Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 1.djvu/657

 PUBLIC LAW 103-252—MAY 18, 1994 108 STAT. 631 (d) CONFORMING AMENDMENT. —Section 641 (42 U.S.C. 9836) is amended— (1) by striking subsection (f); and (2) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (f). SEC. 108. MONITORING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE. The Act is amended by inserting after section 641 (42 U.S.C. 9836) the following new section: "SEC. 641A. QUALITY STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD START AGEN- Regulations. CIES AND PROGRAMS. 42 USC 9836a. "(a) QUALITY STANDARDS. — "(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS. —The Secretary shall establish by regulation standards applicable to Head Start agencies, programs, and projects under this subchapter, including— "(A) performance standards with respect to services required to be provided, including health, education, parental involvement, nutritional, social, transition activities described in section 642(d), and other services; "(B) administrative and financial meinagement standards; "(C) standards relating to the condition and location of facilities for such agencies, programs, and projects; and "(D) such other standards as the Secretary finds to be appropriate. "(2) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—The regulations promulgated under this subsection shall establish the minimum levels of overall accomplishment that a Head Start agency shall achieve in order to meet the standards specified in paragraph (1). "(3) CONSIDERATIONS IN DEVELOPING STANDARDS.— In developing the regulations required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— "(A) consult with experts in the fields of child development, early childhood education, child health care, family services (including linguistically and culturally appropriate services to non-English language background children and their families), administration, and financial management, and with persons with experience in the operation of Head Start programs; "(B) take into consideration— "(i) past experience with use of the standards in effect under this subchapter on the date of enactment of this section; "(ii) changes over the period since the date of enactment of this Act in the circumstances and problems typically facing children and families served by Head Start agencies; "(iii) developments concerning best practices with respect to child development, children with disabilities, family services, program administration, and financial management; "(iv) projected needs of an expanding Head Start program; "(v) guidelines and standards currently in effect or under consideration that promote child health serv-

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