Q: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Universal Prekindergarten 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 attended a high-quality
prekindergarten program have higher academic achievement, lower
rates of grade retention, are less likely to be placed in
special education, and graduate from high school at higher
rates than those who did not.
(2) Early childhood education can reduce juvenile
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 affordable,
quality early education programs that are accessible for
working families.
(4) Full-day, full-calendar-year universal prekindergarten
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, decreased 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 developing a universal prekindergarten program that
is voluntary and free-of-charge.

SEC. 3. PREKINDERGARTEN GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation 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 submit an application at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
of Health and Human Services may require. The application shall include
the following:
(1) How the designated State agency, in overseeing the
State's universal prekindergarten program, will coordinate with
other State agencies responsible for early childhood education
and health programs.
(2) A State plan to establish and implement a statewide
universal prekindergarten program, in accordance 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 prekindergarten 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 prekindergarten
programs and how program outcomes will be measured.
(3) A description of--
(A) how funding will be distributed to eligible
prekindergarten program providers based on the need for
early childhood education in each geographical area
served by such providers; and
(B) how the designated State agency will involve
representatives of early childhood program 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 programs (such as Head Start programs), public
school programs, and child care providers.
(5) A description of how an eligible prekindergarten
program provider may apply to the designated 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 comparable to that of public
school teachers.
(7) How the designated State agency will provide 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 prekindergarten
program will meet the needs of children 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 program provider
receiving funding under this Act shall--
(1) maintain a maximum class size of 20 children;
(2) maintain a ratio of not more than 10 children for each
member of the teaching staff;
(3)(A) ensure that all prekindergarten teachers meet the
requirements for teachers at a State-funded 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 degree with training in early
childhood development or early childhood education;
(4)(A) be accredited by a national organization with
demonstrated experience in accrediting prekindergarten
programs; or
(B) provide assurances that it shall obtain such
accreditation not later than 3 years after first receiving
funding under this Act; and
(5) meet applicable State and local child care licensing
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 following:
(1) A description of the prekindergarten program.
(2) A statement of the demonstrated need for a program, or
an enhanced or expanded program, in the area served by the
eligible prekindergarten program provider.
(3) A description of the age-appropriate and
developmentally appropriate educational curriculum to be
provided that will help children be ready for school and assist
them in the transition to kindergarten.
(4) A description of how the eligible prekindergarten
program provider will collaborate with existing 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 programs 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 participate in the universal prekindergarten grant program under
this Act. A designated State agency using the set-aside for
professional development must include in its application the following:
(1) A description of how the designated State agency will
ensure that eligible prekindergarten program providers in a
range of settings (including child care providers, Head Start
programs, and schools) will participate in the professional
development programs.
(2) An assurance that, in developing its application and in
carrying out its program, the professional development provider
has consulted, and will consult, with relevant agencies, early
childhood organizations, early childhood education experts, and
early childhood program providers.
(3) A description of how the designated State agency will
ensure that the professional development is ongoing and
accessible to educators in all geographic areas of the State,
including by the use of advanced educational technologies.
(4) A description of how the designated State agency will
ensure that such set-aside funds will be used to pay the cost
of additional education and training.
(5) A description of how the designated State agency will
work with other agencies and institutions 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 participate in and complete such
professional development.
(7) A description of how the professional development
activities will be carried out, including the following:
(A) How programs and educators will be selected to
participate.
(B) How professional development providers will be
selected, based on demonstrated experience in providing
research-based professional development to early
childhood educators.
(C) The types of research-based professional
development activities that will be carried out in all
domains of children's physical, cognitive, social, and
emotional development and on early childhood pedagogy.
(D) How the program will train early childhood
educators to meet the diverse educational needs of
children in the community, especially children who have
limited English proficiency, disabilities, and other
special needs.
(E) How the program will coordinate with and build
upon, but not supplant or duplicate, early childhood
education professional development activities that
exist in the community.
(b) Uses of Funds.--Funds set aside under this section may be used
for ongoing professional development--
(1) to provide prekindergarten teachers and staff with the
knowledge and skills for the application of recent research on
child cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development,
including language and literacy development, and on early
childhood 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 appropriate screening
and diagnostic assessments to improve 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 implementation 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 program 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 provider 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, emotional, 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 toward, 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.
A:
Universal Prekindergarten Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants to a designated State agency for development of universal prekindergaten programs for all children three, four, and five years old in the State.

Requires the State to: (1) match Federal funds by at least 20 percent; and (2) submit a State plan to establish, coordinate, and implement a statewide universal prekindergarten program. Authorizes State agencies to set aside up to five percent of a grant for ongoing professional development activities for teachers and staff of prekindergarten programs that wish to participate.