H.R. 1429 would reauthorize the Head Start Act, improve program quality, and expand access.

== Detailed Summary ==

<summary>
Improving Head Start Act of 2007 - (Sec. 1) Expresses the support of Congress for the continued role of community and faith-based organizations in Head Start programs as providers of comprehensive services to children, families, and communities. Thanks such organizations and their employees and volunteers for their commitment to the education, health, and economic well-being of low-income children and families.

Amends the Head Start Act (the Act) to revise and reauthorize Head Start programs.

(Sec. 2) Includes among the aims of Head Start programs children's growth in language, literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional functioning, physical skills, and approaches to learning.

(Sec. 3) Adds definitions of Head Start agency deficiencies, homeless children, homeless families, inclusive classrooms, limited English proficient (LEP), professional development for teachers and staff, and scientifically based research relevant to education activities.

Removes Micronesia and the Marshall Islands from the list of program participants.

(Sec. 4) Authorizes appropriations for Head Start programs for FY2008-FY2012, with specified amounts for research, demonstration, and evaluation activities, including longitudinal and impact studies.

(Sec. 5) Sets forth allotment requirements, as well as limitations on and authorized uses of Head Start funds.

Reserves from such funds at least: (1) 5% for migrant and seasonal Head Start programs; (2) 3.5% for Indian Head Start programs; and (3) 2% for training and technical assistance, 50% of which is to be provided to local Head Start agencies for program improvements and 30% for early childhood education training and technical assistance.

Provides funding for the Republic of Palau through FY2009.

Reserves, for each of FY2008-FY2012, a minimum of 60% of the appropriations in excess of the inflation adjusted prior year appropriation, to be used for quality improvement activities, which include: (1) improving the compensation and benefits of Head Start providers; (2) improving teacher knowledge and skills so as to improve instruction in early language and literacy, early mathematics, cognitive skills, approaches to learning, creative arts, science, physical health and development, and social and emotional development; (3) ensuring that the physical environments of Head Start programs are conducive to the provision of effective services and accessible to the disabled; (4) increasing hours of program operation; and (5) providing safe child transportation services.

Changes from discretionary to mandatory the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to award, upon written request, collaboration grants to states and each national administrative office serving Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs to: (1) facilitate collaboration between Head Start agencies and entities that carry out other activities benefiting poor families and children from birth to school entry; and (2) promote alignment of Head Start curricula and continuity of services with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and state early learning standards, as appropriate. Requires state grantees to appoint or designate a State Director of Head Start Collaboration to improve the coordination and delivery of early education services.

Increases the percentage of funds reserved for Early Head Start programs from 12% in FY2008 to 20% in FY2012.

Provides that, when Head Start appropriations are less than the prior fiscal year's inflation-adjusted appropriations, Head Start grantees may negotiate a reduced funded enrollment level with the Secretary without a reduction in their grant level, if they can show that a reduced enrollment level is necessary to maintain the quality of services.

Requires the Secretary to establish requirements for the safety features, and the safe operation, of vehicles used by Head Start agencies to transport children.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) appoint a national migrant and seasonal Head Start collaboration director and a national Indian Head Start collaboration director; (2) conduct annual consultations in each affected Head Start region with tribal governments operating Head Start or Early Head Start programs to better gauge their needs; and (3) establish policies and procedures to remove barriers to the enrollment and participation of homeless children in Head Start programs.

(Sec. 6) Provides for the development of a new system for designating Head Start agencies and the consideration of additional criteria in evaluating applicants.

Includes community-based and faith-based organizations among the entities that may be designated Head Start agencies.

Maintains the current process of designating a Head Start agency until the Secretary develops and implements a transparent, reliable, and valid system for evaluating grant renewal applications that integrates the recommendations of an expert panel. Designates those grantees that the system finds to be successfully delivering a high quality comprehensive early education program as Head Start agencies for five years, but requires underperforming grantees to enter into open competition with other applicants.

