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H.R.5071
Comprehensive Early Childhood Education Act of 2000 (Introduced in
House)
SEC. 107. ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS FOR PROGRAMS INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION.
(a) CONSTRUCTION- Applications for financial assistance for projects,
including construction, may be approved only if the Secretary determines that
construction of such facilities is essential to the provision of adequate
early childhood education services, and that rental, renovation, remodeling,
or leasing of adequate facilities is not practicable.
(b) RECOVERY OF FUNDS- If any facility assisted under this title shall
cease to be used for the purpose for which it was constructed, the United
States shall be entitled to recover from the applicant or other owner of the
facility an amount which bears to the then value of the facility (or so much
thereof as constituted an approved project) the same ratio as the amount of
such Federal funds bore to the cost of the facility financed with the aid of
such funds, unless the Secretary determines in accordance with regulations
that there is good cause for releasing the applicant or other owner from the
obligation to do so. Such value shall be determined by agreement of the
parties or by action brought in the United States district court for the
district in which the facility is situated.
(c) DAVIS -BACON APPLICATION- All laborers and
mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors on all construction,
remodeling, renovation, or alteration projects assisted under this part shall
be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction
in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the
Davis -Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C.
276a-276a-5).
(d) GRANTS- Any Federal assistance for construction shall be in the form
of grants, and shall not be paid to other than public or private nonprofit
agencies and organizations. Not more than 15 percent of the total financial
assistance provided to a prime sponsor under this part shall be used for
construction of facilities.
SEC. 108. USE OF PUBLIC FACILITIES FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
(a) REPORT- The Secretary, after consultation with other appropriate
officials of the Federal Government, shall within sixteen months after
enactment of this title report to the Congress with respect to the extent to
which facilities owned or leased by Federal departments, agencies, and
independent authorities could be made available to public and private
nonprofit agencies and organizations, through appropriate arrangements, for
use as facilities for early childhood education programs under this title
during times and periods when not utilized fully for their usual purposes,
together with his/her recommendations (including recommendations for changes
in legislation) or proposed actions for such use.
(b) REVIEW- The Secretary may require, as a condition to the receipt of
assistance under this title, that any prime sponsor under this title agree to
conduct a review and provide the Secretary with a report as to the extent to
which facilities owned or leased by such prime sponsor, or by other agencies
in the prime sponsorship area, could be made available, through appropriate
arrangements, for use as facilities for early childhood education programs
under this title, during times and periods when not utilized for their usual
purposes, together with the prime sponsor's proposed actions for such use.
SEC. 109. PAYMENTS.
(a) FEDERAL SHARE- In accordance with this section, the Secretary shall
pay from the applicable allocation or apportionment under section 4 the
Federal share of the costs of programs, services, and activities, in
accordance with plans or applications which have been approved as provided in
this part.
(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the
Secretary shall pay an amount not in excess of 90 percent of the cost of
carrying out programs, services, and activities under this part. The
Secretary may, in accordance with such regulations prescribed by the
Secretary, approve assistance in excess of such percentage if the Secretary
determines that such action is required to provide adequately for the early
childhood education needs of economically disadvantaged children.
(2) CHILDREN OF MIGRANT AGRICULTURAL WORKERS- The Secretary shall pay an
amount equal to 100 percent of the costs of providing early childhood
education programs for children of migrant agricultural workers and their
families under this title.
(3) INDIAN CHILDREN- The Secretary shall pay an amount equal to 100
percent of the costs of providing early childhood education programs for
children on Federal or State Indian reservations under this title.
(4) NATIVE HAWAIIAN CHILDREN- The Secretary shall pay an amount equal to
100 percent of the costs of providing early childhood education programs for
Native Hawaiian children under this title.
(c) NON-FEDERAL SHARE- The non-Federal share of the costs of programs,
services, and activities assisted under this part may be provided through
public or private funds and may be in the form of cash, goods, services, or
facilities (or portions thereof that area used for program purposes),
reasonably evaluated, and employee and employer contributions.
(d) FEES- Fees collected for services pursuant to section 105(a)(8) shall
be deemed financial assistance for purposes of section 104(a)(3).
(e) EXPRESS AMOUNTS- If, with respect to any fiscal year, a prime sponsor
or project applicant provides non-Federal contributions for any program,
service, or activity exceeding its requirements, such excess may be applied
toward meeting the requirements for such contributions for the subsequent
fiscal year under this part.
(f) NO REDUCTION OF FUNDS- No State or locality shall reduce its
expenditures for early childhood education or child care programs by reason of
assistance under this part.
TITLE II--TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PLANNING, AND
EVALUATION
SEC. 201. PRESERVICE AND INSERVICE TRAINING.
