,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cihc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #c1 #bjad,mr4 ,himes 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,esty1 and ,mr4 ,larson of ,connecticut7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to establish a competitive grant program assisting the development of innovative early learning curricula for low-income children4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,total ,learning ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,the ,congress finds as follows3 7#a7 ,research conducted by the ,census ,bureau suggests that #ba4h percent of children under the age of #ah are living in poverty4 7#b7 ,research conducted by the ,bureau of the ,census of the ,department of ,commerce shows that socioeconomic status and family background characteristics are highly correlated with educational outcomes1 with a concentration of low-performing schools in low-income and underserved communities4 7#c7 ,as an example of an innovative early learning curriculum producing tangible results for low-income children1 an independent evaluation of the ,total ,learning ,curriculum developed by ,action for ,bridgeport ,community ,development1 ,inc41 in cooperation with the ,dr4 ,edward ,zigler of the ,yale ,child ,study ,center and implemented in ,bridgeport1 ,connecticut1 has demonstrated that students who received all the elements of the ,total ,learning ,curriculum made an average #b-point gain on the ,diagnostic ,reading ,assessment 7,,dra7 compared to an average #a4gf-point gain on such assessment by those students who did not participate in the ,total ,learning ,curriculum4 7#d7 ,such independent evaluation also showed that students who received all elements of ,total ,learning ,curriculum have an average score of #bb4ce points on the ,concept of ,print assessment1 compared to an average score of #bj4hb points on such assessment by those students who did not participate in the ,total ,learning ,curriculum4 7#e7 ,according to the findings of such independent evaluation1 children with low initial ,,dra scores1 high-family risk levels1 low parental involvement1 have special needs1 or who are ,english-language-learners or participate in extended-day programs1 make significant ,,dra gains after receiving all the elements of the ,total ,learning ,curriculum4 #c4 ,purpose ,it is the purpose of this ,act to promote academic success for children living in poverty by-- 7#a7 improving and promoting school readiness by enhancing the cognitive1 social1 and emotional development of children from birth2 7#b7 focusing such enhancements on low-income children who are at the greatest risk of negative educational outcomes2 and 7#c7 harnessing the most current developmentally appropriate educational methods to improve the public education system1 including-- 7,a7 educational interventions beginning as close to birth as possible2 7,b7 a child-initiated learning process with time for independent inquiry and play2 7,c7 access to wraparound social services1 including support for nutrition1 housing1 and family literacy2 7,d7 professional development for instructional staff1 including elementary school teachers1 paraprofessionals1 and pre-school teachers2 7,e7 an extended school day and school year2 7,f7 parent development1 which includes providing parents with the knowledge and skills needed to be able to support a child's growth and academic progress2 7,g7 child-to-staff ratios of at least #a early childhood or elementary educator for every #g children2 and 7,h7 an enhanced transition from pre-kindergarten to elementary school1 so that the cognitive and social gains of the pre-kindergarten program are sustained through the remainder of a child's educational career4 #d4 ,grant program to close the achievement gap 7a7 ,grant program authorized ,from the amount appropriated under section #aj1 the ,secretary shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible partnerships to implement innovative early learning curricula in early childhood education programs and elementary schools in high-need communities for children from birth through age #i4 7b7 ,grant period ,a grant under this section shall be awarded for a #e-year period and may be renewed for an additional #e-year period upon a showing of adequate progress1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible partnership shall submit to the ,secretary a grant application at such time and in such manner as the ,secretary shall require1 and containing the following information3 7#a7 ,a description of the high-need community to be served by the eligible partnership1 including the number and percent of ,english-language learners that will be served and other demographic and socioeconomic information as the ,secretary may request4 7#b7 ,an assessment of the need for such a grant in the high-need community1 including-- 7,a7 the number of low-income families2 and 7,b7 the number of and percent of elementary school children performing below grade level for reading and math on ,state assessments described in section #aaaa7;b77#c7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b77#c774 7#c7 ,a detailed description of a plan to carry out the implementation of the innovative early learning curriculum in the high-need community1 including-- 7,a7 how children and families will be selected to participate1 taking into account the need for continuity and stability for all participating children and families2 7,b7 how the implementation will coordinate and build on1 and will not supplant or duplicate1 professional development activities available to the staff of the innovative early learning curriculum in the high-need community2 7,c7 how the implementation will train instructional staff in the innovative early learning curriculum to provide developmentally appropriate school-readiness services that are based on the best available child development and education research2 7,d7 how the implementation will train instructional staff in the innovative early learning curriculum to meet the diverse educational needs