,i  #aacth ,,congress  #b;d ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #cihd  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,february #c1        
#bjad,mr4 ,himes 7for himself1 ,mr4     
,polis1 and ,mr4 ,connolly7 introduced  
the following bill2 which was referred  
to the ,committee on ,education and the 
,workforce  ,a ,,bill  ,to establish an 
,early ,learning ,challenge ,fund to    
support ,states in building and         
strengthening systems of high-quality   
early learning and development programs1
 and for other purposes4  #a4 ,short    
title ,this ,act may be cited as the    
,supporting ,early ,learning ,act4  #b4 
,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to
 support ,states in building and        
strengthening systems of high-quality   
early learning and development programs4
  #c4 ,programs authorized  7a7 ,quality
 pathways grants ,the ,secretary of     
,education shall use funds made         
available to carry out this ,act for a  
fiscal year to award grants1 on a       
competitive basis1 to ,states that have 

demonstrated the greatest progress in   
establishing and committing to maintain 
a system of high-quality ,state early   
learning programs1 consistent with      
section #d4  7b7 ,development grants    
,the ,secretary may use funds made      
available to carry out this ,act for a  
fiscal year to award grants1 on a       
competitive basis1 in accordance with   
section #e to ,states that demonstrate a
 commitment to establishing and         
committing to maintain a high-quality   
system of early learning that will      
include the components described in     
section #d7;c77#d7 but are not-- 7#a7   
eligible to be awarded a grant under    
subsection 7a72 or  7#b7 awarded such a 
grant after application4  7c7           
,reservations of ,federal funds  7#a7   
,research1 evaluation1 and              
administration ,from the amount made    
available to carry out this ,act for a  
fiscal year1 the ,secretary-- 7,a7 shall
 reserve not more than #b percent to    
administer this ,act jointly with the   

,secretary of ,health and ,human        
,services for expenses of both agencies 
pursuant to the interagency agreement   
described in subsection 7h72 and  7,b7  
shall reserve not more than #e percent  
to carry out activities under section   
#f4  7#b7 ,tribal school readiness      
planning demonstration ,after making the
 reservations under paragraph 7#a71 the 
,secretary shall reserve #e percent for 
a competitive grant demonstration       
program for ,indian tribes to develop   
and implement school readiness plans and
 programs that-- 7,a7 increase access to
 high-quality ,state early learning     
programs that improve health1 social1   
emotional1 cognitive1 and physical      
outcomes and school readiness2 and  7,b7
 support ,native culture in a tribally  
administered early learning program1    
including ,american ,indian and ,alaska 
,native ,head ,start and ,early ,head   
,start programs4  7d7 ,state            
applications ,in applying for a grant   
under this ,act1 a ,governor shall      

designate or establish a ,state-level   
entity 7referred to in this ,act as the 
,state7 for administration of the grant4
 ,such entity-- 7#a7 shall coordinate   
proposed activities with the ,state     
,advisory ,council on ,early ,childhood 
,education and ,care 7established       
pursuant to section #fdb;,b7b77#a77;,a7 
of the ,head ,start ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 
#ihcg;b7b77#a77;,a777 and shall         
incorporate plans and recommendations   
from such ,council in the application1  
where applicable2 and  7#b7 shall submit
 the application to the ,secretary at   
such time1 in such manner1 and          
containing such information as the      
,secretary may reasonably require4  7e7 
,priority in awarding grants ,in        
awarding grants under this ,act1 the    
,secretary shall give priority to       
,states-- 7#a7 whose applications       
contain assurances that the ,state will 
use1 in part1 funds reserved under      
section #feh;,g of the ,child ,care and 
,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij

 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheh;e7 for activities 
described in section #d7;c77#d72  7#b7  
that demonstrate efforts to build       
public-private partnerships1 including  
partnerships with nonprofits and private
 entities1 designed to accomplish the   
purpose of this ,act2 and  7#c7 that    
have invested their own funds in early  
childhood education4  7f7 ,use of funds 
7#a7 ,authorized uses of funds for      
evaluations ,funds available under this 
,act may be used for evaluating children
 for the purposes of-- 7,a7 improving   
instruction or classroom environment2   
7,b7 targeting professional development2
  7,c7 determining the need for health1 
mental health1 disability1 or family    
support services2  7,d7 informing the   
quality improvement process at the      
,state level2  7,e7 program evaluation  
for the purposes of program improvement 
and parent information2  7,f7 research  
conducted as part of the national       
evaluation described under section #e2  
or  7,g7 assessing children's level of  

