Education Begins at Home Act

108th CONGRESS
2d Session

S. 2412

To expand Parents as Teachers programs and other programs of early childhood home visitation, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 12, 2004

Mr. BOND (for himself and Mr. TALENT) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To expand Parents as Teachers programs and other programs of early childhood home visitation, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Education Begins at Home Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--

(1) the home is the first and most important learning environment for children, and parents are their children's first and most influential teacher;

(2) through parent education and family support, we can promote parents' ability to enhance their children's development from birth until entry into kindergarten thereby helping parents to prepare their children for success in school;

(3) undiagnosed and unaddressed developmental and health problems can impede overall child development and school readiness;

(4) all parents deserve and can benefit from--

(A) research-based information regarding child development;

(B) enrichment opportunities with their children; and

(5) early childhood home visitation leads to positive outcomes for children and families, including readiness for school, improved child health and development, positive parenting practices, and reductions in child maltreatment.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are as follows:

(1) To enable States to deliver services under Parents as Teachers programs, or other programs of early childhood home visitation, to pregnant women and parents of children from birth until entry into kindergarten in order to promote parents' ability to support their children's optimal cognitive, language, social-emotional, and physical development.

(2) To improve Early Head Start programs carried out under section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840a).

(3) To expand Parents as Teachers programs, or other programs of early childhood home visitation, so as to more effectively reach and serve families with English language learners.

(4) To expand Parents as Teachers programs, or other programs of early childhood home visitation, so as to more effectively reach and serve families serving in the military.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) ELIGIBLE FAMILY- The term `eligible family' means--

(A) a woman who is pregnant; or

(B) a parent or primary caregiver of a child who is from birth until entry into kindergarten.

(2) HOME VISITATION- The term `home visitation' means services provided in the permanent or temporary residence, or in other familiar surroundings, of the individual receiving such services.

(3) SECRETARY- Except as provided in section 8, the term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(4) STATE- The term `State' means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

SEC. 5. STATE GRANTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITATION.

(a) AUTHORIZATION- The Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, shall make grants to States to enable such States to establish or expand Parents as Teachers programs, or other programs of early childhood home visitation, as specified under subsection (f). Each grant shall consist of the allotment determined for a State under subsection (b).

(b) DETERMINATION OF RESERVATIONS; AMOUNT OF ALLOTMENTS; AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS-

(1) RESERVATIONS FROM APPROPRIATIONS- From the total amount made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve--

(A) 3 percent for an independent evaluation of the activities carried out under this Act, as specified in section 9;

(B) not more than 5 percent for Federal administrative costs; and

(2) STATE ALLOTMENTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITATION-

(A) IN GENERAL- In accordance with subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall allot among each of the States the total amount made available to carry out this section for any fiscal year and not reserved under paragraph (1), to carry out early childhood home visitation in accordance with this section.

(B) DETERMINATION OF STATE ALLOTMENTS-

(i) IN GENERAL- Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary shall allot the amount made available under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year among the States in proportion to the number of children, aged from birth to 5 years, who reside within the State, compared to the number of such individuals who reside in all such States for that fiscal year.

(ii) EXCEPTION- No State receiving an allotment under clause (i) may receive more than $20,000,000.

(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $400,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2005 through 2007.

(c) STATE GRANT APPLICATIONS- A State that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The application shall contain the following information:

(1) An assurance that the Governor of the State has designated a lead State agency, such as the State educational agency or the State health and human services agency, to carry out the activities under this section.

(2) An assurance that the State will, if requested, participate in the independent evaluation under section 9.

(3) An assurance that the State will reserve 10 percent of the grant funds for training and technical assistance of staff of programs of early childhood home visitation.

(4) The results of a statewide needs assessment that describes--

(A) the quality and capacity of existing programs of early childhood home visitation in the State;

(B) the number and types of eligible families who are receiving services under such programs; and

(5) A State plan containing the following:

(A) A description of the State's strategy to establish or expand Parents as Teachers programs, or other programs of early childhood home visitation, to serve all eligible families in the State.

(B) A description of the Parents as Teachers programs, or other programs of early childhood home visitation, that will be supported by a grant under this section.

(C) A description of how the proposed program of early childhood home visitation will promote positive parenting skills and children's early learning and development.

(D) A description of how the proposed program of early childhood home visitation will incorporate the authorized activities described in subsection (f).

(E) How the lead State agency will build on and promote coordination among existing programs of early childhood home visitation in an effort to promote an array of home visitation that ensures more eligible families are being served and are getting the most appropriate services to meet their needs.

(F) How the lead State agency will promote channels of communication between staff of programs of early childhood home visitation and staff of other early childhood education programs, such as Head Start programs carried out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) and Early Head Start programs carried out under section 645A of such Act, preschool programs, and child care programs, to facilitate the coordination of services for eligible families.

