Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/us/2016/title-42/chapter-105/subchapter-ii/sec.-9836a/
Timestamp: 2019-05-26 16:55:52
Document Index: 780569647

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 9836', '§9836', '§641', '§108', '§108', '§8', '§1431', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108', '§108']

Sec. 9836a - Standards; monitoring of Head Start agencies and programs :: 2016 US Code :: US Codes and Statutes :: US Law :: Justia
Justia › US Law › US Codes and Statutes › US Code › 2016 US Code › Title 42 - The Public Health and Welfare › Chapter 105 - Community Services Programs › Subchapter II - Head Start Programs › Sec. 9836a - Standards; monitoring of Head Start agencies and programs
Sec. 9836a - Standards; monitoring of Head Start agencies and programs
Citation 42 U.S.C. § 9836a (2016)
§9836a. Standards; monitoring of Head Start agencies and programs
(1) Content of standards
The Secretary shall modify, as necessary, program performance standards by regulation applicable to Head Start agencies and programs under this subchapter, including—
(A) performance standards with respect to services required to be provided, including health, parental involvement, nutritional, and social services, transition activities described in section 9837a of this title, and other services;
(B) scientifically based and developmentally appropriate education performance standards related to school readiness that are based on the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework to ensure that the children participating in the program, at a minimum, develop and demonstrate—
(vii) social and emotional development related to early learning, school success, and social problemsolving;
(D) standards relating to the condition and location of facilities (including indoor air quality assessment standards, where appropriate) for such agencies, and programs, including regulations that require that the facilities used by Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies and any delegate agencies) for regularly scheduled center-based and combination program option classroom activities—
(2) Considerations regarding standards
In developing any modifications to standards required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(i) past experience with use of the standards in effect under this subchapter on December 12, 2007;
(iii) recommendations from the study on Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children by the National Academy of Sciences, consistent with section 9844(j) of this title;
(ii) ensure that any such revisions in the standards will not result in the elimination of or any reduction in quality, scope, or types of health, educational, parental involvement, nutritional, social, or other services required to be provided under such standards as in effect on December 12, 2007; and
(3) Standards relating to obligations to delegate agencies
In developing any modifications to standards under paragraph (1), 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 subchapter.
The Secretary, in consultation with representatives of Head Start agencies and with experts in the fields of early childhood education and development, family services, and program management, shall use the study on Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children by the National Academy of Sciences and other relevant research to inform, revise, and provide guidance to Head Start agencies for utilizing, scientifically based measures that support, as appropriate—
(2) Characteristics of measures
(3) Use of measures; limitations on use
Such measures shall not be used to exclude children from Head Start programs.
The Secretary, through regulation, shall ensure the confidentiality of any personally identifiable data, information, and records collected or maintained under this subchapter by the Secretary and any Head Start agency. Such regulations shall provide the policies, protections, and rights equivalent to those provided to a parent, student, or educational agency or institution under section 1232g of title 20.
(B) Prohibition on nationwide database
The use of assessment items and data on any assessment authorized under this subchapter by any agent of the Federal Government is prohibited for the purposes of—
The Secretary shall not use the results of a single assessment as the sole method for assessing program effectiveness or making agency funding determinations at the national, regional, or local level under this subchapter.
