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42 U.S. Code § 9852b. Centers of Excellence in Early Childhood
(a) Definition
In this section, the term “center of excellence” means a Center of Excellence in Early Childhood designated under subsection (b).
(b) Designation and bonus grantsThe Secretary shall, subject to the availability of funds under this section, establish a program under which the Secretary shall—
(1)
designate not more than 200 exemplary Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies, Indian Head Start agencies, and migrant and seasonal Head Start agencies) as Centers of Excellence in Early Childhood; and
(2)
make bonus grants to the centers of excellence to carry out the activities described in subsection (d).
(c) Application and designation
(1) Application
(A) Nomination and submission
(i) In general
To be eligible to receive a designation as a center of excellence under subsection (b), except as provided in clause (ii), a Head Start agency in a State shall be nominated by the Governor of the State, after selection for nomination by such Governor through a competitive process, and shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(ii) Indian and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs
In the case of an Indian Head Start agency or a migrant or seasonal Head Start agency, to be eligible to receive a designation as a center of excellence under subsection (b), such an agency shall be nominated by the head of the appropriate regional office of the Department of Health and Human Services and shall submit an application to the Secretary in accordance with clause (i).
(B) ContentsAt a minimum, the application shall include—
(i)
evidence that the Head Start program carried out by the agency involved has significantly improved the school readiness of children who have participated in the program;
(ii)
evidence that the program meets or exceeds standards described in section 9836a(a)(1) of this title, as evidenced by the results of monitoring reviews described in section 9836a(c) of this title, and has no findings of deficiencies in the preceding 3 years;
(iii)
evidence that the program is making progress toward meeting the requirements described in section 9843a of this title;
(iv)
an assurance that the Head Start agency will develop a collaborative partnership with the State (or a State agency) and other providers of early childhood education and development programs and services in the local community involved to conduct activities under subsection (d);
(v)
a nomination letter from the Governor, or appropriate regional office, demonstrating the agency’s ability to provide the coordination, transition, and training services of the program to be carried out under the bonus grant involved, including coordination of activities with State and local agencies that provide early childhood education and development to children and families in the community served by the agency, and carry out the activities described under subsection (d)(1); and
(vi) a description of how the center involved, in order to expand accessibility and continuity of quality early childhood education and development services and programs, will coordinate activities, as appropriate, assisted under this section with—
(I)
programs carried out under subchapter II–B;
(II)
the Early Head Start programs carried out under section 9840a of this title;
(III)
preschool programs carried out under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.);
(IV)
programs carried out under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
(V)
State prekindergarten programs; and
(VI)
other programs of early childhood education and development.