readiness for school success across a   
broad range of domains of learning and  
development1 including physical         
well-being and motor development1 social
 and emotional development1 approaches  
toward learning1 language development1  
and cognition and general knowledge4    
7#b7 ,prohibition on use of funds ,funds
 available under this ,act may not be   
used for any of the following3 7,a7     
,assessments that provide rewards or    
sanctions for individual children or    
teachers4  7,b7 ,a single assessment    
used as the primary or sole method for  
assessing program effectiveness4  7g7   
,maintenance of effort ,with respect to 
each period for which a ,state is       
awarded a grant under this ,act1 the    
expenditures by the ,state on ,state    
early learning programs shall not be    
less than the greater of the level of   
the expenditures for such programs in   
the prior fiscal year or as of the date 
of enactment of this ,act4  7h7         
,interagency agreement  7#a7 ,in general

 ,the ,secretary and the ,secretary of  
,health and ,human ,services shall      
jointly develop policy for1 and         
administer1 this ,act in accordance with
 such terms as the ,secretaries shall   
set forth in an interagency agreement4  
7#b7 ,obligation and disbursement of    
funds by ,secretary of ,education ,the  
,secretary of ,education shall be       
responsible for obligating and          
disbursing funds and ensuring compliance
 with applicable laws and administrative
 requirements1 in accordance with the   
,general ,education ,provisions ,act    
7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #abba et seq47 and parts 
#gd through #hj of title #cd1 ,code of  
,federal ,regulations4  #d4 ,quality    
pathways grants  7a7 ,grant period      
,grants under section #c7;a7-- 7#a7 may 
be awarded for a period of #c years2 and
  7#b7 may be extended1 for a #b-year   
period1 subject to approval by the      
,secretary1 and based on the ,state's   
progress in-- 7,a7 increasing the number
 and percentage of children from        

low-income families in each age group of
 infants1 toddlers1 and preschoolers1   
enrolled in high-quality ,state early   
learning programs2  7,b7 meeting the    
components described in subsection      
7c77#d72  7,c7 increasing the number of 
high-quality ,state early learning      
programs in low-income communities2 and 
7,d7 incorporating the program quality  
findings and recommendations1 as        
appropriate4  7b7 ,matching requirement 
,subject to section #i1 to be eligible  
to receive a grant under subsection 7a7 
or 7b7 of section #c1 a ,state shall    
contribute to the activities assisted   
under the grant1 non-,federal matching  
funds in an amount equal to not less    
than #ae percent of the amount of the   
grant4  7c7 ,state applications ,in     
order to receive a grant under section  
#c7;a71 a ,state's application under    
section #c7;d7 shall include a plan that
 includes the following3 7#a7 ,a        
description of how the ,state will use  
funds prioritized for those programs    

serving high proportions of low-income  
children in accordance with subsection  
7e7 to improve health1 social1          
emotional1 cognitive1 physical          
development1 and school readiness for   
young children by implementing quality  
initiatives to improve ,state early     
learning programs serving disadvantaged 
children from birth to entry into       
kindergarten to lead to a greater       
percentage of children from low-income  
families participating in high-quality  
,state early learning programs4  7#b7 ,a
 description of the benchmarks1         
consistent with section #g1 the ,state  
will establish to demonstrate that a    
greater percentage of children from     
low-income families are participating in
 high-quality ,state early learning     
programs4  7#c7 ,a description of how   
the ,state will integrate existing      
,state early learning programs and      
services into a comprehensive system for
 early learning and development4  7#d7  
,a description of how the ,state will   

implement a system of high-quality      
,state early learning programs and      
services that includes the following    
components3 7,a7 ,a governance          
structure4  7,b7 ,state early learning  
standards4  7,c7 ,a process to ensure   
that ,state early learning standards are
 integrated into the instructional and  
programmatic practices of ,state early  
learning programs and services4  7,d7 ,a
 tiered program rating and improvement  
system that fully integrates early      
learning standards1 applicable ,state   
licensing requirements1 program quality 
standards1 and other applicable ,state  
regulatory standards1 which1 at a       
minimum1 shall include standards        
regarding preservice and ongoing        
training for staff in early childhood   
development1 health1 and safety1 and    
other program standards as required by  
the ,state1 and that-- 7i7 is designed  
to improve quality and effectiveness    
across different types of early learning
 settings2  7ii7 has progressively      

