,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #aiba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #e1 #bjag,mr4 ,banks of ,indiana introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,head ,start ,act to authorize block grants to ,states for prekindergarten education1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,head ,start ,improvement ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,improvements ,the ,head ,start ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihca et seq47 is amended to read as follows3 #fce4 ,short title ,this subchapter may be cited as the ,head ,start ,act4 #fcf4 ,statement of purpose ,it is the purpose of this subchapter to promote the school readiness of low-income children by enhancing their cognitive1 social1 and emotional development in a learning environment that supports children's growth in language1 literacy1 mathematics1 science1 social and emotional functioning1 creative arts1 physical skills1 and approaches to learning4 #fcg4 ,definitions ,for purposes of this subchapter3 7#a7 ,delegate agency ,the term delegate agency means a public1 private nonprofit 7including a community-based organization1 as defined in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja771 or for-profit organization or agency to which an eligible entity has delegated all or part of the responsibility of the grantee for administering funds under this subchapter4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means the recipient of a subgrant under section #fci7;d77#c77;,a74 7#c7 ,financial assistance ,the term financial assistance includes assistance provided by grant1 agreement1 or contract1 and payments may be made in installments and in advance or by way of reimbursement with necessary adjustments on account of overpayments or underpayments4 7#d7 ,grant recipient ,the term grant recipient means the recipient of a grant under section #fci7;a74 7#e7 ,indian tribe ,the term ,indian tribe means any tribe1 band1 nation1 pueblo1 or other organized group or community of ,indians1 including any ,native village described in section #c7;c7 of the ,alaska ,native ,claims ,settlement ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #afjb7;c77 or established pursuant to such ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq471 that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the ,united ,states to ,indians because of their status as ,indians4 7#f7 ,local educational agency ,the term local educational agency has the meaning given such term in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#g7 ,low-income child ,the term low-income child means a child who is age #e or younger1 and is from a family with an income below #ajj percent of the poverty line for the most recent fiscal year for which satisfactory data are available4 7#h7 ,poverty line ,the term poverty line means the official poverty line 7as defined by the ,office of ,management and ,budget7-- 7,a7 adjusted to reflect the percentage change in the ,consumer ,price ,index ,for ,all ,urban ,consumers1 issued by the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics1 occurring in the #a-year period or other interval immediately preceding the date such adjustment is made2 and 7,b7 adjusted for family size4 7#i7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#aj7 ,state ,the term ,state means a ,state1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,district of ,columbia1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,virgin ,islands of the ,united ,states1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 ,the term includes the ,republic of ,palau1 except during any period for which a ,compact of ,free ,association is in effect1 contains provisions for early childhood education or development1 and prohibits the assistance provided under this subchapter4 #fch4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter #h1eih1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjag through #bjba4 #fci4 ,block grants to eligible states and ,indian tribes 7a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter1 beginning on ,october #a of the first fiscal year following the date of enactment of the ,head ,start ,improvement ,act of #bjag1 from the amounts appropriated to carry out this subchapter under section #fch for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible ,states and ,indian tribes from allotments made under subsection 7b7 in accordance with this section4 7b7 ,allotments 7#a7 ,formula ,the ,secretary shall allot the amount appropriated under section #fch for a fiscal year among the eligible ,states and ,indian tribes in proportion to the number of children1 age #e and younger1 who are from families with incomes below #ajj percent of the poverty line for the most recent fiscal year for which satisfactory data are available and who are in an eligible ,state or ,indian tribe1 compared to the number of such children for that fiscal year who are in all eligible ,states or ,indian tribes4 7#b7 ,calculation ,for purposes of counting the number of children who are in an eligible ,state under paragraph 7#a71 the children who are counted in an eligible ,indian tribe in that ,state shall be excluded4 7c7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 a ,state or ,indian tribe shall submit an application to the ,secretary that includes the number of low-income children in the ,state or ,indian tribe4 7d7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,a grant recipient under this section shall use #ajj percent of the grant funds-- 7,a7 for prekindergarten education programs in the ,state or ,indian tribe involved2 7,b7 for the administration of the programs described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7,c7 to provide direct technical assistance1 oversight1 monitoring1 research1 and training with respect to the programs described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#b7 ,certification ,the ,governor1 or other chief executive1 of each grant recipient shall certify that all grant funds received under this section will be used to directly or indirectly provide comprehensive education and related services to low-income children and their families4 7#c7 ,grant recipient responsibilities ,a grant recipient shall-- 7,a7 award subgrants to eligible entities 7as defined by the grant recipient7 to enable such entities to provide1 directly or through a delegate agency1 prekindergarten education programs in the ,state or ,indian tribe involved2 7,b7 establish rules and standards for the entities awarded subgrants under subparagraph 7,a72 and 7,c7 monitor compliance by entities awarded subgrants under subparagraph 7,a74 7#d7 ,flexibility ,notwithstanding any other provision of ,federal law 7other than this section7-- 7,a7 a grant recipient shall have full flexibility to use grant funds to finance a prekindergarten education provider1 service1 or program2 and 7,b7 in particular1 to the extent permitted under ,state law1 may use the grant funds to establish a portable voucher system that allows a parent of a low-income child to use a portion of the grant funds1 other available public funds1 or private funds to pay some or all of the costs of attendance at a private prekindergarten education program4 