Appendix A PL 110-134_Sec649

Head Start Health Managers Descriptive Study
Appendix A
Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-134),
Section 649 “Research, Demonstration, and Evaluation”

March 6, 2012

The full text of the Act can be accessed at
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/standards/Head%20Start%20Act/HS_ACT_PL_110-134.pdf

HEAD START ACT
(AS AMENDED DECEMBER 12, 2007)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Head Start
1b

HEAD START ACT as amended
42 USC 9801 et. seq.
Legislative Authority: Head Start Act, as amended.
U.S. Code Citation: 42 USC 9801 et. seq.
ACF Regulations: 45 CFR 1301 et. seq.
Legislative History:
The Head Start Act is Title VI, Subtitle A, Chapter 8, Subchapter B of the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1981, P.L. 97-35. Minor amendments to this Act were made by the TechnologyRelated Assistance for Individuals With Disabilities Amendments of 1993, P.L. 103-218. This Act
was reauthorized through fiscal year 2003 by the Coats Human Services Amendments of 1998, P.L.
105-285. This Act was most recently reauthorized by the Improving Head Start for School Readiness
Act of 2007, P.L. 110-134.
Note: This compilation was prepared by HHS staff who have striven to ensure it is complete and accurate.
However, this is not an official compilation and may not be completely free of error. Additions to the Head
Start Act originating from the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, Public Law 110134, appear in bold.
Sec. 635
Sec. 636
Sec. 637
Sec. 638
Sec. 639
Sec. 640
Sec. 641
Sec. 641A
Sec. 642
Sec. 642A
Sec. 642B
Sec. 643
Sec. 644
Sec. 645
Sec. 645A
Sec. 646
Sec. 647
Sec. 648
Sec. 648A
Sec. 649
Sec. 650
Sec. 653
Sec. 654
Sec. 655
Sec. 656
Sec. 657
Sec. 657A

SHORT TITLE ....................................................................................................................... 2
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE ................................................................................................ 2
DEFINITIONS ........................................................................................................................ 2
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HEAD START PROGRAMS ......................................... 8
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS ....................................................................... 8
ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS; LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE ......................................... 9
DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES ................................................................23
STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD START AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS. ......32
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES. .........................................47
HEAD START TRANSITION AND ALIGNMENT WITH K-12 EDUCATION. ..............61
HEAD START COLLABORATION; STATE EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE ..........63
SUBMISSION OF PLANS TO GOVERNORS ....................................................................70
ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS ...........................................71
PARTICIPATION IN HEAD START PROGRAMS ............................................................74
EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS. .................................................................................80
APPEALS, NOTICE, AND HEARING ................................................................................85
RECORDS AND AUDITS ....................................................................................................88
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING. .................................................................88
STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT ..........................................................99
RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUATION .............................................107
REPORTS ............................................................................................................................120
COMPARABILITY OF WAGES ........................................................................................123
NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISIONS ...........................................................................125
LIMITATION WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES ..................125
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ..................................................................................................125
ADVANCE FUNDING .......................................................................................................126
PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR NONEMERGENCY INTRUSIVE
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS...........................................................................................126
Sec. 657B CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD. ..............................................127
Sec. 657C GENERAL PROVISIONS. ..................................................................................................132
COMPLIANCE WITH IMPROPER PAYMENTS INFORMATION ACT OF 2002. ......................132
REFERENCES IN OTHER ACTS.....................................................................................................133

Head Start Act, as amended
(3) obtain-(A) a State, tribal, or Federal criminal record check covering all
jurisdictions where the grantee provides Head Start services to
children;
(B) a State, tribal, or Federal criminal record check as required by the
law of the jurisdiction where the grantee provides Head Start
services; or
(C) a criminal record check as otherwise required by Federal law.
Sec. 649. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUATION
[42 U.S.C. 9844]
(a) IN GENERAL.-(1) REQUIREMENT; GENERAL PURPOSES.--The Secretary shall carry out a
continuing program of research, demonstration, and evaluation activities, in order
to-(A) foster continuous improvement in the quality of the Head Start
programs under this subchapter and in their effectiveness in enabling
participating children and their families to succeed in school and
otherwise; and
(B) use the Head Start programs to develop, test, and disseminate new
ideas based on existing scientifically valid research, for addressing the
needs of low-income preschool children (including children with
disabilities, homeless children, children who have been abused or
neglected, and children in foster care) and their families and
communities (including demonstrations of innovative non-center-based
program models such as home-based and mobile programs), and otherwise
to further the purposes of this subchapter.
(2) PLAN.--The Secretary shall develop, and periodically update, a plan
governing the research, demonstration, and evaluation activities under this
section.
(b) CONDUCT OF RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATION, AND EVALUATION
ACTIVITIES.--The Secretary, in order to conduct research, demonstration, and
evaluation activities under this section-(1) may carry out such activities directly, or through grants to, or contracts or
cooperative agreements with, public or private entities;