higher levels of program quality leading
 to quality levels consistent with or   
higher than nationally recognized1      
high-quality program quality standards  
that are valid and reliable for ,state  
early learning programs1 such as the    
,head ,start performance standards      
described in section #fda;,a of the     
,head ,start ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4        
#ihcf;a72  7iii7 determines the extent  
to which individual programs across     
different types of settings integrate   
the ,state's early learning standards   
for the purpose of improving            
instructional and programmatic          
practices2  7iv7 addresses quality for  
and effective inclusion of children with
 disabilities or developmental delays   
across all early learning settings2  7v7
 addresses staff qualifications1        
training1 and professional development  
and education2  7vi7 addresses the      
quality of early learning facilities2   
7vii7 builds the capacity of ,state     
early learning programs and communities 

to promote parents' and families'       
understanding of the ,state's early     
learning system and the rating of the   
programs in which their child is        
enrolled2  7viii7 provides financial    
incentives and other supports designed  
to achieve and sustain higher levels of 
quality2 and  7ix7 includes mechanisms  
for evaluating how programs are meeting 
the ,state's program quality standards  
and progressively higher levels of      
quality4  7,e7 ,a system of program     
review and monitoring that is designed--
 7i7 to rate providers using the system 
described in subparagraph 7,d7 in a way 
that is accessible and useful to        
parents2  7ii7 to assess and improve    
programmatic practices and instructional
 practices2 and  7iii7 to provide       
high-quality environments that can      
engage children with materials1         
curricula1 and experiences appropriate  
to the developmental level of the child4
  7,f7 ,a process to support and        
increase the number of ,state early     

learning programs integrating           
instructional and programmatic practices
 that guide and improve instructional   
practice1 professional development of   
staff1 and services that-- 7i7 include  
developmentally appropriate1 culturally 
and linguistically appropriate1 ongoing1
 classroom-based instructional          
assessments for each domain of child    
development and learning2 and  7ii7 are 
aligned with the curriculum used in the 
,state early learning program and with  
the ,state early learning standards or  
the ,head ,start ,child ,outcomes       
,framework 7as described in the ,head   
,start ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihca et     
seq4771 as applicable4  7,g7 ,a plan for
 providing comprehensive preservice     
preparation and professional development
 to create1 educate1 and support a      
knowledgeable1 highly skilled1 and      
well-compensated workforce1 across all  
types of early childhood settings       
serving all children from birth to      
kindergarten entry4  7,h7 ,outreach     

strategies that incorporate multiple    
strategies for parent1 expectant parent1
 and family involvement and education4  
7,i7 ,a plan to promote understanding by
 parents and families of-- 7i7 the      
,state's program rating system1 as      
described in subparagraph 7,d72 and     
7ii7 the rating of the program in which 
their child is enrolled4  7,j7 ,a       
coordinated system to facilitate prompt 
screening1 referral1 and provision of   
services related to health1 mental      
health1 disability1 and family support  
for children participating in ,state    
early learning programs4  7,k7 ,a       
process for evaluating school readiness 
in children that reflects all of the    
major domains of development1 and that--
 7i7 is used to guide practice and      
improve ,state early learning programs2 
and  7ii7 includes multiple measures of 
school readiness at kindergarten entry1 
and which shall reflect a sample across 
the ,state4  7,l7 ,a comprehensive plan 
that promotes nutrition and wellness in 

early learning settings1 and which-- 7i7
 includes program standards for the     
healthful development of infants1       
toddlers1 and young children2  7ii7     
encourages the provision of foods and   
beverages in accordance with the        
guidelines of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell 
,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db      
,u4,s4,c4 #agea et seq471 and which     
incorporates age appropriate            
recommendations to reduce the           
consumption and excess of sugar1        
saturated fat1 and sodium2 and  7iii7   
reflects physical activity              
recommendations which are appropriate   
for young children from birth through   
kindergarten entry4  7,m7 ,a plan to    
implement or enhance the ,state's data  
system for early learning programs1     
including-- 7i7 alignment and           
interoperability between the data system
 for early learning programs for        
children and data systems for elementary
 and secondary education so that        
progress on key data elements can be    

