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Head Start Improvement Act

USA117th CongressS-1153| Senate 
| Updated: 4/15/2021
Mike Lee

Mike Lee

Republican Senator

Utah

Cosponsors (4)
Tommy Tuberville (Republican)Rick Scott (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)James M. Inhofe (Republican)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Head Start Improvement Act This bill replaces the existing Head Start program with block grants to states and Indian tribes for prekindergarten (pre-K) education. Instead of providing direct financial assistance to Head Start agencies, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall allot block grant funds for pre-K education among eligible states and tribes in accordance with their relative proportions of children, age three, four, or five, from low-income households. Grant recipients shall use the grant funds to (1) award subgrants to eligible entities that provide pre-K education programs; (2) administer such programs; and (3) provide technical assistance, oversight, monitoring, research, and training. Under current law, HHS is authorized to designate, monitor, and establish standards for Head Start agencies. The bill instead shifts pre-K program oversight and control to states and tribes. In addition, to the extent permitted under state law, grant recipients may use grant funds to establish (1) portable voucher systems that allow costs to be paid for attendance at private pre-K education programs; and (2) an education savings account that allows a parent of a low-income child to use a portion of the grant funds, or other available public or private funds added to the account, for expenses related to pre-K education. Under current law, federal financial assistance for a Head Start program is generally limited to 80% of total program costs. The bill maintains this limitation by requiring grant recipients to provide matching funds equal to 20% of the grant amount.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2996
Head Start Improvement Act of 2019
Apr 15, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-2560
Introduced in House
Apr 15, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Apr 15, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2996
    Head Start Improvement Act of 2019


  • April 15, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-2560
    Introduced in House


  • April 15, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 15, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Education

Related Bills

  • HR 117-2560: Head Start Improvement Act
Congressional oversightEducation of the disadvantagedEducation programs fundingGovernment studies and investigationsPreschool education

Head Start Improvement Act

USA117th CongressS-1153| Senate 
| Updated: 4/15/2021
Head Start Improvement Act This bill replaces the existing Head Start program with block grants to states and Indian tribes for prekindergarten (pre-K) education. Instead of providing direct financial assistance to Head Start agencies, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall allot block grant funds for pre-K education among eligible states and tribes in accordance with their relative proportions of children, age three, four, or five, from low-income households. Grant recipients shall use the grant funds to (1) award subgrants to eligible entities that provide pre-K education programs; (2) administer such programs; and (3) provide technical assistance, oversight, monitoring, research, and training. Under current law, HHS is authorized to designate, monitor, and establish standards for Head Start agencies. The bill instead shifts pre-K program oversight and control to states and tribes. In addition, to the extent permitted under state law, grant recipients may use grant funds to establish (1) portable voucher systems that allow costs to be paid for attendance at private pre-K education programs; and (2) an education savings account that allows a parent of a low-income child to use a portion of the grant funds, or other available public or private funds added to the account, for expenses related to pre-K education. Under current law, federal financial assistance for a Head Start program is generally limited to 80% of total program costs. The bill maintains this limitation by requiring grant recipients to provide matching funds equal to 20% of the grant amount.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2996
Head Start Improvement Act of 2019
Apr 15, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-2560
Introduced in House
Apr 15, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Apr 15, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2996
    Head Start Improvement Act of 2019


  • April 15, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-2560
    Introduced in House


  • April 15, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 15, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mike Lee

Mike Lee

Republican Senator

Utah

Cosponsors (4)
Tommy Tuberville (Republican)Rick Scott (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)James M. Inhofe (Republican)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Education

Related Bills

  • HR 117-2560: Head Start Improvement Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightEducation of the disadvantagedEducation programs fundingGovernment studies and investigationsPreschool education