Sets forth criteria to be considered in choosing between competing applicants, including each applicant's ability to: (1) attract and retain qualified staff; (2) maintain child-teacher ratios and family service caseloads; (3) use scientifically-based curriculum and teaching practices that are developmentally appropriate and promote school readiness; (4) coordinate their programs with other early learning programs, local educational agencies (LEAs), and public and private entities willing to commit resources to such programs; (5) provide family health, literacy, and parenting services; (6) extend outreach to fathers; and (7) meet the needs of limited English proficient, homeless, and foster care children and families and children experiencing toxic stress. Removes the priority currently given nonprofit applicants.

Prohibits a non-Indian Head Start agency from operating an Indian Head Start program, unless there is no Indian Head Start agency available in the community.

(Sec. 7) Revises Head Start quality standards and monitoring requirements.

Requires the Secretary to modify program performance standards, as necessary, so they are scientifically-based, developmentally appropriate, and based on the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework to ensure that children, at a minimum, progress in language, prereading, mathematics, science, cognitive abilities, social and emotional development, approaches to learning, creative arts, and the acquisition of the English language. Adds to the factors the Secretary must consider in developing such standards: (1) the recommendations of the report on Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), when it becomes available; and (2) the unique challenges faced by individual programs, including seasonal, short term, and rural programs.

Requires scientifically based measures of program performance to be reviewed at least every four years so they reflect advances in the science of early childhood development.

Terminates further development and use of the National Reporting System.

Requires the Secretary's reviews of Head Start agencies and programs to use a risk-based assessment system and include unannounced site inspections, as appropriate. Requires such reviews to include: (1) an assessment of whether programs adequately address community needs; (2) an observational instrument that addresses classroom quality; and (3) an assessment of the use of federal funds.

Requires that Early Head Start program reviews be conducted by individuals knowledgeable about infant and toddler development.

Directs Head Start agencies to evaluate their delegate agencies and inform them of deficiencies which must be corrected.

Requires summaries of program reviews and the outcomes of quality improvement plans to be made available to all parents with children receiving Head Start assistance, in addition to the public.

Directs each Head Start and delegate agency to conduct a comprehensive self-assessment at least once a year.

Directs Head Start agencies to report their actual enrollment regularly to the Secretary and, if such enrollment is less than the funded enrollment, any apparent reason for the shortfall. Requires the Secretary to provide appropriate and timely training and technical assistance to agencies experiencing such shortfalls.

Sets forth rules for the redistribution of base grants recaptured, withheld, or reduced.

(Sec. 8) Revises the power and functions of Head Start agencies.

Adds to the minimum services Head Start agencies provide by requiring them to: (1) seek the involvement of local business, in addition to parents and area residents, in the design and implementation of programs; (2) offer parents of participating children mental and behavioral health services; (3) provide parents of limited English proficient children outreach and services in an understandable and uniform format, and to the extent practicable, in a language such parents can understand; (4) promote, as appropriate, the continued involvement of grandparents and kinship caregivers in the education of participating children upon their transition to school; and (5) provide parents of children suspected of having a disability with information and referral services.

Directs each Head Start agency to establish and maintain a formal structure of shared governance through which an independent governing body with legal and fiscal responsibility for administering and overseeing its programs and parent policy councils ensures that such agency operates high quality programs.

Requires that such governing bodies include at least one member with significant financial management or accounting experience, at least one with expertise in early childhood development, at least one attorney, and additional members selected for expertise in education, business administration, and community affairs. Allows exceptions to such requirements when the governing body oversees a public entity and its members are selected by public election or political appointment. Prohibits certain conflict of interests. Includes among governing body responsibilities: (1) approving all major policies, all major expenditures, applications to receive federal funds, and the selection or dismissal of the director of the Head Start agency; (2) overseeing program planning of the agency; and (3) approving or disapproving all policies, applications, and decisions of the policy council.