tracked over time with minimal          
duplication2 and  7ii7 uniform data     
collection from all providers that      
receive public funding about the quality
 of early learning programs1 essential  
information about the children and      
families that participate in such       
programs1 and the qualifications and    
compensation of the early learning      
workforce in such programs4  7,n7 ,a    
plan to ensure effective transitions    
between ,state early learning programs  
and the kindergarten through grade #c   
public school system in the ,state4     
7,o7 ,a plan for how the ,state will    
determine which ,state early learning   
programs received significant direct    
funding under this ,act1 and are not    
making sufficient quality improvement1  
including a description of the technical
 assistance the ,state will provide to  
such programs and how the ,state shall  
determine when to shift unspent funds   
under this ,act to other ,state early   
learning programs in the same geographic

 region serving similar populations1 to 
the extent practicable4  7#e7 ,a        
description of how the ,state will      
ensure that programs receiving funds    
under this ,act are participating in the
 ,state tiered program rating system    
described in paragraph 7#d77;,d74  7#f7 
,a description of how the funds provided
 under the grant will be targeted to    
enhance the quality of early learning   
programs in order to increase the number
 and percentage of children from        
low-income families in high-quality     
,state early learning programs1         
including children-- 7,a7 in each age   
group 7infants1 toddlers1 and           
preschoolers72  7,b7 living in rural and
 urban areas2  7,c7 who are among the   
most disadvantaged children2 and  7,d7  
who need access to full-day1 full-year  
,state early learning programs4  7#g7 ,a
 description of the steps the ,state    
will take to ensure that all            
center-based child care programs1 family
 child care programs1 ,state-funded     

prekindergarten1 ,head ,start programs  
under the ,head ,start ,act 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #ihca et seq471 and other     
,state early learning programs are      
included in the ,state system described 
in paragraph 7#d74  7#h7 ,a description 
of disparities by age group 7infants1   
toddlers1 and preschoolers7 and race and
 ethnicity of available high-quality    
,state early learning programs in       
low-income communities and the steps the
 ,state will take to decrease such      
disparities1 if applicable4  7#i7 ,a    
description of how the ,state           
facilitates access to high-quality      
,state early learning programs for each 
of the populations described in         
subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,e7 of      
section #aj7b71 such as through         
subsidies for children in ,state early  
learning programs4  7#aj7 ,a description
 of how the ,state will align early     
learning standards with-- 7,a7          
appropriate ,state academic content     
standards for kindergarten through grade

 #c2 and  7,b7 elements of program      
quality standards4  7#aa7 ,a description
 of how the ,state will improve         
interagency collaboration and coordinate
 the early childhood programs and       
services throughout the ,state4  7#ab7  
,a description of the timeframe the     
,state proposes to develop and implement
 the elements described in such ,state's
 application4  7#ac7 ,a description of  
how the ,state will implement a process 
for improving the quality of early      
learning services to better meet the    
needs of the most disadvantaged         
children1 including children who are    
limited ,english proficient and children
 with disabilities4  7#ad7 ,an assurance
 that the grant will be used to improve 
the quality of ,state early learning    
programs across a range of types of     
settings and providers of such programs1
 and all ages of children 7from birth to
 kindergarten entry74  7#ae7 ,an        
assurance that the ,governor has        
designated or created a ,state ,advisory

 ,council on ,early ,childhood          
,education and ,care 7established       
pursuant to section #fdb;,b7b77#a77;,a7 
of the ,head ,start ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 
#ihcg;b7b77#a77;,a7771 has taken steps  
to ensure that membership includes all  
representatives described in section    
#fdb;,b7b77#a77;,c7 of such ,act1 and   
has consulted with such ,state ,advisory
 ,council on ,early ,childhood          
,education and ,care in applying for a  
grant under this ,act4  7#af7 ,an       
assurance that the grant will be used   
only to supplement1 and not to supplant1
 ,federal1 ,state1 and local funds      
otherwise available to support existing 
,state early learning programs and      
services4  7#ag7 ,an assurance that the 
,state will continue to participate in  
section #fai and part ,c of the         
,individuals with ,disabilities         
,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #adai1   
#adca et seq47 for the duration of the  
grant4  7d7 ,criteria used in awarding  
grants ,in awarding grants under section

