42 U.S.C. § 9831 - Statement of purpose

• Cite as: 42 U.S.C. § 9831

It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote the school readiness of low-income children by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development-

(1) in a learning environment that supports children's growth in language, literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional functioning, creative arts, physical skills, and approaches to learning; and

(2) through the provision to low-income children and their families of health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services that are determined, based on family needs assessments, to be necessary.

Cite as 42 U.S.C. § 9831

Source: Pub. L. 97-35, title VI, §636, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 499; Pub. L. 101-501, title I, §102, Nov. 3, 1990, 104 Stat. 1224; Pub. L. 105-285, title I, §102, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2703; Pub. L. 110-134, §2, Dec. 12, 2007, 121 Stat. 1363.

Notes from the Office of Law Revision Counsel

current through 1/4/2022

EDITORIAL NOTES

AMENDMENTS

2007- Pub. L. 110-134 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income children through the provision, to low-income children and their families, of health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services that are determined, based on family needs assessments, to be necessary."

1998- Pub. L. 105-285 amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

"(a) In recognition of the role which Project Head Start has played in the effective delivery of comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services to economically disadvantaged children and their families, it is the purpose of this subchapter to extend the authority for the appropriation of funds for such program.

"(b) In carrying out the provisions of this subchapter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall continue the administrative arrangement responsible for meeting the needs of migrant, non-English language background, and Indian children and shall assure that appropriate funding is provided to meet such needs."

1990-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101-501 inserted ", non-English language background," after "migrant".

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1990 AMENDMENT

Amendment by Pub. L. 101-501 effective Oct. 1, 1990, see section 1001(a) of Pub. L. 101-501 set out as a note under section 8621 of this title.

SHORT TITLE

For short title of this subchapter as the "Head Start Act", see section 635 of Pub. L. 97-35 set out as a note under section 9801 of this title.

PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

Pub. L. 114-95, title IX, §92129212,, 129 Stat. 2152, provided that:

"(a) PURPOSES.-The purposes of this section are-

"(1) to assist States to develop, update, or implement a strategic plan that facilitates collaboration and coordination among existing programs of early childhood care and education in a mixed delivery system across the State designed to prepare low-income and disadvantaged children to enter kindergarten and to improve transitions from such system into the local educational agency or elementary school that enrolls such children, by-

"(A) more efficiently using existing Federal, State, local, and non-governmental resources to align and strengthen the delivery of existing programs;

"(B) coordinating the delivery models and funding streams existing in the State's mixed delivery system; and

"(C) developing recommendations to better use existing resources in order to improve-

"(i) the overall participation of children in a mixed delivery system of Federal, State, and local early childhood education programs;

"(ii) program quality while maintaining availability of services;

"(iii) parental choice among existing programs; and

"(iv) school readiness for children from low-income and disadvantaged families, including during such children's transition into elementary school;

"(2) to encourage partnerships among Head Start providers, State and local governments, Indian tribes and tribal organizations, private entities (including faith- and community-based entities), and local educational agencies, to improve coordination, program quality, and delivery of services; and

"(3) to maximize parental choice among a mixed delivery system of early childhood education program providers.

"(b) DEFINITIONS.-In this section:

"(1) ESEA DEFINITIONS.-The terms 'elementary school', 'local educational agency', and 'State' have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [ 20 U.S.C. 7801 ].

"(2) CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.-The term 'Center of Excellence in Early Childhood' means a Center of Excellence in Early Childhood designated under section 657B(b) of the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9852b(b) ).

"(3) EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM.-The term 'early childhood education program' has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1003 ).

"(4) EXISTING PROGRAM.-The term 'existing program' means a Federal, State, local, or privately-funded early childhood education program that-

"(A) was operating in the State on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 10, 2015]; or

"(B) began operating in the State at any time on or after the date of enactment of this Act through funds that were not provided by a grant under this section.