The Secretary is authorized to make payments to provide financial
assistance to enable individuals employed or preparing for employment in early
childhood education program assisted under this Act, including volunteers, to
participate in programs of preservice or inservice training for professional
and nonprofessional personnel, to be conducted by any agency carrying out an
early childhood education program, or any institution of higher education,
including a community college, or by any combination thereof.
SEC. 202. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PLANNING.
The Secretary shall, directly or through grant or contract, make technical
assistance available to prime sponsors and to project applicants participating
or seeking to participate in programs assisted under this title on a
continuing basis to assist them in planning, developing, and carrying out
early childhood education programs.
SEC. 203. EVALUATION.
(a) EVALUATION- The Secretary shall make an evaluation of Federal
involvement in early childhood education activities and services, which shall
include--
(1) enumeration and description of all Federal activities which affect
early childhood education;
(2) analysis of expenditures of Federal funds for such activities and
services;
(3) determination of the effectiveness of such activities and
services;
(4) the extent to which preschool, minority group, and economically
disadvantaged children and their parents have participated in programs under
this title; and
(5) such recommendations to Congress as the Secretary may deem
appropriate.
(b) REPORT- The results of the evaluation required by subsection (a) of
this section shall be reported to Congress not later than two years after
enactment of this title.
(c) EVALUATION- The Secretary shall establish such procedures as may be
necessary to conduct an annual evaluation of Federal involvement in early
childhood education programs, and shall report the results of each such
evaluation to Congress.
(d) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION- Prime sponsors and project applicants
assisted under this Act and departments and agencies of the Federal Government
shall, upon request by the Secretary, make available, consistent with other
provisions of law, such information as the Secretary determines is necessary
for purposes of making the evaluation required under subsection (c) of this
section.
(e) CONTRACTS- The Secretary may enter into contracts with public or
private agencies, organizations, or individuals to carry out the provisions of
this section.
(f) RESERVATION- The Secretary shall reserve for the purposes of this
section not less than 1 percent, and may reserve for such purposes not more
than 2 percent, of the amounts available under paragraphs (2) and (3) of
section 5(a) of this Act for any fiscal year.
SEC. 204. FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SERVICES.
(a) PROGRAM STANDARDS- The Secretary shall, after consultation with other
Federal agencies and with the Committee established pursuant to subsection (c)
of this section, promulgate a common set of program standards which shall be
applicable to all programs providing early childhood education services with
Federal assistance under this Act, to be known as the Federal Standards for
Early Childhood Education. If the Secretary disapproves the Committee's
recommendations, the Secretary shall state the reasons therefor.
(b) COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS- The Secretary shall, within sixty days after
enactment of this title, appoint a Special Committee on Federal Standards for
Early Childhood Education, which shall included parents of children enrolled
in early childhood education programs, representatives of public and private
agencies administering early childhood education programs, and organization
specialists, and others interested in the development of children. Not less
than one-half of the membership of the Committee shall consist of parents of
children participating in programs conducted under title I of this Act. Such
Committee shall participate in the development of Federal Standards for Early
Childhood Education and modifications thereof as provided in subsection
(a).
SEC. 205. DEVELOPMENT OF UNIFORM MINIMUM CODE FOR FACILITIES.
(a) UNIFORM MINIMUM CODE- The Secretary shall, within sixty days after
enactment of this bill appoint a special committee to develop a uniform
minimum code for facilities, to be used in licensing early childhood education
facilities. Such standards shall deal principally with those matters essential
to the health, safety, and physical comfort of the children and the
relationship of such matters to the Federal Standards for Early Childhood
Education.
(b) MEMBERSHIP- The special committee appointed under this section shall
include parents of children participating in child development programs and
representatives of State and local licensing agencies, public health
officials, fire prevention officials, the construction industry and unions,
public and private agencies or organizations administering early childhood
education programs, and national agencies or organizations interested in the
development of children. Not less than one-third of the membership of the
committee shall consist of parents of children enrolled in such programs.
(c) PUBLIC HEARINGS- Within one year after its appointment, the special
committee shall complete a proposed uniform minimum code for facilities and
shall hold public hearings on the proposed code prior to submitting its final
recommendation to the Secretary for approval.
(d) PROMULGATION OF STANDARDS- After considering the recommendations
submitted by the special committee in accordance with subsection (c), the
Secretary shall promulgate standards which shall be applicable to all
facilities receiving Federal financial assistance under this Act or in which
programs receiving Federal financial assistance under this Act are operated.
If the Secretary disapproves the committee's recommendations, the Secretary
shall state the reasons therefor. The Secretary shall also distribute such
standards and urge their adoption by States and local governments. The
Secretary may from time to time modify the uniform code for facilities in
accordance with procedures set forth in this section.
