) cognitive abilities related to aca-
demic achievement and general knowledge; 
‘‘(vi) social and emotional development 
related to early learning, school success, so-
cial problem-solving, and overall well-being; 
‘‘(vii) approaches to learning related to 
child development and early learning; 
‘‘(viii) creative arts; and 
‘‘(ix) in the case of limited-English 
proficient children, progress toward acquisi-
tion of the English language while making 
meaningful progress in attaining the knowl-
edge, skills, abilities, and development de-
scribed in clauses (i) through (viii), includ-
ing progress made through the use of cul-
turally and linguistically appropriate in-
structional services; 
‘‘(C) administrative and financial manage-
ment standards; 
‘‘(D) standards relating to the condition 
and location of facilities for such agencies, pro-
grams, and projects; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00055
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(E) such other standards as the Secretary 
finds to be appropriate. 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATIONS
IN
DEVELOPING
STAND-
ARDS.—In developing the standards required under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) consult with experts in the fields of 
child development, early childhood education, 
child health care, family services (including lin-
guistically and culturally appropriate services to 
limited English proficient children and their 
families), administration, and financial man-
agement, and with persons with experience in 
the operation of Head Start programs; 
‘‘(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) recommendations from the report 
on Developmental Outcomes and Assess-
ments for Young Children by the National 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00056
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
Academy of Sciences, when it becomes avail-
able; 
‘‘(iv) 
developments 
concerning 
re-
search-based practices with respect to early 
childhood education and development, chil-
dren with disabilities, family services, pro-
gram administration, and financial man-
agement; 
‘‘(v) projected needs of an expanding 
Head Start program; 
‘‘(vi) guidelines and standards cur-
rently in effect or under consideration that 
promote child health services and physical 
development, including outdoor activity 
that supports children’s motor development 
and overall health and nutrition; 
‘‘(vii) changes in the population of 
children who are eligible to participate in 
Head Start programs, including the lan-
guage and cultural background and family 
structure of such children; 
‘‘(viii) mechanisms to ensure that chil-
dren participating in Head Start programs 
make a successful transition to the schools 
that the children will be attending; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
‘‘(ix) the unique challenges faced by in-
dividual programs, including those that are 
seasonal or short term, and those that serve 
rural populations; and 
‘‘(C)(i) review and revise as necessary the 
performance standards in effect under this sub-
section; and 
‘‘(ii) ensure that any such revisions in the 
performance standards will not result in the 
elimination of or any reduction in quality, scope 
or types of health, education, parental involve-
ment, nutritional, social, or other services re-
quired to be provided under such standards as in 
effect on October 27, 1998. 
‘‘(3) STANDARDS RELATING TO OBLIGATIONS TO 
DELEGATE
AGENCIES.—In 
developing 
standards 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall describe the 
obligations of a Head Start agency to a delegate 
agency to which the Head Start agency has delegated 
responsibility for providing services under this sub-
chapter and determine whether the Head Start agency 
complies with the standards. The Secretary shall con-
sider such compliance during the review described in 
subsection (c)(1)(A) and in determining whether to 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
renew financial assistance to the Head Start agency 
under this subchapter. 
‘‘(b) MEASURES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with representatives of Head Start agencies and 
with experts in the fields of early childhood education 
and development, shall use the study on Develop-
mental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children 
by the National Academy of Sciences to provide guid-
ance to Head Start agencies for utilizing scientif-
ically-based measures that support, as appropriate— 
‘‘(A) classroom instructional practices; 
‘‘(B) identification of special needs; and 
‘‘(C) program evaluation. 
‘‘(2) CHARACTERISTICS
OF
MEASURES.—The 
measures under this subsection shall 
‘‘(A) be developmentally, linguistically, and 
culturally appropriate for the population served; 
‘‘(B) be reviewed not less than every 4 
years, based on advances in the science of early 
childhood development; 
‘‘(C) be consistent with relevant, nationally 
recognized professional and technical standards 
related to the assessment of young children; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:43 Mar 23, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1429.RH
H1429
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS