
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC9844]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                CHAPTER 105--COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAMS
 
                   SUBCHAPTER II--HEAD START PROGRAMS
 
Sec. 9844. Research, demonstrations, and evaluation


(a) In general

                  (1) Requirement; general purposes

        The 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 and approaches for addressing the needs of 
        low-income preschool children (including children with 
        disabilities) and their families and communities (including 
        demonstrations of innovative noncenter-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 activities

    The 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 collaboration

    In 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.

(d) Specific objectives

    The research, demonstration, and evaluation activities under this 
subchapter shall include components designed to--
        (1) permit ongoing assessment of the quality and effectiveness 
    of the programs under this subchapter;
        (2) establish evaluation methods that measure the effectiveness 
    and impact of family literacy services program models, including 
    models for the integration of family literacy services with Head 
    Start services;
        (3) contribute to developing knowledge concerning factors 
    associated with the quality and effectiveness of Head Start programs 
    and in identifying ways in which services provided under this 
    subchapter may be improved;
        (4) assist in developing knowledge concerning the factors that 
    promote or inhibit healthy development and effective functioning of 
    children and their families both during and following participation 
    in a Head Start program;
        (5) permit comparisons of children and families participating in 
    Head Start programs with children and families receiving other child 
    care, early childhood education, or child development services and 
    with other appropriate control groups;
        (6) contribute to understanding the characteristics and needs of 
    population groups eligible for services provided under this 
    subchapter and the impact of such services on the individuals served 
    and the communities in which such services are provided;
        (7) provide for disseminating and promoting the use of the 
    findings from such research, demonstration, and evaluation 
    activities;
        (8) promote exploration of areas in which knowledge is 
    insufficient, and that will otherwise contribute to fulfilling the 
    purposes of this subchapter;
        (9) study the experiences of small, medium, and large States 
    with Head Start programs in order to permit comparisons of children 
    participating in the programs with eligible children who did not 
    participate in the programs, which study--
            (A) may include the use of a data set that existed prior to 
        the initiation of the study; and
            (B) shall compare the educational achievement, social 
        adaptation, and health status of the participating children and 
        the eligible nonparticipating children; and

        (10) provide for--
            (A) using the Survey of Income and Program Participation to 
        conduct an analysis of the different income levels of Head Start 
        participants compared to comparable persons who did not attend 
        Head Start programs;
            (B) using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, which 
        began gathering data in 1988 on children who attended Head Start 
        programs, to examine the wide range of outcomes measured within 
        the Survey, including outcomes related to cognitive, socio-
        emotional, behavioral, and academic development;
            (C) using the Survey of Program Dynamics, the new 
        longitudinal survey required by section 614 of this title, to 
        begin annual reporting, through the duration of the Survey, on 
        Head Start program attendees' academic readiness performance and 
        improvements;
            (D) ensuring that the Survey of Program Dynamics is linked 
        with the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth at least once by 
        the use of a common performance test, to be determined by the 
        expert panel, for the greater national usefulness of the 
        National Longitudinal Survey of Youth database; and
            (E) disseminating the results of the analysis, examination, 
        reporting, and linkage described in subparagraphs (A) through 
        (D) to persons conducting other studies under this subchapter.

The Secretary shall ensure that an appropriate entity carries out a 
study described in paragraph (9), and prepares and submits to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report containing the results of 
the study, not later than September 30, 2002.

(e) Longitudinal studies

    In developing priorities for research, demonstration, and evaluation 
activities under this section, the Secretary shall give special 
consideration to longitudinal studies that--
        (1) examine the developmental progress of children and their 
    families both during and following participation in a Head Start 
    program, including the examination of factors that contribute to or 
    detract from such progress;
        (2) examine factors related to improving the quality of the Head 
    Start programs and the preparation the programs provide for children 
    and their families to function effectively in schools and other 
    settings in the years following participation in such a program; and
        (3) as appropriate, permit comparison of children and families 
    participating in Head Start programs with children and families 
    receiving other child care, early childhood education, or child 
    development services, and with other appropriate control groups.

(f) Ownership of results

    The Secretary shall take necessary steps to ensure that all studies, 
reports, proposals, and data produced or developed with Federal funds 
under this subchapter shall become the property of the United States.

(g) National Head Start impact research

                          (1) Expert panel

        (A) In general

            The Secretary shall appoint an independent panel consisting 
        of experts in program evaluation and research, education, and 
        early childhood programs--
                (i) to review, and make recommendations on, the design 
            and plan for the research (whether conducted as a single 
            assessment or as a series of assessments) described in 
            paragraph (2), within 1 year after October 27, 1998;
                (ii) to maintain and advise the Secretary regarding the 
            progress of the research; and
                (iii) to comment, if the panel so desires, on the 
            interim and final research reports submitted under paragraph 
            (7).