TITLE III--MODEL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
PROGRAMS
SEC. 301. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
(a) MODEL PROGRAMS- The Secretary is authorized to provide financial
assistance for the purpose of establishing and operating model early childhood
education programs (including the lease, rental, or construction of necessary
facilities and the acquisition of necessary equipment and supplies) for the
children of civilian employees of the Federal Government.
(b) AGENCY COMMITTEE- Civilian employees of any Federal agency or group of
such agencies employing eighty working parents of young children who desire to
participate in a program eligible for assistance under this part shall--
(1) designate or create for such purpose an agency committee, the
membership of which shall be broadly representative of the working parents
interested in utilizing these services who are employed by the agency or
agencies; and
(2) submit to the Secretary a plan approved by the official in charge of
such agency or agencies, which--
(A) provides that the early childhood education program shall be
administered under the direction of the agency committee;
(B) provides that the program will meet the Federal Standards for
Early Childhood Education approved pursuant to section 204 and the uniform
minimum code for facilities approved pursuant to section 205.
(C) provides a means of determining priority of eligibility among
parents wishing to use the service program;
(D) provides for a scale of fees based upon the parents' financial
status; and
(E) provides for competent management, staffing, and facilities for
such program.
(c) OFFICIAL PLAN APPROVAL- The Secretary shall not make payments under
this section unless the Secretary has received approval of the plan from the
official in charge of the agency whose employees will be served by the early
childhood education program.
SEC. 302. PAYMENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL- Not more than 80 percent of the total cost of the early
childhood education program under this part shall be paid from Federal funds
available under this title.
(b) PUBLIC OR PRIVATE FUNDS- The share of the total cost not available
under paragraph (a) may be provided through public or private funds and may be
in the form of cash, goods, services, or facilities (or portions thereof that
are used for program purposes), reasonable evaluated, fees collected from
parents, and union and employer contributions.
(c) EXCESS AMOUNTS- If, with respect to any fiscal year, a program under
this part provides contributions exceeding its requirements under this
section, such excess may be used to meet the requirements of such
contributions for the subsequent fiscal year.
TITLE IV--RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATIONS
SEC. 401. DECLARATION OF PURPOSES.
The purposes of this part are to focus national research efforts to attain
a fuller understanding of the process of early child development and the
effects of organized programs upon these processes; to develop effective
programs for research into child development; and to assure that the result of
research and development efforts are reflected in the conduct of programs
affecting children through the improvement and expansion of early childhood
education and related programs.
SEC. 402. RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.
(a) RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS- In order to further the purposes
of this part, the Secretary shall carry out a program of research and
demonstration projects, which shall include but not be limited to--
(1) research to determine the nature of child development processes and
the impact of various influences upon them, to develop techniques to measure
and evaluate child development, to develop standards to evaluate
professional and paraprofessional early childhood education personnel, to
determine how early childhood development and education and related programs
conducted in either home or institutional settings affect child development
processes;
(2) research to test alternative methods of providing early childhood
education and related services, and to develop and test innovative
approaches to achieve maximum development of children and programs for
training adolescent youth in child development;
(3) evaluation of research findings and the development of these
findings and the effective application thereof; and
(4) dissemination and application of research and development efforts
and demonstration projects to early childhood education and related
programs, using regional demonstration centers and advisory services where
feasible.
(b) AUTHORITY- In order to carry out the program provided for in
subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized to make grants to or enter into
contracts or other arrangements with public or private nonprofit agencies
(including other Government agencies), organizations, and institutions, and to
enter into contracts with private agencies, organizations, institutions, and
individuals.
SEC. 403. COORDINATION OF RESEARCH.
(a) FUND TRANSFERS- Funds available to any Federal department or agency
for the purposes stated in section 401 or the activities stated in section
402(a) shall be available for transfer, with the approval of the head of the
department or agency involved, in whole or in part, to the Secretary for such
use as is consistent with the purposes for which such funds were provided, and
the funds so transferred shall be expendable by the Secretary for the purpose
for which the transfer was made.
(b) COORDINATION- The Secretary shall coordinate all early childhood
education research, training, and development efforts conducted with the
Federal Government and, to the extent feasible, by other agencies,
organizations, and individuals.
(c) ANNUAL MEETINGS- Representatives from the National Institute for Early
Childhood Development, the Federal agencies administering the Social Security
Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Department of Health
and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, the Department of
Labor, and other appropriate agencies, shall meet at least annually and at
such more frequent times as they may deem necessary, in order to assure
coordination of child development and early childhood education and related
activities under their respective jurisdictions and to carry out the
provisions of this title so as to assure--
(1) maximum utilization of available resources through the prevention of
duplication of activities;
(2) a division of labor, insofar as is compatible with the purposes of
each of the agencies or authorities specified in this paragraph, to assure
maximum progress toward the achievement of the purposes of this title;
and
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