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Head Start Act, as amended
(2) shall, to the extent appropriate, undertake such activities in collaboration with
other Federal agencies, and with non-Federal agencies, conducting similar
activities;
(3) shall ensure that evaluation of activities in a specific program or project is
conducted by persons not directly involved in the operation of such program or
project;
(4) may require Head Start agencies to provide for independent evaluations;
(5) may approve, in appropriate cases, community-based cooperative research and
evaluation efforts to enable Head Start programs to collaborate with qualified
researchers not directly involved in program administration or operation; and
(6) may collaborate with organizations with expertise in inclusive educational
strategies for preschoolers with disabilities.
(c) CONSULTATION AND COLLABORATION.--In carrying out activities under this
section, the Secretary shall-(1) consult with-(A) individuals from relevant academic disciplines;
(B) individuals who are involved in the operation of Head Start programs
and individuals who are involved in the operation of other child and
family service programs; and
(C) individuals from other Federal agencies, and individuals from
organizations, involved with children and families, ensuring that the
individuals described in this subparagraph reflect the multicultural nature
of the children and families served by the Head Start programs and the
multidisciplinary nature of the Head Start programs;
(2) whenever feasible and appropriate, obtain the views of persons participating in
and served by programs and projects assisted under this subchapter with respect to
activities under this section; and
(3) establish, to the extent appropriate, working relationships with the faculties of
institutions of higher education, as defined in section 1201(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141(a)), located in the area in which any
evaluation under this section is being conducted, unless there is no such
institution of higher education willing and able to participate in such evaluation.
(d) SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES.--The research, demonstration, and evaluation activities
under this subchapter shall include components designed to--

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Head Start Act, as amended
(1) permit ongoing assessment of the quality and effectiveness of the programs
under this subchapter;
(2) establish evaluation methods that measure the effectiveness and impact of
family literacy services program models, including models for the integration of
family literacy services with Head Start services;
(3) contribute to developing knowledge concerning factors associated with the
quality and effectiveness of Head Start programs and in identifying ways in which
services provided under this subchapter may be improved;
(4) assist in developing knowledge concerning the factors that promote or inhibit
healthy development and effective functioning of children and their families both
during and following participation in a Head Start program;
(5)(A) identify successful strategies that promote good oral health and
provide effective linkages to quality dental services through pediatric dental
referral networks, for infants and toddlers participating in Early Head Start
programs and children participating in other Head Start programs; and
(B) identify successful strategies that promote good vision health
through vision screenings for such infants, toddlers, and children, and
referrals for appropriate followup care for those identified as having a
vision problem;
(6) permit comparisons of children and families participating in Head Start
programs with children and families receiving other child care, early childhood
education, or child development services and with other appropriate control
groups;
(7) contribute to understanding the characteristics and needs of population groups
eligible for services provided under this subchapter and the impact of such
services on the individuals served and the communities in which such services are
provided;
(8) provide for disseminating and promoting the use of the findings from such
research, demonstration, and evaluation activities;
(9) promote exploration of areas in which knowledge is insufficient, and that will
otherwise contribute to fulfilling the purposes of this subchapter; and
(10)(A) contribute to understanding the impact of Head Start services
delivered in classrooms which include both children with disabilities and
children without disabilities, on all of the children; and
(B) disseminate promising practices for increasing the availability and
quality of such services and such classrooms.

