[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3658 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3658
To provide professional development for elementary school principals in
early childhood education and development.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 27, 2010
Mr. Udall of Colorado (for himself, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Begich, Mrs.
Shaheen, and Mr. Casey) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide professional development for elementary school principals in
early childhood education and development.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS IN
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
(a) In General.--Part A of title II of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``Subpart 6--Professional Development for Elementary School Principals
in Early Childhood Education and Development
``SEC. 2161. PURPOSE.
``The purpose of this subpart is to improve the knowledge of
elementary school principals in areas related to early childhood
education and development in order to--
``(1) create high quality early learning environments;
``(2) provide a continuum of learning through the third
grade with developmentally effective and appropriate curricula
and teaching practices;
``(3) establish partnerships and collaboration with
community-based early childhood education providers and
families to better support--
``(A) learning at each stage;
``(B) effective transition among settings; and
``(C) continuous family engagement; and
``(4) support school readiness by providing high quality
professional development for elementary school principals.
``SEC. 2162. DEFINITION OF PRINCIPAL COMPETENCIES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
``(a) In General.--In this subpart, the term `principal
competencies in early childhood education and development' means the
skills that--
``(1) elementary school principals must know and be able to
do; and
``(2) are acquired through high quality professional
development in early childhood education and developmentally
appropriate practice.
``(b) Inclusions.--The principal competencies in early childhood
education and development include--
``(1) supporting an expanded continuum of learning through
the third grade to ensure an effective transition from early
learning or home settings to the primary school years;
``(2) engaging the school community to partner with early
learning programs, and working with families to set a shared
vision for understanding early childhood development;
``(3) supporting teachers through strong instructional
leadership; and
``(4) providing safe and supportive early learning
environments that focus on the needs of the whole child,
including the intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and
nutritional well-being of children; and
``(5) utilizing multiple measures of developmentally
appropriate assessment and acquiring the ability to manage and
use data effectively to make instructional decisions.
``SEC. 2163. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
``(a) Grants to Partnerships.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants, on a competitive basis, to partnerships described in
paragraph (2) to enable the partnerships to carry out the
authorized activities described in subsection (b).
``(2) Partnerships.--A partnership referred to in paragraph
(1) shall consist of--
``(A) a public or private entity with a
demonstrated capacity to provide professional
development for elementary school principals;
``(B) one or more public agencies, including--
``(i) a local educational agency;
``(ii) a State educational agency;
``(iii) a State human services agency;
``(iv) a State lead agency administering a
program under the Child Care and Development
Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et
seq.);
``(v) a public agency administering a State
funded prekindergarten program; or
``(vi) a Head Start agency, including an
Early Head Start agency; and
``(C) one or more early childhood education
organizations that provide professional development to
early childhood education providers.
``(3) Duration.--The Secretary shall award a grant under
this subpart for a period of not less than 3 years.
``(4) Renewal.--The Secretary may renew a grant under this
subpart if the Secretary determines, on the basis of the
evaluations submitted under subsection (e)(1)(B), that the
programs and activities carried out under the grant have been
effective.
``(b) Authorized Activities.--
``(1) Required uses.--Each partnership receiving a grant
under this subpart shall use the grant funds--
``(A) to carry out high quality professional
development to help elementary school principals
acquire principal competencies in early childhood
education and development in order to support increased
school readiness for students;
``(B) to gain a knowledge base and capacity to
provide high quality early childhood education; and
``(C) to work collaboratively with early childhood
education providers, services providers, and families
in creating a continuum of high quality development and
learning for children in the community and school
settings.
``(2) Allowable activities.--The activities described in
paragraph (1) may include providing professional development
programs for elementary school principals, including mentoring
programs and other means of professional learning, in--
``(A) early childhood education and development in
all domains (including language arts and literacy,
mathematics, emotional development, social development,
approaches to learning, physical development, science,
and creative arts), and the continuity of standards and
high quality curriculum and teaching practices from
prekindergarten through the third grade, with emphasis
on meeting the needs of children with disabilities and
English language learners;
``(B) safe and supportive early learning
environments that focus on the social, emotional, and
cognitive needs of children;
``(C) collaborating with early childhood education
providers and other community based organizations to
provide multiple educational and social service
programs to meet the needs of children in
prekindergarten through the third grade related to
learning and development; and
``(D) providing ongoing transition services for
children through active family engagement.
``(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subpart the
Secretary shall give priority to supporting professional development
programs that target opportunities for elementary school principals--
``(1) to participate in high quality induction and
mentoring programs for principals during the principals' first
5 years of employment as a principal;
``(2) to better understand ways to enhance family
engagement and transition strategies, improve transition
services, and work more collaboratively with community-based
early childhood education providers;
``(3) to create a continuum of high quality teaching and
learning for children in prekindergarten through the third
grade; and
``(4) to participate in ongoing professional development,
which may include mentoring programs for veteran principals in
the education field.
``(d) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--Each partnership desiring a grant under
this subpart shall submit an application to the Secretary at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the Secretary may require.
``(2) Contents required.--Each application submitted to the
Secretary under paragraph (1) shall include--
``(A) a description of the professional development
for elementary school principals that will be provided
under the grant, including how the principals will
access professional development;
``(B) a description of the professional development
described in subparagraph (A) that will be provided in
rural areas if applicable;
``(C) how the professional development will
address--
``(i) child development and learning and
the relationship of such development and
learning to providing--
``(I) safe, supportive, and
engaging learning environments; and
``(II) support for instructional
and educational staff in using
developmentally appropriate curricula,
assessments, and other practices;
``(ii) outreach and engagement of families
in their child's learning;
``(iii) opportunities to collaborate with
community based organizations on continuity of
standards, curricula, family education, and
transition services from community based
settings to schools and from year to year;
``(iv) collaborative planning to support
developmentally appropriate interactions
between teachers, children, and the families of
children; and
``(v) sustainability of the ongoing
professional development upon completion of the
grant term.
``(e) Evaluation and Dissemination.--
``(1) Evaluation.--
``(A) In general.--Each partnership that receives a
grant under this subpart shall conduct an ongoing
evaluation to--
``(i) assess the effectiveness of the
programs and activities carried out under the
grant;
``(ii) assess whether professional
development programs for elementary school
principals in early childhood education may
lead to improved school performance; and
``(iii) determine how effective
professional development programs and
activities can be replicated.
``(B) Submission.--The results of the evaluation
described in subparagraph (A) shall be submitted to the
Secretary annually.
``(2) Dissemination.--Using funds made available under this
subpart, the Secretary shall establish a panel of leading
experts in elementary and early childhood education, including
researchers, elementary school principals, and classroom
practitioners, to--
``(A) identify best practices in professional
development for elementary school principals in early
childhood education, and review effective coordination
of professional development among the partnerships
receiving grants under this subpart; and
``(B) disseminate to the public the latest research
and findings in professional development for elementary
school principals in early childhood education,
including through reports and technical assistance.
``(f) Inapplicability.--The provisions of subparts 1 through 5
shall not apply to this subpart.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subpart
for fiscal year 2011 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 2151 the following:
``subpart 6--professional development for elementary school principals
in early childhood education and development
``Sec. 2161. Purpose.
``Sec. 2162. Definition of principal competencies in early childhood
education and development.
``Sec. 2163. Grant program authorized.''.
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