Research, demonstrations, and evaluation

Section 650 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844), as so redesignated, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting in consultation with the advisory panel established under subsection (g)(1) before the period at the end; (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking public or private entities and inserting other offices of the Department of Health and Human Services, such as the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, or public or private entities, such as the Institute of Education Sciences; (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); (ii) in subparagraph (B)— (I) by striking and after the semicolon; and (II) by striking programs and individuals and inserting the following: “programs; (C) individuals; (iii) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated— (I) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting; and; and (II) by striking other Federal agencies, and individuals and inserting the following: “other offices of the Department of Health and Human Services, such as the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, and other Federal agencies, such as the Institute of Education Sciences; (E) individuals; and (iv) by adding at the end the following: (F) Indian Tribes and representatives from Native American Head Start agencies;; and (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting and particularly minority-serving institutions, as defined in section 648(h)(5) after Higher Education Act of 1965; (4) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (6), by inserting, including models to simulate a control group before the semicolon at the end; (B) in paragraph (9), by striking and after the semicolon; (C) in paragraph (10)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking which include and all that follows through the semicolon and inserting on both children with disabilities and children without disabilities;; and (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (11) examine outreach, enrollment, and retention of eligible families in Head Start programs, including between Early Head Start and Head Start programs; (12) examine the processes through which Head Start programs respond to the needs of families and provide family support services; and (13) assess the drivers of workforce retention and turnover in early care and education, as it relates to teacher preparation, wages, benefits, and mental health supports.; (5) in subsection (g)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A)— (i) in clause (i), by striking of the Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998 and inserting of the Head Start for America's Children Act; and (ii) in clause (iii), by striking to comment, if the panel so desires, on and inserting to make recommendations for future research based on; (B) in paragraph (5)— (i) in subparagraph (A)(iii)(II), by striking enriches the lives of children and families participating in Head Start programs and inserting improves child and family health, well-being, and engagement of children in the Head Start programs and subsequent educational programming; (ii) in subparagraph (B)— (I) by striking on the date the participants leave Head Start programs, at the end of kindergarten and at the end of first grade (whether in public or private school),; and (II) by striking absenteeism; and inserting the following: “absenteeism— (i) on the date the participants leave the Head Start program; (ii) at the end of kindergarten; (iii) at the end of first grade; and (iv) during later academic years, which shall examine long-term academic performance, as appropriate;; (iii) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; (iv) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following: (C) as applicable, examines the impact of continued participation for children enrolled in both Early Head Start and Head Start programs;; and (v) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated— (I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting and models to simulate control groups after comparison groups; and (II) in clause (i), by striking day care and inserting child care; (C) in paragraph (6)— (i) in subparagraph (F)— (I) by inserting with respect to Head Start programs before the number; (II) by striking program (such as whether and inserting the following: “program, such as— (i) whether; (III) by striking a full-working-day, full calendar year program, and inserting a full-working-day program, a full calendar year program,; (IV) by striking); and and inserting; and; and (V) by adding at the end the following: (ii) increased operational service hours; and; and (ii) in subparagraph (G), by inserting, and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, disability status, age, and status as a child developing English proficiency after characteristics; and (D) in paragraph (7)(C)— (i) by striking September 30, 2009 and inserting September 30, 2027; and (ii) by striking and Labor and inserting and Workforce; (6) in subsection (h)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking Limited English proficient children and inserting Children who are developing English proficiency; (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 and inserting Head Start for America's Children Act; and (ii) by striking limited English proficient children and inserting children who are developing English proficiency; (C) in paragraph (2)— (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)— (I) by striking September 30, 2010 and inserting September 30, 2028; and (II) by striking and Labor and inserting and Workforce; (ii) in each of subparagraphs (A) and (B), by striking limited English proficient children and inserting children who are developing English proficiency; (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking limited English proficient children each place the term appears and inserting children who are developing English proficiency; (iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking limited English proficient children and inserting children who are developing English proficiency; (v) in subparagraph (F), by striking limited English proficient children each place the term appears and inserting children who are developing English proficiency; and (vi) in subparagraph (G), by striking limited English proficient children and inserting children who are developing English proficiency; (7) in subsection (i), by striking limited English proficient children and inserting children who are developing English proficiency; (8) in subsection (j), by striking limited English proficient each place the term appears and inserting developing English proficiency; (9) in subsection (k)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking Indian and inserting Native American; (B) by striking Indian Head Start programs each place the term appears and inserting Native American Head Start programs; (C) by striking American Indian and Alaska Native each place the term appears and inserting Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian; (D) in paragraph (1)— (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Indian Head Start collaboration director, and inserting Native American Head Start collaboration director, the Native American Head Start Advisory Committee established under paragraph (3),; (ii) in subparagraph (A)— (I) by striking focus on issues and inserting the following: “focus— (i) on issues; (II) by inserting linguistically and culturally before appropriate; (III) by striking Children; and inserting children; and; and (IV) by adding at the end the following: (ii) the implementation and effects of Native American Head Start programs, which shall include consultation with Indian Tribes, representatives of Native American Head Start agencies, and members of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian communities;; and (iii) in subparagraph (E)— (I) in clause (i), by striking American Indians and Alaska Natives and inserting Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians; and (II) in clause (ii), by striking tribal and inserting