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Head Start Act, as amended
(e) LONGITUDINAL STUDIES.--In developing priorities for research, demonstration,
and evaluation activities under this section, the Secretary shall give special consideration
to longitudinal studies that-(1) examine the developmental progress of children and their families both during
and following participation in a Head Start program, including the examination of
factors that contribute to or detract from such progress;
(2) examine factors related to improving the quality of the Head Start programs
and the preparation the programs provide for children and their families to
function effectively in schools and other settings in the years following
participation in such a program; and
(3) as appropriate, permit comparison of children and families participating in
Head Start programs with children and families receiving other early childhood
education and development services or programs, and with other appropriate
control groups.
(f) OWNERSHIP OF RESULTS.--The Secretary shall take necessary steps to ensure that
all studies, reports, proposals, and data produced or developed with Federal funds under
this subchapter shall become the property of the United States.
(g) NATIONAL HEAD START IMPACT RESEARCH.—
(1) EXPERT PANEL.-(A) IN GENERAL.--The Secretary shall appoint an independent panel
consisting of experts in program evaluation and research, education, and
early childhood programs-(i) to review, and make recommendations on, the design and plan
for the research (whether conducted as a single assessment or as a
series of assessments) described in paragraph (2), within 1 year
after the date of enactment of the Coats Human Services
Reauthorization Act of 1998;
(ii) to maintain and advise the Secretary regarding the progress of
the research; and
(iii) to comment, if the panel so desires, on the interim and final
research reports submitted under paragraph (7).
(B) TRAVEL EXPENSES.--The members of the panel shall not receive
compensation for the performance of services for the panel, but shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates
authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of
title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places
of business in the performance of services for the panel. Notwithstanding
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Head Start Act, as amended
section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may accept the
voluntary and uncompensated services of members of the panel.
(2) GENERAL AUTHORITY.--After reviewing the recommendations of the
expert panel, the Secretary shall make a grant to, or enter into a contract or
cooperative agreement with an organization to conduct independent research that
provides a national analysis of the impact of Head Start programs. The Secretary
shall ensure that the organization shall have expertise in program evaluation, and
research, education, and early childhood programs.
(3) DESIGNS AND TECHNIQUES.--The Secretary shall ensure that the research
uses rigorous methodological designs and techniques (based on the
recommendations of the expert panel), including longitudinal designs, control
groups, nationally recognized standardized measures, and random selection and
assignment, as appropriate. The Secretary may provide that the research shall be
conducted as a single comprehensive assessment or as a group of coordinated
assessments designed to provide, when taken together, a national analysis of the
impact of Head Start programs.
(4) PROGRAMS.--The Secretary shall ensure that the research focuses primarily
on Head Start programs that operate in the 50 States, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia and that do not specifically target special
populations.
(5) ANALYSIS.--The Secretary shall ensure that the organization conducting the
research-(A)(i) determines if, overall, the Head Start programs have impacts
consistent with their primary goal of increasing the social competence of
children, by increasing the everyday effectiveness of the children in
dealing with their present environments and future responsibilities, and
increasing their school readiness;
(ii) considers whether the Head Start programs-(I) enhance the growth and development of children in
cognitive, emotional, and physical health areas;
(II) strengthen families as the primary nurturers of their
children; and
(III) ensure that children attain school readiness; and
(iii) examines-(I) the impact of the Head Start programs on increasing
access of children to such services as educational, health,

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Head Start Act, as amended
and nutritional services, and linking children and families
to needed community services; and
(II) how receipt of services described in subclause (I)
enriches the lives of children and families participating in
Head Start programs;
(B) examines the impact of Head Start programs on participants 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), by
examining a variety of factors, including educational achievement,
referrals for special education or remedial course work, and absenteeism;
(C) makes use of random selection from the population of all Head Start
programs described in paragraph (4) in selecting programs for inclusion in
the research; and
(D) includes comparisons of individuals who participate in Head Start
programs with control groups (including comparison groups) composed
of-(i) individuals who participate in other early childhood programs
(such as public or private preschool programs and day care); and
(ii) individuals who do not participate in any other early childhood
program.
(6) CONSIDERATION OF SOURCES OF VARIATION.--In designing the
research, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, consider addressing
possible sources of variation in impact of Head Start programs, including
variations in impact related to such factors as-(A) Head Start program operations;
(B) Head Start program quality;
(C) the length of time a child attends a Head Start program;
(D) the age of the child on entering the Head Start program;
(E) the type of organization (such as a local educational agency or a
community action agency) providing services for the Head Start program;
(F) the number of hours and days of program operation of the Head Start
program (such as whether the program is a full-working-day, full calendar
year program, a part-day program, or a part-year program); and