        (B) Travel expenses

            The members of the panel shall not receive compensation for 
        the performance of services for the panel, but shall be allowed 
        travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
        rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
        chapter 57 of title 5, while away from their homes or regular 
        places of business in the performance of services for the panel. 
        Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, the Secretary may 
        accept the voluntary and uncompensated services of members of 
        the panel.

                        (2) General authority

        After reviewing the recommendations of the expert panel, the 
    Secretary shall make a grant to, or enter into a contract or 
    cooperative agreement with, an organization to conduct independent 
    research that provides a national analysis of the impact of Head 
    Start programs. The Secretary shall ensure that the organization 
    shall have expertise in program evaluation, and research, education, 
    and early childhood programs.

                     (3) Designs and techniques

        The Secretary shall ensure that the research uses rigorous 
    methodological designs and techniques (based on the recommendations 
    of the expert panel), including longitudinal designs, control 
    groups, nationally recognized standardized measures, and random 
    selection and assignment, as appropriate. The Secretary may provide 
    that the research shall be conducted as a single comprehensive 
    assessment or as a group of coordinated assessments designed to 
    provide, when taken together, a national analysis of the impact of 
    Head Start programs.

                            (4) Programs

        The Secretary shall ensure that the research focuses primarily 
    on Head Start programs that operate in the 50 States, the 
    Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia and that do 
    not specifically target special populations.

                            (5) Analysis

        The Secretary shall ensure that the organization conducting the 
    research--
            (A)(i) determines if, overall, the Head Start programs have 
        impacts consistent with their primary goal of increasing the 
        social competence of children, by increasing the everyday 
        effectiveness of the children in dealing with their present 
        environments and future responsibilities, and increasing their 
        school readiness;
            (ii) considers whether the Head Start programs--
                (I) enhance the growth and development of children in 
            cognitive, emotional, and physical health areas;
                (II) strengthen families as the primary nurturers of 
            their children; and
                (III) ensure that children attain school readiness; and

            (iii) examines--
                (I) the impact of the Head Start programs on increasing 
            access of children to such services as educational, health, 
            and nutritional services, and linking children and families 
            to needed community services; and
                (II) how receipt of services described in subclause (I) 
            enriches the lives of children and families participating in 
            Head Start programs;

            (B) examines the impact of Head Start programs on 
        participants on the date the participants leave Head Start 
        programs, at the end of kindergarten and at the end of first 
        grade (whether in public or private school), by examining a 
        variety of factors, including educational achievement, referrals 
        for special education or remedial course work, and absenteeism;
            (C) makes use of random selection from the population of all 
        Head Start programs described in paragraph (4) in selecting 
        programs for inclusion in the research; and
            (D) includes comparisons of individuals who participate in 
        Head Start programs with control groups (including comparison 
        groups) composed of--
                (i) individuals who participate in other early childhood 
            programs (such as public or private preschool programs and 
            day care); and
                (ii) individuals who do not participate in any other 
            early childhood program.

              (6) Consideration of sources of variation

        In designing the research, the Secretary shall, to the extent 
    practicable, consider addressing possible sources of variation in 
    impact of Head Start programs, including variations in impact 
    related to such factors as--
            (A) Head Start program operations;
            (B) Head Start program quality;
            (C) the length of time a child attends a Head Start program;
            (D) the age of the child on entering the Head Start program;
            (E) the type of organization (such as a local educational 
        agency or a community action agency) providing services for the 
        Head Start program;
            (F) the number of hours and days of program operation of the 
        Head Start program (such as whether the program is a full-
        working-day, full calendar year program, a part-day program, or 
        a part-year program); and
            (G) other characteristics and features of the Head Start 
        program (such as geographic location, location in an urban or a 
        rural service area, or participant characteristics), as 
        appropriate.

                             (7) Reports

        (A) Submission of interim reports

            The organization shall prepare and submit to the Secretary 
        two interim reports on the research. The first interim report 
        shall describe the design of the research, and the rationale for 
        the design, including a description of how potential sources of 
        variation in impact of Head Start programs have been considered 
        in designing the research. The second interim report shall 
        describe the status of the research and preliminary findings of 
        the research, as appropriate.

        (B) Submission of final report

            The organization shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a 
        final report containing the findings of the research.