Tribal; (E) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively; (F) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) (A) establish an independent panel (to be known as the Native American Head Start Advisory Committee), which— (i) shall consist of representatives appointed by the Secretary from Native American Head Start programs, families served by Native American Head Start programs, and other appropriate entities, including Tribal governments, to review, and make recommendations on, the design and plan for the research carried out under paragraph (1); and (ii) shall not be subject to section 1013 of title 5, United States Code; and (B) in carrying out paragraph (1), consult with the Native American Head Start Advisory Committee and consider the Committee's recommendations;; (G) in each of paragraphs (4) and (5), as so redesignated, by striking effective date of this subsection and inserting date of enactment of the Head Start for America's Children Act; and (H) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by striking and Labor and inserting and Workforce; (10) in subsection (l)— (A) by striking Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 each place the term appears and inserting Head Start for America's Children Act; (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Advisory Committee established under paragraph (4), after Head Start programs,; (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking and after the semicolon; (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting; and; and (iv) by adding at the end the following: (C) undertake a study or set of studies designed to focus on the population eligible for migrant and seasonal Head Start programs, with a focus on issues such as availability and need for services, culturally appropriate research methodologies and measures for these populations, and best practices for teaching and educating children from farmworker families.; (C) in paragraph (3), by striking Education and Labor and inserting Education and Workforce; (D) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and (E) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) Migrant and seasonal head start advisory committee (A) Establishment The Secretary shall establish an independent panel (to be known as the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Advisory Committee)— (i) to review, and make recommendations on, the design and plan for the research conducted under paragraph (1); (ii) to maintain and advise the Secretary regarding the progress of the research; and (iii) to make recommendations for future research. (B) Membership The Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Advisory Committee shall consist of members appointed by the Secretary from— (i) Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs; (ii) families served by Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs; and (iii) other appropriate entities who specialize in serving the children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. (C) Non-expiration Section 1013 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Advisory Committee. (5) Consultation The Secretary shall, in carrying out activities described in paragraph (1), consult with the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Advisory Committee and consider the Committee's recommendations.; (11) in subsection (m)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking in the event and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting in the event of a large-scale emergency or other major disaster or emergency declared under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191).; and (B) in paragraph (3)— (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)— (I) by striking Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 and inserting Head Start for America's Children Act; and (II) by striking and Labor and inserting and Workforce; and (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking, including those that were developed in response to hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma; and (12) by adding at the end the following: (n) Discipline (1) References In this subsection, a reference to a Head Start program includes an Early Head Start program and a reference to a Head Start agency includes an Early Head Start agency. (2) Purpose The purpose of this subsection is to evaluate discipline practices of the Head Start programs and make recommendations for how Head Start programs shall reduce the overuse of discipline practices and improve the use of evidence-based strategies to support children. (3) Evaluation The Secretary shall evaluate Head Start programs in the use of discipline practices, including— (A) rates of suspensions of children; (B) rates of dismissal or replacement to another program; (C) rates of corporal punishment or physically abusive behavior, including physical restraint; (D) with respect to physical restraint imposed upon children— (i) the total number of such incidents; (ii) the total number of children upon whom such physical restraint was imposed; (iii) in a case in which such physical restraint was imposed more than twice on a child, the number of times such child was so restrained; and (iv) the total number of such incidents where the use of physical restraint is referred to law enforcement; and (E) rates of emotionally harmful or abusive behavior, including seclusion. (4) Disaggregation (A) In general The data collected and evaluated under paragraph (3) shall be disaggregated by— (i) each major racial and ethnic group; (ii) sex; (iii) status as an economically disadvantaged child; (iv) status as a children with a disability or as a child without a disability; and (v) status as a child developing English proficiency. (B) Physical restraint data With respect to the data collected under paragraph (3)(D) regarding the total number of incidents in which physical restraint was imposed upon a child, such data shall be disaggregated by— (i) incidents that resulted in injury; (ii) incidents that resulted in death; and (iii) incidents in which the program staff imposing physical restraint was not trained and certified by a State-approved crisis intervention training program. (5) Reports to Congress (A) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the Head Start for America's Children Act and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report containing the results of the evaluation required under paragraph (3). (B) Contents The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include— (i) an analysis of data related to the incidents in Head Start programs described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (3); (ii) an analysis of the effectiveness of Federal, State, and local efforts to eliminate seclusion and prevent and reduce the number of physical restraint incidents in Head Start programs; (iii) an identification of the types of programs and services that have demonstrated the greatest effectiveness in eliminating and preventing seclusion and preventing and reducing the number of physical restraint incidents in Head Start programs; (iv) an identification of evidence-based staff training models with demonstrated success in preventing seclusion and preventing and reducing the number of physical restraint incidents in Head Start programs, including models that emphasize positive behavioral interventions and supports and de-escalation techniques over physical intervention. (v) recommendations for improvements to Head Start programs on the use of discipline practices and the plan of the Secretary to implement such recommendations; (vi) an evaluation of evidence-based strategies to support children, including multi-tiered systems of support such as systems with positive behavioral interventions and supports, mental health supports, restorative justice programs, trauma-informed care, and crisis and de-escalation interventions in Head Start programs; (vii) an evaluation of staff training for such strategies; and (viii) an evaluation of procedures for Head Start agencies and the Secretary to coordinate with appropriate Federal, State, and local policies, programs, or activities regarding the overuse of discipline practices..