Headstart Act

Summary

Headstart Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) continue the administrative arrangement responsible for meeting the needs of migrant and Indian children; and (2) assure that appropriate funding is provided to meet such needs. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to eligible agencies for the planning, conduct, administration, and evaluation of a Headstart program focused primarily on preschool age children from low-income families. Requires that such program provide: (1) comprehensive health, nutritional, educational, social, and other services; and (2) for direct participation, at the local level, of parents in the overall program. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1982 through 1984. Allots 78 percent of the total appropriation to the States. Distributes one-third of such allotment on the basis of the relative number of children up to age five in families receiving payments under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, and two- thirds on the basis of the relative number of children up to age five in families below the poverty line. Reserves 20 percent (or 15 percent once appropriations reach a specified level) of the total appropriation for use according to the following order of priorities: (1) giving equal funding consideration to Indian and migrant Headstart programs and to services for handicapped children, but maintaining Indian and migrant programs at specified levels; (2) maintaining payments to each State or territory at specified levels; (3) training and technical assistance activities sufficient for program expansion and improvement; and (4) additional assistance to a State if its allotment for a fiscal year is below a specified level. Reserves two percent of the total appropriation for allotment among specified U.S. territories and possessions and for additional assistance to States below a specified level. Limits financial assistance for a Headstart program under this Act to 80 percent of the approved costs, with such exceptions as the Secretary may determine. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring non-Federal contributions greater than 20 percent of such costs. Requires that approved programs provide services in addition to, and not in substitution for, comparable services previously provided without Federal assistance. Directs the Secretary to establish policies and procedures to assure that for fiscal year 1976 and thereafter at least ten percent of total enrollment opportunities in Headstart programs in each State shall be available for handicapped children and that services to meet their special needs shall be provided. Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on the status of handicapped children in the Headstart programs. Directs the Secretary to assure equitable distribution of the benefits of this Act to rural and urban residents. Authorizes the Secretary to designate as a Headstart agency any local public or private nonprofit agency which: (1) has power and authority to carry out certain functions within a community; and (2) can plan, conduct, administer, and evaluate a Headstart program. Directs the Secretary to: (1) give priority to agencies already receiving Headstart program funds or operating Headstart programs; and (2) continue to involve parents and area residents in selection of such agencies. Sets forth the powers and functions of Headstart agencies. Requires that plans setting forth a proposed contract, agreement, grant, or other assistance for a Headstart program be submitted to the appropriate State Governor. Requires that the Secretary reconsider any plan disapproved by a Governor. Permits assistance for such plan if it is found to be fully consistent with the purposes of this Act. Exempts assistance to institutions of higher education from such review by a Governor. Sets forth administrative requirements and standards for each Headstart agency. Directs the Secretary to prescribe eligibility criteria for participation in Headstart programs, including children from families below the poverty line and others who would benefit. Requires, whenever a program is operated in a community with less than 1,000 population and certain conditions exist, that such program establish eligibility criteria. Prohibits the Secretary from charging any fees for participation in Headstart programs. Directs the Secretary to prescribe procedures for appeal, notice, and hearings relating to denials or delays of delegate agency status or for suspensions or terminations of financial assistance. Sets forth provisions for record keeping by, and audits of, Headstart agencies. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance and training for Headstart programs. Authorizes the Secretary to assist research, demonstration, and pilot projects to further the purposes of this Act. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish an overall plan to govern the approval and use of such projects; (2) make a public announcement concerning contracts for, and results of, such projects; (3) assure that all project studies, proposals, and data become U.S. property; and (4) publish summaries of results and submit these to the appropriate Congressional committees. Sets forth provisions for the evaluation of Headstart programs, with the assistance of university faculty in the appropriate State. Directs the Secretary to: (1) publish the results and summaries of evaluative research and to submit these to the appropriate Congressional committees; and (2) assure that products of such evaluation become U.S. property. Provides for annual revision of the poverty line used as a criterion of eligibility for Headstart program participation. Sets forth provisions for comparability of wages for those employed in Headstart programs with those paid for substantially comparable services. Sets forth nondiscrimination provisions. Prohibits employees of agencies assisted under this Act, pursuant to or during performance of services so assisted, from aiding in the conduct of any unlawful demonstration, rioting, or civil disturbance. Sets forth prohibitions against specified political activities involving Headstart programs. Sets forth provisions for advance funding of programs under this Act.

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Documents

2 official files

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 20 July 1981

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 30 April 1981

  Open at official source

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