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``PART B--EVEN
START FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS``SEC. 1201. STATEMENT
OF PURPOSE.``It is the purpose of this part to help break
the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by improving the educational opportunities
of the Nation's low-income families by integrating early childhood education,
adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting education into
a unified family literacy program, to be referred to as `Even Start'.
The program shall--
- ``(1) be implemented through cooperative projects that build
on existing community resources to create a new range of services;
- ``(2) promote achievement of the National Education Goals;
and
- ``(3) assist children and adults from low-income families to
achieve to challenging State content standards and challenging State
student performance standards.
``SEC. 1203. STATE PROGRAMS.
- ``(a) State Level Activities.--Each State that receives a grant
under section 1202(d)(1) may use not more than 5 percent of the grant
funds for the costs of--
- ``(1) administration; and
- ``(2) providing, through one or more subgrants or contracts,
technical assistance for program improvement and replication, to eligible
entities that receive subgrants under subsection (b).
- ``(b) Subgrants for Local Programs.--
- ``(1) In general.--Each State shall use the grant funds received
under section 1202(d)(1) and not reserved under subsection (a) to award
subgrants to eligible entities to carry out Even Start programs.
- ``(2) Minimum.--No State shall award a subgrant under paragraph
(1) in an amount less than $75,000, except that a State may award one
subgrant in each fiscal year of sufficient size, scope, and quality
to be effective in an amount less than $75,000 if, after awarding subgrants
under paragraph (1) for such fiscal year in amounts of $75,000 or greater,
less than $75,000 is available to the State to award such subgrants.
``SEC. 1204. USES OF FUNDS
- ``(a) In General.--In carrying out an Even Start program under
this part, a recipient of funds under this part shall use such funds
to pay the Federal share of the cost of providing family-centered education
programs that involve parents and children, from birth through age seven,
in a cooperative effort to help parents become full partners in the
education of their children and to assist children in reaching their
full potential as learners.
- ``(b) Federal Share Limitation.--
- ``(1) In general.--
- ``(A) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Federal share
under this part may not exceed--
- ``(i) 90 percent of the total cost of the program in the first
year that such program receives assistance under this part or its predecessor
authority;
- ``(ii) 80 percent in the second such year;
- ``(iii) 70 percent in the third such year;
- ``(iv) 60 percent in the fourth such year; and
- ``(v) 50 percent in any subsequent such year.
- ``(B) The remaining cost of a program assisted under this part
may be provided in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated and may be obtained
from any source, including other Federal funds under this Act.
- ``(2) Waiver.--The State educational agency may waive, in whole
or in part, the cost-sharing requirement described in paragraph (1)
for an eligible entity if such entity--
- ``(A) demonstrates that such entity otherwise would not be
able to participate in the program assisted under this part; and
- ``(B) negotiates an agreement with the State educational agency
with respect to the amount of the remaining cost to which the waiver
will be applicable.
- ``(3) Prohibition.--Federal funds provided under this part
may not be used for the indirect costs of a program assisted under this
part, except that the Secretary may waive this paragraph if an eligible
recipient of funds reserved under section 1202(a)(1)(C) demonstrates
to the Secretary's satisfaction that such recipient otherwise would
not be able to participate in the program assisted under this part.
