Grants to localities and Head Start expansion in nonparticipating States

(a) Eligible locality defined In this section, the term eligible locality means a city, county, or other unit of general local government, a local educational agency, or a Head Start agency. (b) Grants to localities (1) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall use funds reserved in section 302(b)(5) to award local universal preschool grants, as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to eligible localities located in States that have not received payments under section 303. The Secretary shall award the grants to eligible localities in a State from the allotment made for that State under paragraph (2). The Secretary shall specify the requirements for an eligible locality to conduct a preschool program under this section which shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be consistent with the requirements applicable to States under this title, for a universal, high-quality, free, and inclusive preschool program. (2) Allotments For each State described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall allot for the State for a fiscal year an amount that bears the same relationship to the funds appropriated under section 302(b)(5) for the fiscal year as the number of children from families with family incomes at or below 200 percent of the poverty line, and who are under the age of 6, in the State bears to the total number of all such children in all States described in paragraph (1). (3) Application To receive a grant from the corresponding State allotment under this section, an eligible locality shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The requirements for the application shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be consistent with the State plan requirements applicable to States under this title. (c) Head Start expansion in nonparticipating States (1) In general The Secretary shall use funds appropriated under section 302(b)(5), to make awards to Head Start agencies in a State described in subsection (b)(1) to carry out the purposes of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) in such State. (2) Rule For purposes of carrying out the Head Start Act in circumstances not involving awards under this subsection, funds awarded under paragraph (1) shall not be included in the calculation of a base grant as such term is defined in section 640(a)(7)(A) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(a)(7)(A)). (3) Definition In this subsection, the term Head Start agency means an entity designated or eligible to be designated as a Head Start agency under section 641(a)(1) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836(a)(1)) or as an Early Head Start agency (by receiving a grant) under section 645A(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 9840a(a)). (d) Priority for serving underserved communities In making determinations to award a grant or make an award under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to entities serving communities with a high percentage of children from families with family incomes at or below 200 percent of the poverty line.