of children in the high-need community1 including children who have limited ,english proficiency1 children with disabilities1 or children with other special needs2 and 7,e7 how the implementation will train instructional staff in the innovative early learning curriculum to identify and prevent behavioral problems in children or working with children identified as or suspected to be victims of abuse4 7#d7 ,a description of the plan for continuing the innovative early learning curriculum after the end of the grant period4 7#e7 ,the proposed allocation and use of grant funds to implement the innovative early learning curriculum in the high-need community4 7#f7 ,a description of the roles and responsibilities of the eligible partnership in implementing the innovative early learning curriculum in the high-need community4 7#g7 ,an assurance1 if applicable1 that the eligible partnership will provide appropriate professional development to volunteers working directly with young children1 as well as to paid staff4 7d7 ,use of grant funds 7#a7 ,required uses ,a grant awarded under this ,act shall be used to cover costs associated with implementing the innovative early learning curriculum1 including-- 7,a7 costs for extended school hours and days2 7,b7 costs associated with professional development1 staff compensation1 and retention2 7,c7 costs for all comprehensive child and family support services2 and 7,d7 for any other activities needed to fulfill the purpose of this ,act1 as the ,secretary deems appropriate4 7#b7 ,permissible uses ,not more #e percent of a grant awarded under this ,act may be used to pay the administrative costs 7including supplies1 office and classroom space1 supervision1 mentoring1 and transportation stipends as necessary and appropriate7 related to the implementation of the innovative early learning curriculum4 7e7 ,distribution of grants ,in awarding grants under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 award the first #e grants to eligible partnerships from #e different ,states2 and 7#b7 award not less than #a grant to an applicant serving-- 7,a7 a school operated by the ,bureau of ,indian ,affairs2 7,b7 a tribal educational agency2 or 7,c7 a high-need community located in a rural area4 7f7 ,priority ,the ,secretary shall give priority to an eligible partnership that-- 7#a7 proposes to use the grant funds to carry out the innovative early learning curriculum in areas served by local educational agencies with a higher percentage of students from low-income families and ,english-language learners not meeting the proficient level of achievement on ,state assessments described in section #aaaa7;b77#c7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b77#c77 in comparison to other grant applicants2 and 7#b7 demonstrates the availability of local infrastructure in the high-need community to be served by such eligible partnership to implement the innovative early learning curriculum1 including the availability of-- 7,a7 public elementary schools serving a high percentage of students from low-income families2 and 7,b7 public or non-profit social service providers1 including providers of health-related services or early childhood education services4 7g7 ,reporting requirements ,each eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section shall submit an annual report to the ,secretary on the progress of implementing the innovative early learning curriculum4 ,such report shall include a description of-- 7#a7 the actual service delivery provided through grant funds1 including characteristics of the participating students 7including descriptive information on the population of children and families served71 and how the innovative early learning curriculum was implemented2 7#b7 an estimate of the annual implementation costs of the program2 7#c7 outcomes that are consistent with the purpose of the grant program1 including-- 7,a7 improvements in student achievement2 7,b7 improvements in language skills of children from birth to #c years of age2 7,c7 improvements in social-emotional outcomes for children at the greatest risk of needing behavioral or psychological intervention2 and 7,d7 improvements in health for children1 including nutrition and access to stable high-quality health services2 7#d7 the types of instruction1 materials1 and activities being funded under the grant program2 and 7#e7 the effectiveness of any training and ongoing professional development provided-- 7,a7 to the faculty1 administration1 and staff of early childhood and elementary educators within the eligible partnership receiving a grant under this ,act2 and 7,b7 to the broader community of providers of social1 emotional1 behavioral1 and related support to students participating in the program and to those who train such providers4 7h7 ,evaluations 7#a7 ,interim evaluations ,from the amount appropriated under section #aj1 the ,secretary may conduct interim evaluations to determine whether each eligible partnership receiving a grant under this ,act is making adequate progress as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 ,the contents of the annual report submitted to the ,secretary under subsection 7g7 may be used by the ,secretary to determine whether an eligible grantee receiving a grant is demonstrating adequate progress4 7#b7 ,final evaluation ,not later than #d years1 the ,secretary shall report the results of a final evaluation of each innovative early learning curriculum being implemented by an eligible partnership receiving a grant under this ,act to-- 7,a7 determine the effectiveness of such innovative early learning curriculum2 and 7,b7 compare the relative effectiveness of each of the various activities described by subsection 7d77#a7 for which grant funds are used4 7#c7 ,report ,not sooner than #e years1 and not later than #f years1 after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report containing the findings of the evaluation conducted under paragraph 7#b71 and such recommendations as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 #e4 ,training program authorized ,from the amount