(c) Monitoring of local agencies and programs
To determine whether Head Start agencies meet standards described in subsection (a)(1) established under this subchapter with respect to program, administrative, financial management, and other requirements, and in order to help the programs identify areas for improvement and areas of strength as part of their ongoing self-assessment process, the Secretary shall conduct the following reviews of Head Start agencies, including the Head Start programs operated by such agencies:
(C) Followup reviews, including—
(2) Conduct of reviews
The Secretary shall ensure that reviews described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1)—
(A) are conducted by review teams that—
(i) include individuals who are knowledgeable about Head Start programs and, to the maximum extent practicable, individuals who are knowledgeable about—
(D) include as part of the reviews, an assessment of the extent to which the programs address the communitywide strategic planning and needs assessment described in section 9835(g)(1)(C) of this title;
(I) include as part of the reviews a protocol for fiscal management that shall be used to assess compliance with program requirements for—
(ii) using Federal funds specifically to purchase property (consistent with section 9839(f) of this title) and to compensate personnel;
(J) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a review and assessment of whether the programs are in conformity with the eligibility requirements under section 9840(a)(1) of this title, including regulations promulgated under such section and whether the programs have met the requirements for the outreach and enrollment policies and procedures, and selection criteria, in such section, for the participation of children in programs assisted under this subchapter;
(K) include as part of the reviews, a review and assessment of whether agencies have adequately addressed the needs of children with disabilities, including whether the agencies involved have met the 10 percent minimum enrollment requirement specified in section 9835(d) of this title and whether the agencies have made sufficient efforts to collaborate with State and local agencies providing services under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.); and
In conducting a review described in paragraph (1)(A) of a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall determine whether the agency complies with the obligations described in subsection (a)(3). The Secretary shall consider such compliance in determining whether to renew financial assistance to the Head Start agency under this subchapter.
(4) Use of review findings
The findings of a review described in paragraph (1) of a Head Start agency shall, at a minimum—
(d) Evaluations and corrective action for delegate agencies
Each Head Start agency shall establish, subject to paragraph (4), procedures relating to its delegate agencies, including—
Each Head Start agency—
(3) Remedies to ensure corrective actions
In the event that the Head Start agency identifies a deficiency for a delegate agency through the evaluation, the Head Start agency shall take action, which may include—
(C) releasing funds to such delegate agency—
The Head Start agency may not terminate a delegate agency's contract or reduce a delegate agency's service area without showing cause or demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of such a decision.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the powers, duties, or functions of the Secretary with respect to Head Start agencies or delegate agencies that receive financial assistance under this subchapter.
(e) Corrective action for Head Start agencies
If the Secretary determines, on the basis of a review pursuant to subsection (c), that a Head Start agency designated pursuant to this subchapter fails to meet the standards described in subsection (a)(1) or fails to address the communitywide strategic planning and needs assessment, the Secretary shall—
(B) with respect to each identified deficiency, require the agency—
(2) Quality improvement plan
(A) Agency and program responsibilities
To retain a designation as a Head Start agency under this subchapter, or in the case of a Head Start program to continue to receive funds from such agency, a Head Start agency that is the subject of a determination described in paragraph (1), or a Head Start program that is determined to have a deficiency under subsection (d)(2) (excluding an agency required to correct a deficiency immediately 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 that shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary, or in the case of a program, the sponsoring agency, and that shall specify—
(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 Secretary shall either approve such proposed plan or specify the reasons why the proposed plan cannot be approved.
(C) Agency responsibility
Not later than 30 days after receiving from a Head Start program a proposed quality improvement plan pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Head Start agency involved shall either approve such proposed plan or specify the reasons why the proposed plan cannot be approved.
The Secretary shall provide training and technical assistance to Head Start agencies and programs with respect to the development or implementation of such quality improvement plans to the extent the Secretary finds such provision to be feasible and appropriate given available funding and other statutory responsibilities.
(f) 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 outcomes of quality improvement plans implemented under subsection (e), during such fiscal year.
(2) Report availability
(A) parents with children receiving assistance under this subchapter—
(3) Report information
(g) Self-assessments
Not less frequently than once each program year, with the consultation and participation of policy councils and, as applicable, policy committees and, as appropriate, other community members, each Head Start agency, and each delegate agency, that receives financial assistance under this subchapter shall conduct a comprehensive self-assessment of its effectiveness and progress in meeting program goals and objectives and in implementing and complying with standards described in subsection (a)(1).
(2) Goals, reports, and improvement plans
An agency conducting a self-assessment shall establish agency-determined program goals for improving the school readiness of children participating in a program under this subchapter, including school readiness goals that are aligned with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework, State early learning standards as appropriate, and requirements and expectations of the schools the children will be attending.
