S 206 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a program to help States expand the education system to include at least 1 year of early education preceding the year a child enters kindergarten.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 12, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mrs. BOXER introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a program to help States expand the education system to include at least 1 year of early education preceding the year a child enters kindergarten.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Early Education Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) A national commitment should be established that all children have access to high quality early education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Research suggests that a child’s early years are critical to the development of the brain. Early brain development is an important component of educational and intellectual achievement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences reported that early education opportunities are necessary if children are going to develop the language and literacy skills necessary to learn to read.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Evaluations of early education programs demonstrate that compared to children with similar backgrounds who have not participated in early education programs, children who participate in such programs--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) perform better on reading and mathematics achievement tests;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) are more likely to stay academically near their grade level and make normal academic progress throughout elementary school;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) are less likely to be held back a grade or require special education services in elementary school;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) show greater learning retention, initiative, creativity, and social competency; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) are more enthusiastic about school and are more likely to have good attendance records.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Studies have estimated that for every dollar invested in quality early education, about 7 dollars are saved in later costs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. EARLY EDUCATION.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘TITLE X--EARLY EDUCATIONCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 10001. EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM.

‘(a) Definition of Early Education- In this section, the term ‘early education’ means not less than a half-day of schooling each week day during the academic year preceding the academic year a child enters kindergarten.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Purpose- The purpose of this section is to establish a program to develop the foundation of early literacy and numerical training among young children by helping State educational agencies expand the education system to include early education for all children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Program Authorized-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary is authorized to award grants to not less than 10 State educational agencies to enable the State educational agencies to expand the education system with programs that provide early education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT- The amount provided to a State educational agency under paragraph (1) shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the program described in the application submitted pursuant to subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) REQUIREMENTS- Each program assisted under this section shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) be carried out by 1 or more local educational agencies, as selected by the State educational agency;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) be carried out--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) in a public school building; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) in another facility by, or through a contract or agreement with, a local educational agency carrying out the program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) be available to all children served by such local educational agency; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) only involve instructors who are licensed or certified in accordance with applicable State law.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Application- Each State educational agency desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. Each application shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) include a description of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the program to be assisted under this section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) how the program will meet the purpose of this section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) contain a statement of the total cost of the program and the source of the matching funds for the program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Secretarial Authority- In order to carry out the purpose of this section, the Secretary--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) shall establish a system for the monitoring and evaluation of, and shall annually report to Congress regarding, the programs funded under this section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) may establish any other policies, procedures, or requirements, with respect to the programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Supplement Not Supplant- Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal, State, or local funds, including funds provided under Federal programs such as the Head Start programs carried out under the Head Start Act and the Even Start family literacy program carried out under subpart 3 of part B of title I.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not less than $300,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘TITLE X--EARLY EDUCATION

‘Sec. 10001. Early education program.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink