SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR IMPROVING EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE 
AND EDUCATION. 
Subpart 1 of part D of title V of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7243 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 5415. GRANTS FOR IMPROVING EARLY CHILDHOOD 
CARE AND EDUCATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—From the amounts appropriated 
under subsection (f), the Secretary jointly with the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services and on such terms 
as such Secretaries set forth in an interagency agreement, 
shall make competitive grants to qualified entities for ac-
tivities that build the capacity to develop, enhance, or ex-
pand high-quality preschool programs, including com-
prehensive services and family engagement, for preschool- 
aged children. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS.—Each qualified entity that de-
sires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an 
application to the Secretaries at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Secretaries 
may require. 
‘‘(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EVALUATION, AND 
OTHER NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.—The Secretaries may use 
up to 3 percent of the funds appropriated under sub-
section (f) for technical assistance, evaluation, and other 
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national activities related to awarding grants under this 
section. 
‘‘(d) REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 30 days 
prior to the announcement of a competition under 
this section, the Secretaries shall submit a report 
outlining the proposed competition and priorities to 
the Congress on the activities carried out under this 
section. 
‘‘(2) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Secretaries shall 
submit a report to Congress on the activities carried 
out under this section, including, at a minimum, in-
formation on the following: 
‘‘(A) The progress of each qualified entity 
in moving toward fulfilling criteria outlined in 
the entity’s application. 
‘‘(B) The extent to which the qualified en-
tities used grants under this section to expand 
a high-quality preschool program. 
‘‘(C) The costs and barriers to such expan-
sion, including building and renovating pre-
school facilities so that such facilities are high- 
quality and age and developmentally appro-
priate. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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‘‘(1) HIGH-QUALITY
PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM.— 
The term ‘high-quality preschool program’ means an 
early learning program that includes structural ele-
ments that are evidence-based and nationally recog-
nized (such as Head Start program performance 
standards or research published by the National In-
stitute for Early Education) as important for ensur-
ing program quality, including at a minimum: 
‘‘(A) High staff qualifications, including a 
teacher with a bachelor degree in early child-
hood education or a bachelor degree in any field 
with a State-approved alternate pathway, which 
may include coursework, clinical practice, and 
evidence of knowledge of content and pedagogy 
relating to early childhood, and teaching assist-
ants with appropriate credentials. 
‘‘(B) High-quality professional develop-
ment for all staff. 
‘‘(C) A staff-child ratio of no more than 
1:10. 
‘‘(D) A class size of no more than 20. 
‘‘(E) A full-day program. 
‘‘(F) Full inclusion of children with disabil-
ities. 
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‘‘(G) Developmentally appropriate, evi-
dence-based curricula and learning environ-
ments that are aligned with the State early 
learning and development standards, for at 
least the year prior to kindergarten entry. 
‘‘(H) Individualized accommodations and 
supports so that all children can access and 
participate fully in learning activities. 
‘‘(I) Instructional staff salaries comparable 
to kindergarten through grade 12 teaching 
staff. 
‘‘(J) Program evaluation to ensure contin-
uous improvement. 
‘‘(K) Onsite or accessible comprehensive 
services for children. 
‘‘(L) Evidence-based health and safety 
standards. 
‘‘(2) QUALIFIED ENTITY.—The term ‘qualified 
entity’ means a local educational agency or a local 
government entity. 
‘‘(3) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘Secretaries’ 
means the Secretary of Education and the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
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necessary to carry out this section for each of the fiscal 
years 2015 through 2024.’’. 
SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENT. 
The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 
et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 5414 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 5415. Grants for improving early childhood care and education.’’. 
Æ 
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