The agency shall develop, and submit to the Secretary a report containing, an improvement plan approved by the governing body of the agency to strengthen any areas identified in the self-assessment as weaknesses or in need of improvement.
(3) Ongoing monitoring
Each Head Start agency (including each Early Head Start agency) and each delegate agency shall establish and implement procedures for the ongoing monitoring of their respective programs, to ensure that the operations of the programs work toward meeting program goals and objectives and standards described in subsection (a)(1).
(h) Reduction of grants and redistribution of funds in cases of underenrollment
(A) Actual enrollment
The term "actual enrollment" means, with respect to the program of a Head Start agency, the actual number of children enrolled in such program and reported by the agency (as required in paragraph (2)) in a given month.
(B) Base grant
The term "base grant" has the meaning given the term in section 9835(a)(7) of this title.
(C) Funded enrollment
The term "funded enrollment" means, with respect to the program of a Head Start agency in a fiscal year, the number of children that the agency is funded to serve through a grant for the program during such fiscal year, as indicated in the grant agreement.
(2) Enrollment reporting requirement
Each entity carrying out a Head Start program shall report on a monthly basis to the Secretary and the relevant Head Start agency—
(3) Secretarial review and plan
(B) for each such Head Start agency operating a program with an actual enrollment that is less than its funded enrollment, as determined under subparagraph (A), develop, in collaboration with such agency, a plan and timetable for reducing or eliminating underenrollment taking into consideration—
Upon receipt of the technical assistance described in paragraph (3)(C), a Head Start agency shall immediately implement the plan described in paragraph (3)(B). The Secretary shall, where determined appropriate, continue to provide technical assistance to such agency.
(5) Secretarial review and adjustment for chronic underenrollment
If, after receiving technical assistance and developing and implementing the plan as described in paragraphs (3) and (4) for 12 months, a Head Start agency is operating a program with an actual enrollment that is less than 97 percent of its funded enrollment, the Secretary may—
(B) Waiver or limitation of reductions
The Secretary may, as appropriate, waive or reduce the percentage recapturing, withholding, or reduction otherwise required by subparagraph (A), if, after the implementation of the plan described in paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary finds that—
(6) Redistribution of funds
Funds held by the Secretary as a result of recapturing, withholding, or reducing a base grant in a fiscal year shall be redistributed by the end of the following fiscal year as follows:
(i) Indian Head Start programs
If such funds are derived from an Indian Head Start program, then such funds shall be redistributed to increase enrollment by the end of the following fiscal year in 1 or more Indian Head Start programs.
(ii) Migrant and seasonal Head Start programs
If such funds are derived from a migrant or seasonal Head Start program, then such funds shall be redistributed to increase enrollment by the end of the following fiscal year in 1 or more programs of the type from which such funds are derived.
(iii) Early Head Start programs
If such funds are derived from an Early Head Start program in a State, then such funds shall be redistributed to increase enrollment by the end of the following fiscal year in 1 or more Early Head Start programs in that State. If such funds are derived from an Indian Early Head Start program, then such funds shall be redistributed to increase enrollment by the end of the following fiscal year in 1 or more Indian Early Head Start programs.
(iv) Other Head Start programs
If such funds are derived from a Head Start program in a State (excluding programs described in clauses (i) through (iii)), then such funds shall be redistributed to increase enrollment by the end of the following fiscal year in 1 or more Head Start programs (excluding programs described in clauses (i) through (iii)) that are carried out in such State.
(B) Adjustment to funded enrollment
The Secretary shall adjust as necessary the requirements relating to funded enrollment indicated in the grant agreement of a Head Start agency receiving redistributed funds under this paragraph.
(Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, §641A, as added Pub. L. 103–252, title I, §108, May 18, 1994, 108 Stat. 631; amended Pub. L. 105–285, title I, §108, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2713; Pub. L. 110–134, §8, Dec. 12, 2007, 121 Stat. 1385.)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(K), is title VI of Pub. L. 91–230, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 175. Part C of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§1431 et seq.) of chapter 33 of Title 20, Education. Section 619 of the Act is classified to section 1419 of Title 20. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1400 of Title 20 and Tables.
2007—Pub. L. 110–134 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to, in subsec. (a), quality standards, in subsec. (b), results-based performance measures, in subsec. (c), monitoring of local agencies and programs, in subsec. (d), corrective action and termination, and, in subsec. (e), summaries of monitoring outcomes.
1998—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(a)(1)(A), inserted ", including minimum levels of overall accomplishment," after "regulation standards" in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(a)(1)(B), struck out "education," after "including health,".
Subsec. (a)(1)(B) to (E). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(a)(1)(C), (D), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpars. (B) to (D) as (C) to (E), respectively.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(a)(2), (3), redesignated par. (3) as (2) and struck out heading and text of former par. (2). Text read as follows: "The regulations promulgated under this subsection shall establish the minimum levels of overall accomplishment that a Head Start agency shall achieve in order to meet the standards specified in paragraph (1)."
Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(a)(4)(A), substituted "early childhood education and" for "child".
Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(i). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(a)(4)(B)(i), struck out "not later than 1 year after May 18, 1994," before "review" and substituted "this subsection; and" for "section 9846(b) of this title on the day before May 18, 1994; and".
Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(a)(4)(B)(ii), substituted "October 27, 1998" for "November 2, 1978".
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(a)(5), substituted "to a delegate agency" for "to an agency (referred to in this subchapter as the 'delegate agency')".
Pub. L. 105–285, §108(a)(3), redesignated par. (4) as (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (2).
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(a)(3), redesignated par. (4) as (3).
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(b)(1), inserted "Results-based" in heading.
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(b)(2), substituted "The Secretary" for "Not later than 1 year after May 18, 1994, the Secretary", "early childhood education and" for "child", and "results-based performance measures" for "performance measures" and inserted ", and the impact of the services provided through the programs to children and their families" before "(referred".
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(b)(3)(A), (B), (F), substituted "Characteristics" for "Design" in heading and "shall—" for "shall be designed—" in introductory provisions and inserted concluding provisions.
Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(b)(3)(C), substituted "be used to assess the impact of" for "to assess".
Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(b)(3)(D), substituted "be adaptable" for "to be adaptable" and ", peer review, and program evaluation" for "and peer review" and inserted ", not later than July 1, 1999" before semicolon.
Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(b)(3)(E), inserted "be developed" before "for other".
Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(b)(4), substituted ", regionally, and locally" for "and by region".
Subsec. (b)(4), (5). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(b)(5), added pars. (4) and (5).
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(c)(1), inserted "and results-based performance measures developed by the Secretary under subsection (b) of this section" after "standards established under this subchapter".
Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(c)(2)(A), struck out "and" at end.
Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(c)(2)(B), inserted "(including children with disabilities)" after "eligible children" and substituted semicolon for period at end.
Subsec. (c)(2)(D), (E). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(c)(2)(C), added subpars. (D) and (E).
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(d)(1)(A), inserted "or results-based performance measures developed by the Secretary under subsection (b) of this section" after "subsection (a) of this section" in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(d)(1)(B), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: "with respect to each identified deficiency, require the agency—
"(i) to correct the deficiency immediately; or
"(ii) at the discretion of the Secretary (taking into consideration the seriousness of the deficiency and the time reasonably required to correct the deficiency), to comply with the requirements of paragraph (2) concerning a quality improvement plan; and".
Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(d)(2), substituted "required to correct a deficiency immediately or during a 90-day period under clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (1)(B)" for "able to correct a deficiency immediately" in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–285, §108(e), inserted at end "Such report shall be widely disseminated and available for public review in both written and electronic formats."
Contains section 9836a
108 Stat. 631
112 Stat. 2713
121 Stat. 1385