7#e7 ,members of ,indian tribes ,a member of an ,indian tribe who is eligible to receive services pursuant to a program funded under this section may elect to receive such services from any eligible entity for the ,state or ,indian tribe in which the member resides4 7e7 ,matching funds ,a grant recipient shall provide matching funds from non-,federal sources equal to #bj percent of the amount of the grant to carry out the activities described in this section4 7f7 ,administrative costs ,no eligible entity that receives a subgrant to provide a program under this subchapter shall use more than #ae percent of the subgrant funds for the administrative costs of the program4 #fdj4 ,limitations on assistance ,nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to require a grant recipient to establish a publicly funded program of early childhood education and development1 or to require any child to participate in such a publicly funded program1 including a preschool program funded by a grant recipient1 or to participate in any initial screening 7other than a health screening7 before participating in a publicly funded program of early childhood education and development1 except as provided under sections #fab7;a77#c7 and #fce7;a77#e7 of the ,individuals with ,disabilities ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #adab7;a77#c71 #adce7;a77#e774 #fda4 ,goals2 monitoring 7a7 ,self-,assessments ,not less frequently than once each program year1 each grant recipient shall conduct a comprehensive self-assessment of the effectiveness and progress of the grant recipient's program under this subchapter in meeting program goals established by the grant recipient4 ,the self-assessment shall include a determination of the number of low-income children served by the program carried out by the grant recipient under this subchapter4 7b7 ,reports ,the grant recipient shall develop1 and make available to the public1 an online and searchable report containing the self-assessment1 and an improvement plan to strengthen any areas identified in the self-assessment as weaknesses or in need of improvement4 ,the report shall include the number of low-income children served by the program carried out by the grant recipient under this subchapter4 7c7 ,ongoing monitoring ,each grant recipient shall establish and implement procedures for the ongoing monitoring of their respective programs1 to ensure that the operations of the programs work toward meeting the program goals4 #fdb4 ,administrative requirements ,each grant recipient shall make available to the public a report published online at least once in each fiscal year that discloses the following information1 from the most recently concluded fiscal year1 except that reporting such information shall not reveal personally identifiable information about an individual child or parent3 7#a7 ,the total amount of public and private funds received and the amount from each source4 7#b7 ,an explanation of budgetary expenditures and proposed budget for the fiscal year4 7#c7 ,the total number of children and families served1 the average monthly enrollment 7as a percentage of funded enrollment71 and the percentage of eligible children served4 7#d7 ,the results of the most recent self-assessment under section #fda4 7#e7 ,information about parent involvement activities4 7#f7 ,information about the grant recipient's efforts to prepare children for kindergarten4 #fdc4 ,records ,each recipient of financial assistance under this subchapter shall keep records1 including records which fully disclose the amount and disposition by such recipient of the proceeds of such financial assistance1 the total cost of the program or activity in connection with which such financial assistance is given or used1 and the amount of that portion of the cost of the program or activity supplied by other sources4 #fdd4 ,research 7a7 ,study ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct a study-- 7#a7 of the different approaches and best practices used by ,states and ,indian tribes in carrying out the program under this subchapter2 and 7#b7 that is limited to the information provided in the online reports made available by grant recipients under sections #fda and #fdb4 7b7 ,report ,not later than ,october #a of the fourth fiscal year after the date of enactment referred to in section #fci7;a71 the ,comptroller ,general shall submit a report containing the results of the study to the appropriate committees of ,congress4 #fde4 ,nondiscrimination provisions ,no grant recipient shall provide financial assistance for any program or activity under this subchapter unless the grant or contract relating to the financial assistance specifically provides that no person with responsibilities in the operation of the program or activity will discriminate with respect to any such program or activity because of race1 creed1 color1 national origin1 sex1 political affiliation1 or beliefs1 or because of a disability in violation of section #ejd of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid74 #fdf4 ,political activities 7a7 ,restrictions ,a program assisted under this subchapter1 and any individual employed by1 or assigned to or in1 a program assisted under this subchapter 7during the hours in which such individual is working on behalf of such program71 shall not engage in-- 7#a7 any partisan or nonpartisan political activity or any other political activity associated with a candidate1 or contending faction or group1 in an election for public or party office2 7#b7 any activity to provide voters or prospective voters with transportation to the polls or similar assistance in connection with any such election2 or 7#c7 assisting1 promoting1 or deterring union organization4 7b7 ,registration ,no funds appropriated under this subchapter may be used to conduct voter registration activities4 ,nothing in this subchapter prohibits the availability of ,head ,start facilities during hours of operation for the use of any nonpartisan organization to increase the number of eligible citizens who register to vote in elections for ,federal office4 #fdg4 ,advance funding ,for the purpose of affording adequate notice of funding available under this subchapter1 appropriations for carrying out this subchapter are authorized to be included in an appropriation ,act for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which they are available for obligation4 #fdh4 ,general provisions 7a7 ,limitation ,nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to authorize or permit the ,secretary or any employee or contractor of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services to mandate1 direct1 or control1 the selection of a curriculum1 a program of instruction1 or instructional materials1 for a ,head ,start program carried out by an eligible entity4 7b7 ,special rule ,nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to authorize an eligible entity carrying out a program or activity or a local educational agency to require the other to select or implement a specific curriculum or program of instruction4 4 #c4 ,effective date ,the amendment made by this ,act shall apply beginning on ,october #a of the first fiscal year following the date of enactment of the ,improvement ,act of #bjag4