appropriated under section #aj1 the ,secretary shall award funds to a public or private nonprofit organization with demonstrated expertise in an innovative early learning curriculum demonstrating the principles outlined in section #c1 for the purpose of training1 and providing technical assistance to1 eligible partnerships on implementing the innovative early learning curriculum4 #f4 ,supplement not supplant ,funds made available under this ,act shall be used to supplement1 not supplant1 ,federal1 ,state1 or local funds that1 in the absence of such availability1 would have been expended for the activities described in section #d7;d74 #g4 ,future designation study 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall provide information about the grant program under this ,act to potential grant applicants that may be eligible to receive a grant under this ,act based on the latest available data on-- 7#a7 the number of residents under the age of #ah in an area served by a local educational agency2 7#b7 the percentage of residents with an income below the poverty line in an area served by a local educational agency2 7#c7 the percentage of residents age #ah or older with high school diplomas in an area served by a local educational agency2 7#d7 the percentage of students identified as eligible for special education services in an area served by a local educational agency2 7#e7 the youth crime rate in an area served by a local educational agency2 and 7#f7 such other criteria as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a list of high-need communities that1 pursuant to subsection 7a71 received information about the grant program under this ,act4 #h4 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this ,act shall be construed to abrogate or alter any valid and existing collective bargaining agreement4 #i4 ,definitions ,for purposes of this ,act3 7#a7 ,in general ,the terms ,state educational agency1 local educational agency1 highly qualified1 and poverty line have the meanings given such terms in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#b7 ,eligible partnership ,the term eligible partnership means-- 7,a7 a full-service community school2 or 7,b7 a partnership between a local educational agency and one of the following3 7i7 ,a public or non-profit social service provider1 including a provider of health-related services or early childhood education services4 7ii7 ,a full-service community school4 7#c7 ,extended school day ,the term extended school day means a school day for children from birth to age #i of not less than #i hours1 except in the case where an eligible partnership cannot accommodate a #i-;hour day4 7#d7 ,extended school year ,the term extended school year means a school year for children from birth to age #i of not less than #bbj calendar days1 except in the case where an eligible partnership cannot accommodate a #bbj-;calendar-day school year4 7#e7 ,full-service community school ,the term full-service community school means a public school which coordinates educational1 developmental1 family1 health1 and other comprehensive services through community-based organizations and public and private partnerships1 and provides access to such services to students enrolled in such school1 families of such students1 and the community where such school is located4 7#f7 ,high-need community 7,a7 ,in general ,the term high-need community means-- 7i7 a political subdivision of a ,state1 or a portion of a political subdivision of a ,state1 in which at least #ej percent of the children are from low-income families2 or 7ii7 a political subdivision of a ,state that is among the top #aj percent of political subdivisions of a ,state having the greatest numbers of such children4 7,b7 ,determination ,in determining which communities qualify as a high-need community under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall use such data as the ,secretary determines are most accurate and appropriate4 7#g7 ,low-income family ,the term low-income family means a family with an income below the poverty line for the most recent fiscal year for which satisfactory data are available4 7#h7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,education4 7#i7 innovative early learning curriculum ,the term innovative early learning curriculum means a comprehensive model of early childhood education1 including the following principles as articulated by ,dr4 ,edward ,zigler of the ,yale ,child ,study ,center1 which incorporate-- 7,a7 educational interventions beginning as close to birth as possible2 7,b7 a child-initiated learning process with time for independent inquiry and play2 7,c7 access to wraparound social services1 including support for nutrition1 housing1 and family literacy2 7,d7 professional development for instructional staff1 including elementary school teachers1 paraprofessionals1 and pre-school teachers2 7,e7 an extended school day and school year2 7,f7 parent development1 which includes providing parents with the knowledge and skills needed to be able to support a child's growth and academic progress2 7,g7 child-to-staff ratios of at least #a early childhood or elementary educator for every #g children2 and 7,h7 an enhanced transition from pre-kindergarten to elementary school1 so that the cognitive and social gains of the pre-kindergarten program are sustained through the remainder of a child's educational career4 7#aj7 ,wraparound social services ,the term wraparound social services means comprehensive health and social services provided to a child and the child's family to supplement the child's educational needs4 #aj4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #ej1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjae to #bjba4 7b7 ,reservations ,of the amount appropriated under paragraph 7#a7 each fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall reserve-- 7#a7 not more than #c percent for evaluations under section #d7;h72 7#b7 between #b percent and #e percent for the training program under section #e2 and 7#c7 not more than #c percent to carry out the study in section #g4