        (C) Transmittal of reports to Congress

            (i) In general

                The Secretary shall transmit, to the committees 
            described in clause (ii), the first interim report by 
            September 30, 1999, the second interim report by September 
            30, 2001, and the final report by September 30, 2003.
            (ii) Committees

                The committees referred to in clause (i) are the 
            Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of 
            Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human 
            Resources of the Senate.

                           (8) Definition

        In this subsection, the term ``impact'', used with respect to a 
    Head Start program, means a difference in an outcome for a 
    participant in the program that would not have occurred without the 
    participation in the program.

(h) Quality improvement study

                              (1) Study

        The Secretary shall conduct a study regarding the use and 
    effects of use of the quality improvement funds made available under 
    section 9835(a)(3) of this title since fiscal year 1991.

                             (2) Report

        The Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress not later 
    than September 2000 a report containing the results of the study, 
    including information on--
            (A) the types of activities funded with the quality 
        improvement funds;
            (B) the extent to which the use of the quality improvement 
        funds has accomplished the goals of section 9835(a)(3)(B) of 
        this title;
            (C) the effect of use of the quality improvement funds on 
        teacher training, salaries, benefits, recruitment, and 
        retention; and
            (D) the effect of use of the quality improvement funds on 
        the development of children receiving services under this 
        subchapter.

(Pub. L. 97-35, title VI, Sec. 649, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 505; Pub. L. 
98-558, title I, Sec. 107, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2880; Pub. L. 101-
501, title I, Sec. 117(a), Nov. 3, 1990, 104 Stat. 1233; Pub. L. 103-
252, title I, Sec. 116, May 18, 1994, 108 Stat. 646; Pub. L. 105-244, 
title I, Sec. 102(a)(13)(G), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1621; Pub. L. 105-
285, title I, Sec. 116, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2723.)


                               Amendments

    1998--Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 105-244 substituted ``section 1001'' 
for ``section 1141(a)''.
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105-285, Sec. 116(1)(E), inserted concluding 
provisions.
    Subsec. (d)(2) to (8). Pub. L. 105-285, Sec. 116(1)(C), (D), added 
par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (7) as (3) to (8), 
respectively.
    Subsec. (d)(9), (10). Pub. L. 105-285, Sec. 116(1)(A), (B), (E), 
added pars. (9) and (10).
    Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 105-285, Sec. 116(2), added subsecs. (g) 
and (h).
    1994--Pub. L. 103-252 substituted ``Research, demonstrations, and 
evaluation'' for ``Research, demonstration, pilot projects, studies, and 
reports'' in section catchline and amended text generally, substituting 
provisions requiring Secretary to conduct a research, demonstration, and 
evaluation program to continually improve Head Start programs and 
develop innovative ways to further purposes of this subchapter, consult 
with others on the program, consider longitudinal studies in developing 
priorities for program, and ensure all products of program become United 
States property and defining objectives of program, for provisions 
authorizing the Secretary to provide financial assistance through 
contracts and grants for research, demonstration or pilot projects to 
develop new approaches to further purposes of this subchapter, directing 
Secretary to establish plan for approval of such projects, restricting 
combination of funds appropriated under this subchapter with other 
appropriations to make a single grant, requiring Secretary to conduct 
study of approaches to provide early, continuous, and comprehensive 
intervention to low-income or at-risk children and study of family day 
care in compliance with performance standards and to report results of 
studies to Congress.
    1990--Pub. L. 101-501, Sec. 117(a)(1), substituted ``Research, 
demonstration, pilot projects, studies, and reports'' for ``Research, 
demonstration, and pilot projects'' in section catchline.
    Subsecs. (d) to (f). Pub. L. 101-501, Sec. 117(a)(2), added subsecs. 
(d) to (f).
    1984--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98-558 added subsec. (c).


                    Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 105-244 effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as 
otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105-244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105-244, 
set out as a note under section 1001 of Title 20, Education.


                    Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 103-252 effective May 18, 1994, but not 
applicable to Head Start agencies and other recipients of financial 
assistance under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) until Oct. 
1, 1994, see section 127 of Pub. L. 103-252, set out as a note under 
section 9832 of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 101-501 effective Oct. 1, 1990, see section 
1001(a) of Pub. L. 101-501, set out as a note under section 8621 of this 
title.


           Study of Full-Day and Full-Year Head Start Programs

    Section 126 of Pub. L. 103-252 directed Secretary of Health and 
Human Services to conduct a study of extent to which Head Start programs 
address the need for Head Start services during a full working day or 
full calendar year among eligible low-income families with preschool 
children and to submit a report to Congress not later than Jan. 31, 
1997.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 9834, 9835, 9846 of this 
title.