``SEC. 1205. PROGRAM ELEMENTS.``Each program assisted
under this part shall--
- ``(1) include the identification and recruitment of families
most in need of services provided under this part, as indicated by a
low level of income, a low level of adult literacy or English language
proficiency of the eligible parent or parents, and other need-related
indicators;
- ``(2) include screening and preparation of parents, including
teenage parents and children to enable such parents to participate fully
in the activities and services provided under this part, including testing,
referral to necessary counseling, other developmental and support services,
and related services;
- ``(3) be designed to accommodate the participants' work schedule
and other responsibilities, including the provision of support services,
when such services are unavailable from other sources, necessary for
participation in the activities assisted under this part, such as--
- ``(A) scheduling and locating of services to allow joint participation
by parents and children;
- ``(B) child care for the period that parents are involved in
the program provided under this part; and
- ``(C) transportation for the purpose of enabling parents and
their children to participate in programs authorized by this part;
- ``(4) include high-quality instructional programs that promote
adult literacy and empower parents to support the educational growth
of their children, developmentally appropriate early childhood educational
services, and preparation of children for success in regular school
programs;
- ``(5) include special training of staff, including child care
staff, to develop the skills necessary to work with parents and young
children in the full range of instructional services offered through
this part;
- ``(6) provide and monitor integrated instructional services
to participating parents and children through home-based programs;
- ``(7) operate on a year-round basis, including the provision
of some program services, instructional or enrichment, during the summer
months;
- ``(8) be coordinated with--
- ``(A) programs assisted under other parts of this title and
this Act;
- ``(B) any relevant programs under the Adult Education Act,
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Job Training
Partnership Act; and
- ``(C) the Head Start program, volunteer literacy programs,
and other relevant programs;
- ``(9) ensure that the programs will serve those families most
in need of the activities and services provided by this part; and
- ``(10) provide for an independent evaluation of the program.
``SEC. 1206. ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS.
- ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), eligible
participants in an Even Start program are--
- ``(1) a parent or parents--
- ``(A) who are eligible for participation in an adult basic
education program under the Adult Education Act; or
- ``(B) who are within the State's compulsory school attendance
age range, so long as a local educational agency provides (or ensures
the availability of) the basic education component required under this
part; and
- ``(2) the child or children, from birth through age seven,
of any individual described in paragraph (1).
- ``(b) Eligibility for Certain Other Participants.--
- ``(1) In general.--Family members of eligible participants
described in subsection (a) may participate in activities and services
provided under this part, when appropriate to serve the purpose of this
part.
- ``(2) Special rule.--Any family participating in a program
assisted under this part that becomes ineligible for such participation
as a result of one or more members of the family becoming ineligible
for such participation may continue to participate in the program until
all members of the family become ineligible for such participation,
which--
- ``(A) in the case of a family in which ineligibility was due
to the child or children of such family attaining the age of eight,
shall be in two years or when the parent or parents become ineligible
due to educational advancement, whichever occurs first; and
- ``(B) in the case of a family in which ineligibility was due
to the educational advancement of the parent or parents of such family,
shall be when all children in the family attain the age of eight.
``SEC. 1207. APPLICATIONS.
- ``(a) Submission.--To be eligible to receive a subgrant under
this part, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the State
educational agency in such form and containing or accompanied by such
information as the State educational agency shall require.
- ``(b) Required Documentation.--Each application shall include
documentation, satisfactory to the State educational agency, that the
eligible entity has the qualified personnel needed--
- ``(1) to develop, administer, and implement an Even Start program
under this part; and
- ``(2) to provide access to the special training necessary to
prepare staff for the program, which may be offered by an eligible organization.
- ``(c) Plan.--
- ``(1) In general.--Such application shall also include a plan
of operation for the program which shall include--
- ``(A) a description of the program goals;
- ``(B) a description of the activities and services that will
be provided under the program, including a description of how the program
will incorporate the program elements required by section 1205;
- ``(C) a description of the population to be served and an estimate
of the number of participants to be served;
- ``(D) as appropriate, a description of the applicant's collaborative
efforts with institutions of higher education, community-based organizations,
the State educational agency, private elementary schools, or other eligible
organizations in carrying out the program for which assistance is sought;
- ``(E) a statement of the methods that will be used--
- ``(i) to ensure that the programs will serve families most
in need of the activities and services provided by this part;
- ``(ii) to provide services under this part to individuals with
special needs, such as individuals with limited English proficiency
and individuals with disabilities; and
- ``(iii) to encourage participants to remain in the program
for a time sufficient to meet the program's purpose; and
- ``(F) a description of how the plan is integrated with other
programs under this Act, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, or other
Acts, as appropriate, consistent with section 14306.