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Head Start Act, as amended
(G) other characteristics and features of the Head Start program (such as
geographic location, location in an urban or a rural service area, or
participant characteristics), as appropriate.
(7) REPORTS
(A) SUBMISSION OF INTERIM REPORTS.--The organization shall
prepare and submit to the Secretary two interim reports on the research.
The first interim report shall describe the design of the research, and the
rationale for the design, including a description of how potential sources
of variation in impact of Head Start programs have been considered in
designing the research. The second interim report shall describe the status
of the research and preliminary findings of the research, as appropriate.
(B) SUBMISSION OF FINAL REPORT.--The organization shall prepare
and submit to the Secretary a final report containing the findings of the
research.
(C) TRANSMITTAL OF REPORT TO CONGRESS- Not later than
September 30, 2009, the Secretary shall transmit the final report to
the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate.
(8) DEFINITION.--In this subsection, the term 'impact', used with respect to a
Head Start program, means a difference in an outcome for a participant in the
program that would not have occurred without the participation in the program.
(h) Limited English Proficient Children(1) STUDY- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the
Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, the Secretary shall
conduct a study on the status of limited English proficient children and their
families participating in Head Start programs (including Early Head Start
programs).
(2) REPORT- The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, not later than
September 30, 2010, a report containing the results of the study, including
information on-(A) the demographics of limited English proficient children from
birth through age 5, including the number of such children receiving
Head Start services and Early Head Start services, and the geographic
distribution of children described in this subparagraph;

