Community eligibility pilot program

The Head Start Act is amended— (1) by redesignating section 657C (42 U.S.C. 9852c) as section 657G; and (2) by inserting after section 657B the following: 657C. Community eligibility pilot program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Community The term community means— (A) a city, county, or multicity or multicounty unit within a State; (B) an Indian reservation, including Indians in any off-reservation area designated by an appropriate Tribal government, in consultation with the Secretary; (C) an area served by a Native Hawaiian organization or Native Hawaiian educational organization; or (D) a neighborhood or other area (irrespective of boundaries or political subdivisions). (2) Covered agency The term covered agency means a Head Start agency, including an Early Head Start agency. (3) Covered program The term covered program means a Head Start program, including an Early Head Start program. (4) Pilot program The term pilot program means the pilot program established under subsection (b). (b) Establishment of community eligibility pilot programs (1) In general From amounts made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary shall provide authority and additional funds to a covered agency serving a local community of high poverty through a covered program to enable the covered agency to enroll all children within the age range served by the covered agency living in such community in the covered program, without regard to the eligibility criteria under section 645 or 645A, as applicable. (2) Number of participating agencies The Secretary shall select not more than 10 covered agencies to participate in the pilot program during the period of the pilot program. (c) Application A covered agency desiring to participate in the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (d) Considerations In approving applications for participation in the pilot program, the Secretary shall consider— (1) how the covered program supported under the pilot program will be meeting the needs of children in the local community served; (2) the demographics of the local community to be served; (3) various metrics for determining a high rate of poverty in a local community; (4) whether proposed outreach efforts to the local community served are linguistically and culturally inclusive; and (5) the plans of the covered agency for prioritizing children with the greatest need in the local community if the capacity of the covered agency or covered program is limited. (e) Technical assistance In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall provide technical assistance, training, and materials to covered agencies selected to participate in the pilot program. (f) Evaluation The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the pilot program to assess the effectiveness of the pilot program in— (1) meeting the needs of children and families not otherwise eligible for covered programs; (2) improving the identification of children from low-income backgrounds, children facing hardship, and children in local areas of high poverty; (3) reducing barriers to participation and enrollment in the covered program; (4) ensuring program quality and effectiveness in meeting the standards described in section 641A; and (5) providing or connecting families with services to support the health, mental health, educational, nutritional, and social needs of their children and themselves. (g) Reports The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate— (1) by not later than the date that is 2 years after the date on which the pilot program is implemented, a report containing information on the initial results of the pilot program, including the demographic and income data of children and families eligible and enrolled in covered programs under the pilot program; and (2) during the period beginning on the last day of the pilot program (including any extension authorized under subsection (h)) and ending on the date that is 2 years after such last day, a report containing recommendations to improve the identification of children and families eligible to participate in a covered program residing in local communities of high and persistent poverty. (h) Termination The pilot program carried out under this section (except with respect to the report described in subsection (g)(2)) shall cease to have effect on the last day of the 5-year period beginning on the day that the first grant is awarded under this section, except that the Secretary may elect to extend the pilot program for 1 additional period of not more than 3 years..