Requires that the majority of a policy council consist of parents or former parents of Head Start enrollees elected by parents of current enrollees, with the remaining members chosen from the community the agency serves. Requires policy councils to approve and submit to the governing body decisions concerning the strategic direction of the program, selection of delegate agencies, recruiting and enrollment, funding applications and budget planning, personnel policies, and parent and community outreach.

Directs the Secretary to issue guidance on the implementation of shared decision-making, including a process for resolving impasses between governing bodies and policy councils.

Requires Head Start agencies to conduct outreach to schools, LEAs, local businesses, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, museums, and libraries to generate support and leverage community resources to improve school readiness. Requires Head Start agencies, in communities where both public prekindergarten programs and Head Start programs operate, to collaborate and coordinate activities with the public agency and providers responsible for operating prekindergarten programs, including outreach activities to identify eligible children. Directs Head Start staff, with parental consent, to communicate regularly with the elementary and secondary schools children will be attending to share information about them and ensure their smooth transition to such schools.

Changes from discretionary to mandatory the authority of Head Start agencies to coordinate activities with LEAs and schools in which participating children will enroll. Includes in such collaboration, enhancing the efficiency of services while increasing the participation of underserved eligible children.

Establishes curricular requirements that are research-based, comprehensive, and aligned with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and state early learning standards, as appropriate. Requires the use of ongoing research-based assessment methods and high-quality research-based developmental screening tools. Directs programs to develop training and technical assistance plans and professional development plans focused on teacher effectiveness.

Requires each Head Start agency to enroll 100% of its funded enrollment, maintain an active waiting list, and conduct community outreach.

Requires such agencies to use strong fiscal controls.

(Sec. 9) Adds to provisions requiring Head Start program coordination with LEAs and schools to ensure the continuity of children's K-12 education by requiring: (1) the needs of homeless and limited-English proficient children, and those currently underserved by Head Start programs, to be addressed; (2) the continuity of developmentally appropriate curricula between Head Start agencies and LEAs; and (3) an emphasis on the role of parental involvement in a child's academic success.

(Sec. 10) Provides for local and state integration of early childhood education.

Requires Head Start agencies to enter into, submit to the Secretary, and annually review and revise, memoranda of understanding to coordinate activities with providers of publicly-funded prekindergarten programs in their service areas.

Directs the Secretary to award an early learning matching grant to each state that requests one to support a State Early Learning Council composed of representatives from Head Start, preschool, child care, local and state education, special education, and child health programs. Makes such Council responsible for improving the coordination and quality of early childhood services within the state.

(Sec. 11) Adds to Head Start administrative requirements.

Directs each Head Start agency to make a report available to the public at least once each fiscal year disclosing: (1) its finances and budget; (2) its enrollment, including the percentage of its enrollees receiving medical and dental exams; (3) the results of the Secretary's most recent review and the financial audit; (4) parental involvement activities; and (5) the agency's efforts to prepare children for kindergarten.

Prohibits an agency from using federal funds to purchase a facility unless the agency receives the Secretary's approval and describes the facility's cost effectiveness and utility in providing services on a collaborative basis with other community providers.

(Sec. 12) Alters rules regarding eligible Head Start program participants.

Includes children referred by child welfare services and homeless children as program participants, even if their families do not meet low-income eligibility criteria.

Excludes the basic military housing allowance from the income eligibility calculation.

Allows a Head Start agency to use program funds to serve infants and toddlers if it provides certain information to the Secretary proving its capacity and capability to carry out an effective Early Head Start program. Subjects such agency to the same rules applicable to Early Head Start programs.

Allows a Head Start agency to increase income eligibility to 130% of the poverty level if it provides certain information to the Secretary proving that services and outreach to currently eligible children are adequate, and explaining why it is not feasible to simply increase the number of poor infants and toddlers served.

Allows Indian Head Start agencies that also operate a Early Head Start program to reallocate funds between both programs at any time.

(Sec. 13) Adds to Early Head Start program service, coordination, and training requirements.

Includes parenting skills training and training in basic child development to services Early Head Start programs must provide to parents.

