EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES WITH INFANTS AND TODDLERS.

SEC. 113. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES WITH INFANTS AND TODDLERS. Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840a) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by inserting “early head start” before “program for”; (2) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking “; and” and inserting a period; (B) by striking paragraph (2); and (C) by striking “for—” and all that follows through “(1)” and inserting “for”; (3) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (5), by inserting “(including programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities)” after “community”; (B) in paragraph (7), by striking “and” at the end; (C) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9); and (D) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following: “(8) ensure formal linkages with the agencies and entities described in section 644(b) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1444(b)) and providers of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.); and”; (4) in subsection (c)— 112 STAT. 2720 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “subsection (a)(1)” and inserting “subsection (a)”; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking “3 (or under” and all that follows and inserting “3;”; (5) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (1), by adding “and” at the end; (B) by striking paragraph (2); (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and (D) in paragraph (2), as redesignated in subparagraph (C), by inserting “or for–profit” after “nonprofit”; (6) by striking subsection (e); (7) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively; (8) in subsection (e) (as redesignated in paragraph (7))— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking “Other ”; and (B) by striking “From the balance remaining of the portion specified in section 640(a)(6), after making grants to the eligible entities specified in subsection (e),” and inserting “From the portion specified in section 640(a)(6),”; (9) by striking subsection (h); and (10) by adding at the end the following: “(g) Monitoring, Training, Technical Assistance, and Evaluation.— “(1) Requirement.—In order to ensure the successful operation of programs assisted under this section, the Secretary shall use funds from the portion specified in section 640(a)(6) to monitor the operation of such programs, evaluate their effectiveness, and provide training and technical assistance tailored to the particular needs of such programs. “(2) Training and Technical Assistance Account.— “(A) In General.—Of the amount made available to carry out this section for any fiscal year, not less than 5 percent and not more than 10 percent shall be reserved to fund a training and technical assistance account. “(B) Activities.—Funds in the account may be used by the Secretary for purposes including— “(i) making grants to, and entering into contracts with, organizations with specialized expertise relating to infants, toddlers, and families and the capacity needed to provide direction and support to a national training and technical assistance system, in order to provide such direction and support; “(ii) providing ongoing training and technical assistance for regional and program staff charged with monitoring and overseeing the administration of the program carried out under this section; “(iii) providing ongoing training and technical assistance for existing recipients (as of the date of such training or assistance) of grants under subsection (a) and support and program planning and implementation assistance for new recipients of such grants; and “(iv) providing professional development and personnel enhancement activities, including the provision of funds to recipients of grants under subsection 112 STAT. 2721(a) for the recruitment and retention of qualified staff with an appropriate level of education and experience.”.