 #c7;a71 the ,secretary shall award     
grants under such section1 on a         
competitive basis1 to those ,states that
 have demonstrated the greatest progress
 in establishing and committing to      
maintain a system of high-quality ,state
 early learning programs1 on a          
competitive basis1 based on the ,state's
 commitment to meeting and developing1  
as necessary1 the components described  
in subsection 7c77#d74  7e7 ,state uses 
of funds ,a ,state receiving a grant    
under section #c7;a7 shall use the grant
 funds for activities that implement or 
improve the system components described 
in subsection 7c77#d7 and help ,state   
early learning programs meet and sustain
 higher levels of program quality       
standards and move more low-income      
children into higher quality programs1  
consistent with the plan submitted in   
accordance with subsection 7c74  7f7    
,funds ,to expand access ,a ,state may  
apply to the ,secretary to reserve not  
more than #be percent of the amount of  

the grant to expand access for children 
from low-income families1 proportional  
to the disparities by age group         
identified in subsection 7c77#h71 to the
 highest quality ,state early learning  
programs that offer full-day1 full-year 
services4  #e4 ,development grants  7a7 
,state applications ,in order to receive
 a grant under section #c7;b71 a ,state 
shall submit an application to the      
,secretary at such time1 in such manner1
 and containing such information as the 
,secretary shall require1 including a   
description of how the ,state will      
develop a plan consistent with section  
#d7;c74  7b7 ,grant period ,grants under
 section #c7;b7-- 7#a7 may be awarded   
for a period of not to exceed #c years2 
and  7#b7 may be extended1 for a #b-year
 period1 subject to approval by the     
,secretary1 and based on the ,state's   
progress in-- 7,a7 increasing the number
 and percentage of children from        
low-income families in each age group of
 infants1 toddlers1 and preschoolers1   

enrolled in high-quality ,state early   
learning programs2  7,b7 increasing the 
number of high-quality ,state early     
learning programs in low-income         
communities2 and  7,c7 incorporating the
 program quality findings and           
recommendations1 as appropriate4  7c7   
,state uses of funds  7#a7 ,in general  
,a ,state receiving a grant under       
section #c7;b7 shall use the grant funds
 to undertake activities to develop the 
components of early learning services   
described in section #d7;c77#d7 that    
will allow the ,state to become eligible
 and competitive for a grant described  
in section #c7;a74  7#b7 ,priority ,in  
improving the quality of ,state early   
learning programs in the ,state1 the    
,state shall prioritize the quality of  
,state early learning programs serving  
children from low-income families4  #f4 
,research and evaluation ,from funds    
reserved under section #c7;c77#a77;,b71 
the ,secretary and the ,secretary of    
,health and ,human ,services1 acting    

jointly and in accordance with section  
#aa1 shall carry out activities to      
ensure the success of grants to ,states 
under this ,act4  #g4 ,benchmarks2      
indicators2 reporting  7a7 ,indicators  
,the ,secretary shall define1 by        
regulation1 indicators to be used to    
measure success on the activities       
carried out under a grant under this    
,act1 the primary indicator of which    
shall be increasing the number and      
percentage of low-income children in    
high-quality1 ,state early learning     
programs4  7b7 ,benchmarks ,each ,state 
receiving a grant under this ,act       
shall-- 7#a7 develop quantifiable       
benchmarks for the ,state and the       
activities supported under the grant    
based on the indicators described in    
subsection 7a7 that are applicable to   
the ,state2  7#b7 submit the benchmarks 
for approval to the ,secretary2 and     
7#c7 report to the ,secretary on        
progress in meeting such benchmarks as  
required by the ,secretary4  7c7        

,disaggregation ,the indicators and     
benchmarks described in this section    
shall be disaggregated4  #h4 ,technical 
assistance ,the ,secretary shall reserve
 not more than #e1jjj1jjj from amounts  
appropriated under this ,act to         
directly1 or through grant or contract1 
provide technical assistance to eligible
 entities to prepare the entities to    
qualify1 apply for1 and maintain grants 
under section #d or #e4  #i4 ,financial 
hardship waiver ,the ,secretary may     
waive or reduce a requirement under this
 ,act regarding the non-,federal share  
of a ,state or maintenance of effort of 
a ,state if the ,state demonstrates a   
need for such waiver or reduction due to
 financial hardship4  #aj4 ,definitions 
,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,child ,the term    
child refers to an individual from birth
 through the day the individual enters  
kindergarten4  7#b7 ,disadvantaged ,the 
term disadvantaged1 when used with      
respect to a child1 means-- 7,a7 a child
 from a low-income family2  7,b7 a      

