Extended duration

(a) In general The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.) is amended— (1) by redesignating section 657C (42 U.S.C. 9852c) as section 657D; and (2) by inserting after section 657B (42 U.S.C. 9852b) the following: 657C. Extended duration (a) In general The Secretary shall make grants to Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies) funded under this subchapter to enable such agencies— (1) to provide access to a full school year and a full school day of services; (2) in the case of a migrant and seasonal Head Start agency, to provide access to additional service hours to ensure continuous Head Start services as determined by the Secretary; or (3) in the case of a Head Start agency (including an Early Head Start agency) that already meets the full-day, full-year services needs within its community, to enhance the quality of Head Start services (including Early Head Start services) provided to children served by such agency. (b) Application (1) In General To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a Head Start agency shall submit an application at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. Such application shall include— (A) evidence of— (i) the number and percentage of slots— (I) in the agency's Head Start center-based programs (that are not Early Head Start programs)— (aa) that are currently funded (as of the date of submission of the application); and (bb) in which services are provided for at least the equivalent of 1,020 hours per year; and (II) in the agency's Early Head Start center-based programs— (aa) that are currently funded (as of that date); and (bb) in which services are provided for at least the equivalent of 1,380 hours per year; and (ii) the number and percentage of slots, in the agency's Head Start family child care programs— (I) that are currently funded (as of that date); and (II) in which services are provided for at least the equivalent of 1,380 hours per year; (B) a description of an approach, using the current community-wide strategic planning and needs assessment described in section 640(g)(1)(C) and current program schedule (current as of the date of submission of the application), that transitions all of the agency's Head Start programs to a full school day, full school year program schedule; and (C) a budget justification that estimates the supplemental funding necessary to provide for incremental ongoing operating costs for the extended hours of service under such a program schedule for the current enrollment in the agency's Head Start programs. (2) Exceptions (A) Migrant and seasonal head start (i) In general A migrant and seasonal Head Start agency may apply for a grant described in subsection (a) without meeting the requirements specified in paragraph (1) to ensure continuous Head Start services are provided to children enrolled in a migrant and seasonal Head Start program. To be eligible to receive the grant, the agency shall submit an application at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. (ii) Priority In making grants to applicants described in clause (i), the Secretary shall give priority to a migrant and seasonal Head Start agency operating for fewer than 8 months per year. (B) Full-day, full-year head start agencies (i) In general A Head Start agency (including an Early Head Start agency) that certifies to the Secretary that it is meeting the full-day, full-year need within its community may apply for a grant to enhance the quality of services provided to children enrolled in its Head Start program (including its Early Head Start program) in accordance with subsection (c)(2). (ii) Application A Head Start agency (including Early Head Start agency) that meets the requirements of clause (i) shall submit an application, which shall include— (I) the proposed uses of funds in accordance with subsection (c)(2); and (II) how such uses of funds relate to the community-wide strategic planning and needs assessment described under section 640(g)(1)(C). (c) Use of funds (1) Extended duration A Head Start agency that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to cover the costs associated with extending those hours of service for the current enrollment, such as additional costs for— (A) the purchase, rental, renovation, and maintenance of additional facilities; (B) ongoing purchases of classroom supplies; (C) staff providing services during the extended hours; and (D) professional development to staff transitioning to providing services during the extended hours. (2) Enhancing program quality A Head Start agency (including an Early Head Start agency) that meets the requirements of subsection (a)(3) shall use funds for the activities authorized under section 640(a)(5)(B). (3) Exception The Head Start agency shall not use the grant funds to expand the number of children served in the Head Start program (including the Early Head Start program) of the agency. (d) Reservations (1) Activities From the total amount appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary shall— (A) for making grants for the activities described in subsection (c)(1)(A), reserve $4,000,000,000 of the funds appropriated for fiscal year 2026; and (B) for making grants for the activities described in any of subparagraphs (B) through (D) of subsection (c)(1), reserve— (i) $833,000,000 of the funds appropriated for fiscal year 2026; (ii) $852,000,000 of the funds appropriated for fiscal year 2027; and (iii) $872,000,000 of the funds appropriated for fiscal year 2028. (2) Priority The Secretary shall prioritize Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies) that are applying to use funds to carry out the activities described in subsection (a)(1). (3) Migrant or seasonal head start programs From the amount appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year and reserved under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall reserve 4.5 percent for migrant or seasonal Head Start programs. (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (1) $4,833,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; (2) $852,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and (3) $872,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Full school day; full school year The terms full school day and full school year mean such a day and year, respectively, within the meaning of the Head Start Program Performance standards issued under section 641A(a). (2) Migrant and seasonal Head Start agency The term migrant and seasonal Head Start agency means an agency that is funded under this subchapter to provide a migrant and seasonal Head Start program.. (b) Conforming Amendments Section 640 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(6), by striking appropriated under this subchapter each place it appears and inserting appropriated under section 639; and (2) in subsection (g)(3)(A)— (A) by striking amount appropriated each place it appears and inserting amount appropriated under section 639; (B) by striking services provided under this subchapter and inserting services provided under this subchapter (other than section 657C); and (C) by striking agency under this subchapter and inserting agency under this subchapter (other than section 657C).