- ``(2) Duration of the plan.--Each plan submitted under paragraph
(1)(A) shall--
- ``(A) remain in effect for the duration of the eligible entity's
participation under this part; and
- ``(B) be periodically reviewed and revised by the eligible
entity as necessary.
- ``(d) Consolidated Application.--The plan described in subsection
(c)(1)(F) may be submitted as part of a consolidated application under
section 14302.
``SEC. 1208. AWARD OF SUBGRANTS.
- ``(a) Selection Process.--
- ``(1) In general.--The State educational agency shall establish
a review panel in accordance with paragraph (3) that will approve applications
that--
- ``(A) are most likely to be successful in--
- ``(i) meeting the purpose of this part; and
- ``(ii) effectively implementing the program elements required
under section 1205;
- ``(B) demonstrate that the area to be served by such program
has a high percentage or a large number of children and families who
are in need of such services as indicated by high levels of poverty,
illiteracy, unemployment, limited-English proficiency, or other need-related
indicators, including a high percentage of children to be served by
the program who reside in a school attendance area eligible for participation
in programs under part A;
- ``(C) provide services for at least a three-year age range,
which may begin at birth;
- ``(D) demonstrate the greatest possible cooperation and coordination
between a variety of relevant service providers in all phases of the
program;
- ``(E) include cost-effective budgets, given the scope of the
application;
- ``(F) demonstrate the applicant's ability to provide the Federal
share required by section 1204(b);
- ``(G) are representative of urban and rural regions of the
State; and
- ``(H) show the greatest promise for providing models that may
be adopted by other local educational agencies.
- ``(2) Priority for subgrants.--The State educational agency
shall give priority for subgrants under this subsection to applications
that--
- ``(A) target services primarily to families described in paragraph
(1)(B); or
- ``(B) are located in areas designated as empowerment zones
or enterprise communities.
- ``(3) Review panel.--A review panel shall consist of at least
three members, including one early childhood professional, one adult
education professional, and one or more of the following individuals:
- ``(A) A representative of a parent-child education organization.
- ``(B) A representative of a community-based literacy organization.
- ``(C) A member of a local board of education.
- ``(D) A representative of business and industry with a commitment
to education.
- ``(E) An individual who has been involved in the implementation
of programs under this title in the State.
- ``(b) Duration.--
- ``(1) In general.--Subgrants under this part may be awarded
for a period not to exceed four years.
- ``(2) Startup period.--The State educational agency may provide
subgrant funds to an eligible recipient, at such recipient's request,
for a three- to six-month startup period during the first year of the
four-year grant period, which may include staff recruitment and training,
and the coordination of services, before requiring full implementation
of the program.
- ``(3) Continuing eligibility.--In awarding subgrant funds to
continue a program under this part for the second, third, or fourth
year, the State educational agency shall review the progress being made
toward meeting the objectives of the program after the conclusion of
the startup period, if any.
- ``(4) Insufficient progress.--The State educational agency
may refuse to award subgrant funds if such agency finds that sufficient
progress has not been made toward meeting such objectives, but only
after affording the applicant notice and an opportunity for a hearing.
- ``(5) Grant renewal.--
- ``(A) An eligible entity that has previously received a subgrant
under this part may reapply under this part for additional subgrants.
An eligible recipient may receive funds under this part for a period
not to exceed eight years.
- ``(B) The Federal share of any subgrant renewed under subparagraph
(A) shall not exceed 50 percent in any fiscal year.
``SEC. 1209. EVALUATION.``From funds reserved
under section 1202(b)(1), the Secretary shall provide for an independent
evaluation of programs assisted under this part--
- ``(1) to determine the performance and effectiveness of programs
assisted under this part; and
- ``(2) to identify effective Even Start programs assisted under this
part that can be duplicated and used in providing technical assistance
to Federal, State, and local programs.
``SEC. 1210. CONSTRUCTION.``Nothing in this part
shall be construed to prohibit a recipient of funds under this part from
serving students participating in Even Start simultaneously with students
with similar educational needs, in the same educational settings where
appropriate.
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