homeless child2  7,c7 a child in the    
custody of a child welfare agency2  7,d7
 a child with a developmental delay or  
disability2 or  7,e7 a child who is     
limited ,english proficient4  7#c7      
,early learning standards ,the term     
early learning standards means a set of 
expectations for the learning and       
development of children from birth      
through entry into kindergarten that--  
7,a7 emphasize significant              
developmentally appropriate content and 
outcomes that describe what children    
should know and be able to do across all
 domains1 including language1 literacy1 
mathematics1 science1 social            
development1 emotional development1     
health and physical well-being1 and     
approaches to learning2  7,b7 are based 
on research about the processes1        
sequences1 and long-term influence of   
early learning and development2  7,c7   
identify approaches to learning that are
 developmentally appropriate 7including 
culturally and linguistically           

appropriate7 and supportive of positive 
outcomes for all children2  7,d7 are    
aligned with the appropriate ,state     
academic content standards for          
kindergarten through grade #c2  7,e7    
inform providers1 programs1 teachers1   
schools1 parents1 and the community on  
what young children are expected to     
learn2 and  7,f7 guide providers1       
programs1 teachers1 and schools in      
supporting children to help children    
meet high expectations4  7#d7 ,homeless 
children ,the term homeless children has
 the meaning given the term homeless    
children and youths in section #gbe7b7  
of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless      
,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4         
#aadcd;a7#b774  7#e7 ,indian tribe ,the 
term ,indian tribe has the meaning given
 such term in section #d of the ,indian 
,self-,determination and ,education     
,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b74
  7#f7 ,limited ,english proficient ,the
 term limited ,english proficient has   
the meaning given the term in section   

#fcg of the ,head ,start ,act 7#db      
,u4,s4,c4 #ihcb74  7#g7 ,low-income ,the
 term low-income1 when used with respect
 to a child1 means a child whose family 
income is described in section          
#feh,p7#d77;,b7 of the ,child ,care and 
,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij
 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehn7#d77;,b774  7#h7 
,program quality standards ,the term    
program quality standards means the     
characteristics of ,state early learning
 programs1 across a range of settings1  
that have an impact on children's       
development and learning4 ,such         
characteristics include-- 7,a7 the ratio
 of early learning providers to         
children2  7,b7 staff qualifications2   
7,c7 the quality and effectiveness of   
interactions between early learning     
providers and children and the          
children's families in the program2     
7,d7 the program philosophy and         
curriculum2  7,e7 the quality and       
quantity of equipment and materials2    
7,f7 the quality of the physical        

environment2 and  7,g7 safety and health
 provisions and other applicable        
,federal or ,state requirements with    
respect to ,state early learning        
programs4  7#i7 ,secretary ,the term    
,secretary means the ,secretary of      
,education4  7#aj7 ,state ,the term     
,state has the meaning given the term in
 section #iaja of the ,elementary and   
,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj
 ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74  7#aa7 ,state early  
learning program ,the term ,state early 
learning program has the meaning given  
the term early childhood education      
program in section #ajc of the ,higher  
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ajjc74  #aa4 ,research and evaluation2 
benchmarks and consultation  7a7        
,research and evaluation  7#a7 ,in      
general ,the ,secretary shall transfer  
amounts reserved for research and       
evaluation under section #c7;c77#a77;,b7
 to the ,institute of ,education        
,sciences1 to be used-- 7,a7 for the    
evaluation of grants or other assistance

 funded under such section2  7,b7 to    
support research on policies and        
practices related to such grants2 and   
7,c7 to disseminate the results of such 
research and evaluation4  7#b7          
,collaboration ,the evaluation and      
research described in paragraph 7#a7    
shall be carried out in collaboration   
with-- 7,a7 the appropriate evaluation  
divisions within the ,department of     
,education2  7,b7 the office within the 
,department of ,education administering 
the grants that are the subject of the  
evaluation and research2 and  7,c7 the  
,department of ,health and ,human       
,services and the ,department of ,labor 
as appropriate4  7b7 ,developing        
indicators and benchmarks ,in developing
 indicators and benchmarks for programs 
funded under this ,act1 the ,secretary  
shall consult with the ,secretary of    
,health and ,human ,services and the    
,director of the ,institute of          
,education ,sciences4  #ab4             
,appropriations  7a7 ,in general ,there 

are authorized to be appropriated to    
carry out this ,act #cej1jjj1jjj for    
fiscal year #bjae and such sums as may  
be necessary for each of the #d         
succeeding fiscal years4  7b7           
,availability of funds ,funds           
appropriated under this section for     
fiscal year #bjae shall be available    
through ,september #cj1 #bjaf4