Adds state home service providers, community programs for homeless infants and toddlers, and child protective service agencies to the entities and programs with which Early Head Start programs must coordinate.

Requires programs to establish channels of communication with, and implement a systematic procedure for transitioning children and parents to, Head Start programs and other local early childhood education programs.

Includes Indian Head Start agencies as eligible Early Head Start providers.

Directs the Secretary, in determining the percentage (between 5 and 10%) of Early Head Start funds to be reserved for training and technical assistance, to consider the number of new programs serving pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and their families and the greater need those programs have for such assistance. Requires that from such reserved funds: (1) at least 50% be available for the training and technical assistance activities of local entities; (2) at least 30% be used by the Secretary to support a state-based system of early childhood education training and technical assistance to local Early Head Start entities that includes a national network of state-based infant-toddler specialists; and (3) the remainder be available to the Secretary to assist local Early Head Start entities meet and exceed program performance standards.

Directs the Secretary to ensure that, by September 30, 2009, all teachers providing direct services to children and families in Early Head Start centers have a minimum of a child development associate credential and training in early childhood development.

Directs the Secretary to establish standards for training, qualifications, and the conduct of home visits for home visitor staff in Early Head Start programs. Requires that such standards include content related to the role of parents in child development and in working with other health and developmental services providers to eliminate gaps in service.

(Sec. 14) Requires Head Start agencies to get parental consent before administering any nonemergency health care service to a child.

(Sec. 15) Clarifies the Secretary's authority to terminate, reduce, or suspend Head Start assistance before the conclusion of an appeals process. Prohibits the use of Head Start assistance to reimburse legal fees and other costs incurred in pursuing such appeals.

(Sec. 16) Requires Head Start agencies to submit to the Secretary complete annual accountings of their administrative expenses, and audit management letters and findings.

(Sec. 17) Revises training and technical assistance requirements.

Adds as targets of such assistance: (1) services and outreach to homeless children and their families, limited English proficient children and their families, children and families experiencing toxic stress, and additional disabled children; (2) the unique needs of programs located in rural communities; (3) training for personnel serving abused or neglected children and those referred by or receiving child welfare services; (4) training for personnel to recognize common child health problems for appropriate referral; and (5) training for personnel that addresses the unique needs of migrant and seasonal working families, families with disabled children, families with limited English proficiency, homeless families, and children and families experiencing toxic stress.

Requires more than one-half of training and technical assistance funding to be used for classroom-focused assistance and training.

Directs the Secretary to establish an outreach program to recruit and train minority men to become Head Start teachers.

Prohibits the use of training funds for long-distance travel to training that is available locally or regionally.

Lists activities for which program improvement funds may be used by Head Start agencies, including activities to improve parenting skills, job skills, and adult and family literacy.

Directs the Secretary to conduct studies and report on Head Start program participation by eligible Indian, Alaskan Native, and migrant and seasonal children.

Directs the Secretary to enter into contracts in each state with institutions of higher education or other experienced training entities to support state-based systems of delivering training and technical assistance.

Requires each Head Start agency to ensure that all of its teachers receive ongoing training in language and emergent literacy.

Encourages the Secretary to contract with an institution of higher education to develop an on-line graduate-level professional development program.

Requires the Secretary to consult with experts regarding indoor air quality and children's health and inform Head Start agencies of programs that improve indoor air.

Permits the Secretary to award demonstration grants to tribal colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions to establish career ladder programs for Head Start agency staff serving Indian children or limited English proficient children and parents.

Directs the Secretary to collaborate with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to: (1) increase the number of associate, baccalaureate, and advanced degrees in early childhood education and related fields earned by the staff of, and parents served by, Head Start agencies; and (2) upgrade the skills and qualifications of noncertified Head Start educational personnel. Requires individuals that receive collaboration assistance to teach afterwards in a center-based Head Start program for a period equivalent to the period for which they received assistance, or repay such assistance.

(Sec. 18) Amends staff qualification and development requirements.