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Head Start Act, as amended
(B) the nature of the Head Start services and of the Early Head Start
services provided to limited English proficient children and their
families, including the types, content, duration, intensity, and costs of
family services, language assistance, and educational services;
(C) procedures in Head Start programs and Early Head Start
programs for the assessment of language needs and the transition of
limited English proficient children to kindergarten, including the
extent to which such programs meet the requirements of section 642A
for limited English proficient children;
(D) the qualifications and training provided to Head Start teachers
and Early Head Start teachers who serve limited English proficient
children and their families;
(E) the languages in which Head Start teachers and Early Head Start
teachers are fluent, in relation to the population, and instructional
needs, of the children served;
(F) the rate of progress made by limited English proficient children
and their families in Head Start programs and in Early Head Start
programs, including-(i) the rate of progress made by limited English proficient
children toward meeting the additional educational standards
described in section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii) while enrolled in such
programs;
(ii) a description of the type of assessment or assessments used
to determine the rate of progress made by limited English
proficient children;
(iii) the correlation between such progress and the type and
quality of instruction and educational programs provided to
limited English proficient children; and
(iv) the correlation between such progress and the health and
family services provided by such programs to limited English
proficient children and their families; and
(G) the extent to which Head Start programs and Early Head Start
programs make use of funds under section 640(a)(2)(D) to improve
the quality of such services provided to limited English proficient
children and their families.
(i) Research and Evaluation Activities Relevant to Diverse
Communities- For purposes of conducting the study described
in subsection (h), activities described in section 640(l)(5)(A),
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Head Start Act, as amended
and other research and evaluation activities relevant to limited
English proficient children and their families, migrant and
seasonal farmworker families, and other families from diverse
populations served by Head Start programs, the Secretary
shall award, on a competitive basis, funds from amounts made
available under section 640(a)(2)(D) to 1 or more organizations
with a demonstrated capacity for serving and studying the
populations involved.
(j) Review of Assessments(1) APPLICATION OF STUDY- When the study on Developmental
Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children by the National
Academy of Sciences is made available to the Secretary, the Secretary
shall-(A) integrate the results of the study, as appropriate and in
accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3), into each assessment
used in Head Start programs; and
(B) use the results of the study to develop, inform, and revise as
appropriate the standards and measures described in section
641A, consistent with section 641A(a)(2)(C)(ii).
(2) INFORM AND REVISE- In informing and revising any
assessment used in the Head Start programs, the Secretary shall-(A) receive recommendations from the Panel on
Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children
of the National Academy of Sciences; and
(B) with respect to the development or refinement of such
assessment, ensure-(i) consistency with relevant, nationally recognized
professional and technical standards;
(ii) validity and reliability for all purposes for which
assessments under this subchapter are designed and
used;
(iii) developmental and linguistic appropriateness of
such assessments for children assessed, including
children who are limited English proficient; and
(iv) that the results can be used to improve the quality
of, accountability of, and training and technical
assistance in, Head Start programs.
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Head Start Act, as amended
(3) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS- The Secretary, in carrying out
the process described in paragraph (2), shall ensure that—
(A) staff administering any assessments under this subchapter
have received appropriate training to administer such
assessments;
(B) appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities
and children who are limited English proficient are made;
(C) the English and Spanish (and any other language, as
appropriate) forms of such assessments are valid and reliable
in the languages in which they are administered; and
(D) such assessments are not used to exclude children from
Head Start programs.
(4) SUSPENDED IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL
REPORTING SYSTEM- The Secretary shall suspend implementation
and terminate further development and use of the National Reporting
System.
(k) Indian Head Start Study- The Secretary shall-(1) work in collaboration with the Head Start agencies that carry out
Indian Head Start programs, the Indian Head Start collaboration
director, and other appropriate entities, including tribal governments
and the National Indian Head Start Directors Association-(A) to undertake a study or set of studies designed to focus on
the American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start-eligible
population, with a focus on issues such as curriculum
development, availability and need for services, appropriate
research methodologies and measures for these populations,
and best practices for teaching and educating American Indian
and Alaska Native Head Start Children;
(B) to accurately determine the number of children nationwide
who are eligible to participate in Indian Head Start programs
each year;
(C) to document how many of these children are receiving
Head Start services each year;
(D) to the extent practicable, to ensure that access to Indian
Head Start programs for eligible children is comparable to
access to other Head Start programs for other eligible
children; and
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Head Start Act, as amended
(E) to make the funding decisions required in section
640(a)(4)(D)(ii), after completion of the studies required in that
section, taking into account:
(i) the Federal government's unique trust responsibility
to American Indians and Alaska Natives;
(ii) limitations faced by tribal communities in accessing
non-Federal sources of funding to supplement Federal
funding for early childhood programs; and
(iii) other factors that uniquely and adversely impact
children in American Indian and Alaska Native
communities such as highly elevated poverty,
unemployment and violent crime rates, as well as
depressed levels of educational achievement and limited
access to non-Federal health, social and educational
resources;
(2) in carrying out paragraph (1), consult with the Secretary of
Education about the Department of Education's systems for collecting
and reporting data about, and maintaining records on, American
Indian and Alaska Native students;
(3) not later than 9 months after the effective date of this subsection,
publish in the Federal Register a notice of how the Secretary plans to
carry out paragraph (1) and shall provide a period for public
comment. To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider
comments received before submitting a report to the Congress;
(4) not later than 1 year after the effective date of this subsection,
submit a report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, detailing how the Department of
Health and Human Services plans to carry out paragraph (1);
(5) through regulation, ensure the confidentiality of any personally
identifiable data, information, and records collected or maintained by
the Secretary, by Head Start agencies that carry out Indian Head
Start programs, and by State Directors of Head Start Collaboration,
by the Indian Head Start Collaboration Project Director and by other
appropriate entities pursuant to this subsection (such regulations shall
provide the policies, protections, and rights equivalent to those
provided a parent, student, or educational agency or institution under
section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act.); and

