Early childhood education had a big win last week as the U.S. Senate passed the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) with historic support for early learning. So which early childhood investments made it into the final bill? We’ve put together a list of the early learning provisions that were included, and what they really mean. Take a look at a summary of each provision.
- 1111(b)(1)(D) – State Title I Plans: State K-12 standards are aligned to state early childhood education standards.
- 1111(c)(1) – State Title I Plans: If a state uses Title I dollars to fund ECE programs, the state needs to explain how the money will be used to create, expand, or improve the ECE programs.
- 1112(b) – LEA Title I Plans: If schools or school districts use Title I dollars to fund ECE programs, the school and/or district needs to explain how they will coordinate with other ECE programs, like Head Start, and their plans for how they will help participants transition from pre-K to kindergarten.
- 1113(a) – School Wide Programs and Targeted Assistance Areas: Funds that are given to schools, in which a majority of students are from low-income families, can be used to run programs specific to that school can be used for ECE.
- 1115 – Parent and Family Engagement: Title I dollars used for parent engagement can include ECE educators and families in that use.
- Section 1008 – Coordination Requirements: States and districts using Title I dollars for ECE programs must coordinate amongst all ECE programs and not just Head Start.
- 2101(c)(4)(B) – Title II Formula Grants: Professional Development for ECE educators and professionals can be funded using Title II dollars.
- 2103(b)(4)(G) – Local Use of Title II Funds: Title II funds can be used for professional development that focuses on the transition from ECE programs to elementary school.
- 2401 – Literacy Education: Funds to improve literacy education can be used in ECE settings.
- 2401(b), Sec. 2402, Sec. 2403, Sec. 2404 – Literacy Education: Funds to improve literacy education can be given to state ECE programs, including home-based programs.
- Section 3003 – English Language Acquisition: Provide funds to assist ECE educators in becoming more effective at preparing English Language Learners (ELL) (also known as English as a Second Language speakers).
- Section 3115 English Language Acquisition Subgrant Purposes and Activities: Funds to help create programs that will improve language instruction for English learners.
- Section 3131 – National Professional Development (ELL Students) – Allowable Uses: Funds in Title III can be used to help English Language Learners become school ready upon entering Kindergarten.
- Section 4101(b) – Safe and Healthy Students (Needs Assessment): School districts and/or schools must consult ECE educators and leaders when creating their application for Title IV funds.
- Section 4105(a)(4) LEA Safe and Healthy Student Activities: Title IV funds can be used for counseling in ECE programs. These programs can include education around nutrition, exercise, lifestyle choices, sex education, sexual abuse, and child sexual abuse policies.
- Section 4105(b) – Safe and Health Students Principles of Effectiveness: Funds under this part of Title IV can be used to carry out programs in an ECE setting that promote students’ physical and mental well-being as well as promote parent engagement to promote a healthy school environment.
- Section 5102(h) – Charter School Authorization: Charter schools can use federal funding to create ECE programs.
- Section 5601(a) – Ready to Learn Television: Ready to Learn Television works to produce educational TV and digital media that helps prepare young learners in science and/or literacy. This section requires grantees to work with HHS in order to effectively utilize and distribute the media being created.
- Sec. 5801(a)(2)(B) – Literacy and Arts Education: Grants can be awarded to programs that provide early learning literacy services, including ones given through medical visits with pediatricians.
- Section 5901 – Early Learning Alignment and Improvement Grants: This is the Murray Isakson amendment that would create a new competitive grant program solely dedicated to funding early learning. States who receive funding could use it towards aligning various early learning programs within the state and expanding access to those programs.
- Section 7121- Improvement of Educational Opportunities for Indian Children and Youth: Title VII funds (Indian education) can be used for ECE programs.
- Section 7304(a)(4) – Alaska Native Education (Permissible Activities): Title VIII funds (Alaska Natives education) can be used for ECE programs.
- Section 9101 – Definitions: Early Childhood Education Program: Programs that serve children birth through age six. Professional Development: Professional development that addresses school readiness is considered an appropriate use of professional development funding.
- Section 9601 – Evaluations:A proportion of funds can be used to carry out research that analyzes the results and cost-effectiveness of ECE programs.