§ 9843a. Staff qualifications and development
(a)
Classroom teachers
(1)
Professional requirements
The Secretary shall ensure that each Head Start classroom in a center-based program is assigned 1 teacher who has demonstrated competency to perform functions that include—
(A)
planning and implementing learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children, including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their literacy, phonemic, and print awareness, their understanding and use of language, their understanding and use of increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, their appreciation of books, their understanding of early math and early science, their problem-solving abilities, and their approaches to learning;
(2)
Degree requirements
(A)
Head Start teachers
The Secretary shall ensure that not later than September 30, 2013, at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationwide in center-based programs have—
(B)
Additional staff
The Secretary shall ensure that, not later than September 30, 2013, all—
(i)
Head Start education coordinators, including those that serve as curriculum specialists, nationwide in center-based programs—
(C)
Progress
(i)
Implementation
The Secretary shall—
(I)
require Head Start agencies to—
(3)
Alternative credentialing and degree requirements
The Secretary shall ensure that, for center-based programs, each Head Start classroom that does not have a teacher who meets the qualifications described in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (2)(A) is assigned one teacher who has the following during the period specified:
(A)
Through September 30, 2011—
(i)
a child development associate credential that is appropriate to the age of children being served in center-based programs;
(ii)
a State-awarded certificate for preschool teachers that meets or exceeds the requirements for a child development associate credential;
(iv)
an associate degree in a related field and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, with experience teaching preschool-age children; or
(v)
a baccalaureate degree and has been admitted into the Teach For America program, passed a rigorous early childhood content exam, such as the Praxis II, participated in a Teach For America summer training institute that includes teaching preschool children, and is receiving ongoing professional development and support from Teach For America’s professional staff.
(B)
As of October 1, 2011—
(ii)
an associate degree in a related field and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, with experience teaching preschool-age children; or
(iii)
a baccalaureate degree and has been admitted into the Teach For America program, passed a rigorous early childhood content exam, such as the Praxis II, participated in a Teach For America summer training institute that includes teaching preschool children, and is receiving ongoing professional development and support from Teach For America’s professional staff.
(4)
Waiver
On request, the Secretary shall grant—
(A)
through September 30, 2011, a 180-day waiver ending on or before September 30, 2011, of the requirements of paragraph (3)(A) for a Head Start agency that can demonstrate that the agency has attempted unsuccessfully to recruit an individual who has the qualifications described in any of clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph (3)(A) with respect to an individual who—
(B)
as of October 1, 2011, a 3-year waiver of the requirements of paragraph (3)(B) for a Head Start agency that can demonstrate that—
(i)
the agency has attempted unsuccessfully to recruit an individual who has the qualifications described in clause (i) or (ii) of such paragraph, with respect to an individual who is enrolled in a program that grants a degree described in clause (i) or (ii) of such paragraph and will receive such degree in a reasonable time; and
(5)
Teacher in-service requirement
Each Head Start teacher shall attend not less than 15 clock hours of professional development per year. Such professional development shall be high-quality, sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction and the teacher’s performance in the classroom, and regularly evaluated by the program for effectiveness.
(b)
Mentor teachers
(1)
“Mentor teacher” defined; function
For purposes of this subsection, the term “mentor teacher” means an individual responsible for observing and assessing the classroom activities of a Head Start program and providing on-the-job guidance and training to the Head Start program staff and volunteers, in order to improve the qualifications and training of classroom staff, to maintain high quality education services, and to promote career development, in Head Start programs.
(2)
Requirement
In order to assist Head Start agencies in establishing positions for mentor teachers, the Secretary shall—
(A)
provide technical assistance and training to enable Head Start agencies to establish such positions;
(B)
give priority consideration, in providing assistance pursuant to subparagraph (A), to Head Start programs that have substantial numbers of new classroom staff or that are experiencing difficulty in meeting applicable education standards;
(c)
Family service workers
To improve the quality and effectiveness of staff providing in-home and other services (including needs assessment, development of service plans, family advocacy, and coordination of service delivery) to families of children participating in Head Start programs, the Secretary, in coordination with concerned public and private agencies and organizations examining the issues of standards and training for family service workers, shall—
(1)
review, and, as necessary, revise or develop new qualification standards for Head Start staff providing such services;
(2)
review, and as necessary, revise or develop maximum caseload requirements, as suggested by best practices;
(3)
promote the development of model curricula (on subjects including parenting training and family literacy) designed to ensure the attainment of appropriate competencies by individuals working or planning to work in the field of early childhood and family services;
(d)
Head Start Fellowships
(1)
Authority
The Secretary may establish a program of fellowships, to be known as “Head Start Fellowships”, in accordance with this subsection. The Secretary may award the fellowships to individuals, to be known as “Head Start Fellows”, who are staff in local Head Start programs or other individuals working in the field of child development and family services.
(2)
Purpose
The fellowship program established under this subsection shall be designed to enhance the ability of Head Start Fellows to make significant contributions to programs authorized under this subchapter, by providing opportunities to expand their knowledge and experience through exposure to activities, issues, resources, and new approaches, in the field of child development and family services.
(3)
Assignments of Fellows
(A)
Placement sites
Fellowship positions under the fellowship program may be located (subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C))—
(i)
in agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services administering programs authorized under this subchapter (in national or regional offices of such agencies);
(4)
Selection of Fellows
Head Start Fellowships shall be awarded on a competitive basis to individuals (other than Federal employees) selected from among applicants who are working, on the date of application, in local Head Start programs or otherwise working in the field of child development and children and family services.
(5)
Duration
Head Start Fellowships shall be for terms of 1 year, and may be renewed for a term of 1 additional year.
(7)
Status of Fellows
Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, Head Start Fellows shall not be considered to be employees or otherwise in the service or employment of the Federal Government. Head Start Fellows shall be considered to be employees for purposes of compensation for injuries under chapter
81 of title
5. Head Start Fellows assigned to positions located in agencies specified in paragraph (3)(A)(i) shall be considered employees in the executive branch of the Federal Government for the purposes of chapter
11 of title
18 and for purposes of any administrative standards of conduct applicable to the employees of the agency to which they are assigned.
(e)
Model staffing plans
Not later than 1 year after May 18, 1994, the Secretary, in consultation with appropriate public agencies, private agencies, and organizations and with individuals with expertise in the field of children and family services, shall develop model staffing plans to provide guidance to local Head Start agencies and programs on the numbers, types, responsibilities, and qualifications of staff required to operate a Head Start program.
(f)
Professional development plans
Each Head Start agency and program shall create, in consultation with an employee, a professional development plan for all full-time Head Start employees who provide direct services to children and shall ensure that such plans are regularly evaluated for their impact on teacher and staff effectiveness. The agency and the employee shall implement the plan to the extent feasible and practicable.
(g)
Staff recruitment and selection procedures
Before a Head Start agency employs an individual, such agency shall—
(3)
obtain—
(A)
a State, tribal, or Federal criminal record check covering all jurisdictions where the grantee provides Head Start services to children;