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42 U.S. Code § 9844. Research, demonstrations, and evaluation
(a) In general
(1) Requirement; general purposesThe Secretary shall carry out a continuing program of research, demonstration, and evaluation activities, in order to—
(A)
foster continuous improvement in the quality of the Head Start programs under this subchapter and in their effectiveness in enabling participating children and their families to succeed in school and otherwise; and
(B)
use the Head Start programs to develop, test, and disseminate new ideas based on existing scientifically valid research, for addressing the needs of low-income preschool children (including children with disabilities, homeless children, children who have been abused or neglected, and children in foster care) and their families and communities (including demonstrations of innovative non-center-based program models such as home-based and mobile programs), and otherwise to further the purposes of this subchapter.
(2) Plan
The Secretary shall develop, and periodically update, a plan governing the research, demonstration, and evaluation activities under this section.
(b) Conduct of research, demonstration, and evaluation activitiesThe Secretary, in order to conduct research, demonstration, and evaluation activities under this section—
(1)
may carry out such activities directly, or through grants to, or contracts or cooperative agreements with, public or private entities;
(2)
shall, to the extent appropriate, undertake such activities in collaboration with other Federal agencies, and with non-Federal agencies, conducting similar activities;
(3)
shall ensure that evaluation of activities in a specific program or project is conducted by persons not directly involved in the operation of such program or project;
(4)
may require Head Start agencies to provide for independent evaluations;
(5)
may approve, in appropriate cases, community-based cooperative research and evaluation efforts to enable Head Start programs to collaborate with qualified researchers not directly involved in program administration or operation; and
(6)
may collaborate with organizations with expertise in inclusive educational strategies for preschoolers with disabilities.
(c) Consultation and collaborationIn carrying out activities under this section, the Secretary shall—
(1) consult with—
(A)
individuals from relevant academic disciplines;
(B)
individuals who are involved in the operation of Head Start programs and individuals who are involved in the operation of other child and family service programs; and
(C)
individuals from other Federal agencies, and individuals from organizations, involved with children and families, ensuring that the individuals described in this subparagraph reflect the multicultural nature of the children and families served by the Head Start programs and the multidisciplinary nature of the Head Start programs;
(2)
whenever feasible and appropriate, obtain the views of persons participating in and served by programs and projects assisted under this subchapter with respect to activities under this section; and
(3)
establish, to the extent appropriate, working relationships with the faculties of institutions of higher education, as defined in section 1001 of title 20, located in the area in which any evaluation under this section is being conducted, unless there is no such institution of higher education willing and able to participate in such evaluation.