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Head Start Act, as amended
(6) ensure that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
authorize the development of a nationwide database of personally
identifiable information on individuals involved in studies or other
collections of data under this subsection.
(l) Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Program Study(1) DATA- In order to increase access to Head Start services for
children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers, the Secretary shall
work in collaboration with providers of migrant and seasonal Head
Start programs, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor,
the Bureau of Migrant Health, and the Secretary of Education to-(A) collect, report, and share data, within a coordinated
system, on children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers and
their families, including health records and educational
documents of such children, in order to adequately account for
the number of children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers
who are eligible for Head Start services and determine how
many of such children receive the services; and
(B) identify barriers that prevent children of migrant and
seasonal farmworkers who are eligible for Head Start services
from accessing Head Start services, and develop a plan for
eliminating such barriers, including certain requirements
relating to tracking, health records, and educational
documents, and increasing enrollment.
(2) PUBLICATION OF PLAN- Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of
2007, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice
about how the Secretary plans to implement the activities identified in
paragraph (1) and shall provide a period for public comment. To the
extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider comments received
before implementing any of the activities identified in paragraph (1).
(3) REPORT- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of
the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, and
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate detailing how the Secretary plans to implement the activities
identified in paragraph (1), including the progress made in reaching
out to and serving eligible children of migrant and seasonal
farmworkers, and information on States where such children are still
underserved.

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Head Start Act, as amended
(4) PROTECTION OF CONFIDENTIALITY- The Secretary shall,
through regulation, ensure the protection of the confidentiality of any
personally identifiable data, information, and records collected or
maintained by the Secretary, by Head Start agencies that carry out
migrant or seasonal Head Start programs, by the State director of
Head Start Collaboration, and by the Migrant and Seasonal
Farmworker Collaboration project Director (such regulations shall
provide the policies, protections, and rights equivalent to those
provided a parent, student, or educational agency or institution under
section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C.
1232g)).
(5) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to authorize the development of a nationwide database of
personally identifiable data, information, or records on individuals
involved in studies or other collections of data under this subsection.
(m) Program Emergency Preparedness(1) PURPOSE- The purpose of this subsection is to evaluate the
emergency preparedness of the Head Start programs, including Early
Head Start programs, and make recommendations for how Head
Start shall enhance its readiness to respond to an emergency.
(2) STUDY- The Secretary shall evaluate the Federal, State, and local
preparedness of Head Start programs, including Early Head Start
programs, to respond appropriately in the event of a large-scale
emergency, such as the hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, or other incidents where
assistance may be warranted under the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).
(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS- Not later than 18 months after the
date of the enactment of the Improving Head Start for School
Readiness Act of 2007, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to
Committee on Education and Labor 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 (2), including-(A) recommendations for improvements to Federal, State, and local
preparedness and response capabilities to large-scale emergencies, including
those that were developed in response to hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and
Wilma, as they relate to Head Start programs, including Early Head Start
programs, and the Secretary's plan to implement such recommendations;

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Head Start Act, as amended
(B) an evaluation of the procedures for informing families of children in
Head Start programs about the program protocols for response to a largescale emergency, including procedures for communicating with such families
in the event of a large-scale emergency;
(C) an evaluation of such procedures for staff training on State and local
evacuation and emergency protocols; and
(D) an evaluation of procedures for Head Start agencies and the Secretary to
coordinate with appropriate Federal, State, and local emergency
management agencies in the event of a large scale emergency and
recommendations to improve such procedures.
Sec. 650. REPORTS
[42 U.S.C. §9846]
(a) STATUS OF CHILDREN.--At least once during every 2-year period, the Secretary
shall prepare and submit, to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate, a report concerning the status of children (including children with disabilities,
limited English proficient children, homeless children, children in foster care, and
children participating in Indian Head Start programs and migrant or seasonal Head
Start programs) in Head Start programs, including the number of children and the
services being provided to such children. Such report shall include-(1) a statement for the then most recently concluded fiscal year specifying-(A) the amount of funds received by Head Start agencies designated under
section 641 to provide Head Start services in a period before such fiscal
year; and
(B) the amount of funds received by Head Start agencies newly designated
under section 641 to provide such services in such fiscal year;
(2) a description of the distribution of Head Start services relative to the
distribution of children who are eligible to participate in Head Start programs,
including geographic distribution within States, and information on the number
of children served under this subsection, disaggregated by type of eligibility
criterion;
(3) a statement identifying how funds made available under section 640(a) were
distributed and used at national, regional, and local levels;
(4) a statement specifying the amount of funds provided by the State, and by local
sources, to carry out Head Start programs;
(5) cost per child and how such cost varies by region;

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