Directs the Secretary to ensure that by September 30, 2013, at least 50% of all Head Start classroom teachers nationwide have at least: (1) a baccalaureate in early childhood education; or (2) a related field, with experience in teaching preschool children. Requires teachers in migrant and seasonal Head Start classrooms that serve children under age three to meet Early Head Start teacher qualifications. Requires Head Start agencies to issue progress reports regarding their teachers' attainment of credentials and degrees.

Requires that, within two years of this Act's enactment, all newly hired Head Start classroom teachers have at least an associate's degree in early childhood education or a related field or be currently enrolled in a program leading to such a degree within three years of their being hired.

Requires that individuals who receive educational assistance under the Act to meet teacher qualifications subsequently teach in a Head Start center for the same period of time for which such assistance was received, or else repay such amount.

Allows Teach for America program participants that have baccalaureates and meet certain testing and training requirements to serve in Head Start classrooms that lack a teacher who has a baccalaureate in early childhood education or a related field.

Directs the Secretary to review and, as necessary, revise or develop maximum caseload requirements for staff providing in-home and other services to Head Start families.

Requires each Head Start agency and program to create a professional development plan for all their employees who provide direct services to children and regularly evaluate the plan's effectiveness.

Prohibits Head Start agencies from employing individuals before interviewing them, verifying their personal and employment references, and obtaining criminal record background checks.

Authorizes the Secretary of Education to assume or cancel loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan or the Direct Loan programs of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to individuals who: (1) have a bachelor's degree related to early childhood education; and (2) commit to serve as Head Start or Early Head Start teachers for three consecutive complete program years.

(Sec. 19) Alters Head Start research, demonstration, and evaluation requirements.

Includes homeless children, abused and neglected children, and foster care children in the continuing program of Head Start research, demonstration, and evaluation activities, which are now to be scientifically-based.

Repeals the mandate for the required use and linkage of specified surveys in evaluating Head Start program participants.

Requires that research, demonstration, and evaluation activities: (1) contribute to understanding the impact Head Start services delivered in inclusive classrooms (defined as containing both disabled and nondisabled children) have on both disabled and nondisabled children; and (2) result in practices that increase the availability and quality of such classrooms.

Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the status of limited English proficient children and their families in participating Head Start and Early Head Start programs, and the extent to which quality improvement funds improve program services for such children and their families.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) study and report to Congress on the status of children and families participating in Head Start and Early Head Start programs in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, including information on coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in such areas; and (2) prepare and submit Head Start disaster plan recommendations based upon such report to Congress.

(Sec. 20) Includes homeless children, foster care children, and limited English proficient children in the biennial reports on the status of children in Head Start programs.

Directs the Secretary to report to Congress: (1) annually on the use of the 13% of Head Start funding set aside for special populations, territories and freely associated states, training and technical assistance, monitoring and terminations, and research; (2) annually on whether triennial reviews of Head Start agencies provide reasonable assurance that such agencies are complying with applicable fiscal laws and regulations; and (3) within one year of this Act's enactment on Head Start agency use of Individualized Education Plans.

Requires the Secretary also to evaluate, publish regulations for, and report to Congress concerning the issue of preventing and reducing obesity in Head Start children.

(Sec. 21) Prohibits any Head Start employee from being compensated at a rate greater then the level II Executive Schedule pay rate.

(Sec. 22) Prohibits the use of Head Start funds for: (1) publicity or propaganda purposes; or (2) any prepackaged news story, unless the text or audio states that it was prepared or funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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== Status of the Legislation ==

<status>
Latest Major Action: 5/7/2007: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on6/19/2007: Resolving differences -- Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 137.actions. Status: Senate insists on its amendment, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Kennedy; Dodd; Harkin; Mikulski; Bingaman; Murray; Reed; Clinton; Obama; Sanders; Brown; Enzi; Gregg; Alexander; Burr; Isakson; Murkowski; Hatch; Roberts; Allard; Coburn.
</status>

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== Points in Favor ==

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== Points Against ==

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