(G) How the lead State agency will provide training and technical assistance to staff of programs of early childhood home visitation involved in activities under this section to more effectively meet the needs of the eligible families served.

(H) How the lead State agency will evaluate the activities supported under this section in order to demonstrate outcomes related to the enhancement of--

(i) parent knowledge of early learning and development;

(ii) positive parenting practices related to early learning and development; and

(iii) children's cognitive, language, social-emotional, and physical development.

(I) Such other information as the Secretary may require.

(d) APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall approve an application under this section based on the quality of the application and the recommendations of a peer review panel, as described in paragraph (2).

(2) PEER REVIEW PANEL- The peer review panel shall include not less than--

(A) 3 individuals who are experts in the field of home visitation;

(B) 2 individuals who are experts in early childhood development; and

(e) DURATION OF GRANTS- Grants made under this section shall be for a period of no more than 3 years.

(f) STATE USES OF FUNDS- Each State that receives a grant under this section shall--

(1) provide to eligible families voluntary early childhood home visitation, on not less frequently than a monthly basis with greater frequency of services for those eligible families identified with additional needs, through the implementation of Parents as Teachers programs, or other programs of early childhood home visitation, that provides parents with--

(A) knowledge of age appropriate child development in cognitive, language, social-emotional, and motor domains;

(B) knowledge of realistic expectations of age-appropriate child behaviors;

(D) modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting practices;

(E) skills to interact with their child to enhance age-appropriate development;

(F) skills to recognize and seek help for health issues and developmental delays; and

(G) activities designed to help parents become full partners in the education of their children;

(2) offer annual health, vision, hearing, and developmental screening for children from birth until entry into kindergarten;

(3) provide referrals for eligible families, as needed, to additional resources available in the community, such as center-based early education programs, child care services, health or mental health services, family literacy programs, employment agencies, and social services;

(4) offer group meetings, on not less frequently than a monthly basis, for eligible families that--

(A) further enhance the information, activities, and skill-building addressed during home visitation; and

(B) offer opportunities for parents to meet with and support each other;

(5) reserve 10 percent of the grant funds to provide training and technical assistance, directly or through contract, to early childhood home visitation and early childhood care and education staff relating to--

(A) effective methods of conducting parent education, home visiting, and promoting quality early childhood development;

(B) the relationship of health and well-being of pregnant women to prenatal and early childhood development;

(D) methods to help parents promote emergent literacy in their children from birth until entry into kindergarten;

(E) health, vision, hearing, and developmental screenings;

(F) strategies for helping eligible families with special needs or those eligible families coping with crisis;

(G) recruiting, supervising, and retaining qualified staff;

(H) increasing services for underserved populations;

(I) methods to help parents effectively respond to their children's needs and behaviors; and

(J) implementation of ongoing program quality improvement and evaluation of activities and outcomes;

(6) ensure coordination of programs of early childhood home visitation, early childhood education and care, and early intervention, through an existing or created State-level early childhood coordinating body that includes--

(A) representatives from relevant State agencies;

(B) representatives from State Head Start Associations;

(C) the State official with responsibility for carrying out activities under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.);

(D) the State official with responsibility for carrying out activities under section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419);

(E) representatives from child care resource and referral State offices;

(F) representatives from Parents as Teachers State affiliate offices;

(G) representatives from other programs of early childhood home visitation; and

(7) not expend more than 10 percent of the amount of grant funds received under this section for the administration of the grant, including planning, administration, evaluation, and annual reporting.

(g) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT- A State is entitled to receive its full allotment of funds under this section for any fiscal year if the Secretary finds that the aggregate expenditures within the State for Parents as Teachers programs, or other programs of early childhood home visitation, for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made was not less than 100 percent of such aggregate expenditures for the second fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made.

(h) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS- Each State that receives a grant under this section shall submit an annual

report to the Secretary regarding the State's progress in addressing the purposes of this Act. Such report shall include, at a minimum, a description of--

(1) the types of activities funded under the grant;

(2) the children and eligible families served by the programs funded under the grant;

(3) the research-based instruction, materials, and activities being used in the activities funded under the grant;

(4) the effectiveness of the training and ongoing professional development provided--

(A) to staff supported under the grant; and

(B) to the broader early childhood community; and

(5) beginning at the end of the second year of the grant, the results of evaluations described in subsection (c)(4)(G).

SEC. 6. STRENGTHENING EARLY HEAD START HOME VISITATION.

Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840a) is amended--

(1) in subsection (b)--

(A) in paragraph (4), by striking `provide services to parents to support their role as parents' and inserting `provide additional services to parents to support their role as parents (including parenting skills training and training in basic child development)';

(B) in paragraph (5)--

(i) by inserting `(including home-based services)' after `with services'; and

(ii) by inserting `, and family support services' after `health services';

(D) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:

`(7) develop and implement a systematic procedure for transitioning children and parents from an Early Head Start program into a Head Start program or another local early childhood education program;

`(8) establish channels of communication between staff of Early Head Start programs and staff of Head Start programs or other local early childhood education programs, to facilitate the coordination of programs;';

(2) in subsection (g)(2)(B), by striking clause (iv) and inserting the following:

`(iv) providing professional development and personnel enhancement activities, including the provision of funds to recipients of grants under subsection (a), relating to effective methods of conducting parent education, home visiting, and promoting quality early childhood development.'; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

`(h) STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT-

`(1) HOME VISITOR STAFF-

`(A) STANDARDS- In order to further enhance the quality of home visiting services provided to families of children participating in home-based, center-based, or combination program options under this subchapter, the Secretary shall establish standards for training, qualifications, and the conduct of home visits for home visitor staff in Early Head Start programs.

`(B) CONTENTS- The standards for training, qualifications, and the conduct of home visits shall include content related to--

`(i) structured child-focused home visiting that promotes parents' ability to support the child's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development;

`(ii) effective strengths-based parent education, including methods to encourage parents as their child's first teachers;

`(iii) early childhood development with respect to children from birth through age 3;

`(iv) methods to help parents promote emergent literacy in their children from birth through age 3;

`(v) health, vision, hearing, and developmental screenings;

`(vi) strategies for helping families coping with crisis; and

`(vii) the relationship of health and well-being of pregnant women to prenatal and early child development.'.

SEC. 7. TARGETED GRANTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITATION FOR FAMILIES WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, shall make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible applicants to enable such applicants to support and expand local efforts to deliver services under the Parents as Teachers programs, or other programs of early childhood home visitation, to eligible families with English language learners.

(b) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT- In this section, the term `eligible applicant' means--

(1) 1 or more local educational agencies (as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)); and

(2) 1 or more public or private community-based organizations or agencies that serve eligible families and are capable of establishing and implementing programs of early childhood home visitation.

(c) APPLICATIONS- An eligible applicant that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The application shall include a description of--

(1) the results of a communitywide needs assessment that describes--

(A) community demographics demonstrating the need for outreach and services to eligible families with English language learners;

(B) the quality, capacity, and existing programs of early childhood home visitation for eligible families with English language learners;

(D) the type of program of early childhood home visitation necessary to address the gaps identified;

(2) the program of early childhood home visitation that will be supported by the grant under this section;

(3) how the proposed program of early childhood home visitation will promote positive parenting skills and children's early learning and development;

(4) how the proposed program of early childhood home visitation will incorporate the authorized activities described in subsection (f);

(5) how services provided through a grant under this section will use materials that are geared toward eligible families with English language learners;

(6) how the activities under this section will be coordinated with existing programs of early childhood home visitation, if such programs exist in the community, in an effort to promote an array of home visitation that ensures more eligible families with English language learners are being served and are getting the most appropriate services to meet their needs;

(7) how the program will ensure that--

(A) eligible families with English language learners are linked to schools; and

(B) the activities under this section will support the preparation of children for school;

(8) how channels of communication will be established between staff of programs of early childhood home visitation and staff of other early childhood education programs, such as Head Start programs carried out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) and Early Head Start programs carried out under section 645A of such Act, preschool programs, and child care programs, to facilitate the coordination of services for eligible families with English language learners;

(9) how eligible families with English language learners will be recruited and retained to receive services under this section;

(10) how training and technical assistance will help the staff of programs of early childhood home visitation involved in activities under this section to more effectively serve eligible families with English language learners;

(11) how the eligible applicant will evaluate the activities supported under this section in order to demonstrate outcomes related to the--

(A) increase in number of eligible families with English language leaners served by programs of early childhood home visitation;

(B) enhancement of participating parents' knowledge of early learning and development;

(D) enhancement of children's cognitive, language, social-emotional, and physical development; and

(12) such other information as the Secretary may require.

(d) APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall select applicants for funding under this section based on the quality of the applications and the recommendations of a peer review panel, as described in paragraph (2).

(2) PEER REVIEW PANEL- The peer review panel shall include not less than--

(A) 2 individuals who are experts in the field of home visitation;

(B) 2 individuals who are experts in early childhood development; and

(e) DURATION OF GRANTS- Grants made under this section shall be for a period of no more than 3 years.

(f) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES- Each eligible applicant that receives a grant under this section shall carry out the following activities:

(1) Providing to eligible families with English language learners voluntary early childhood home visitation, on not less frequently than a monthly basis, through the implementation of Parents as Teachers programs, or other programs of early childhood home visitation, that provides parents with--

(A) knowledge of age appropriate child development in cognitive, language, social-emotional, and motor domains;

(B) knowledge of realistic expectations of age-appropriate child behaviors;

(D) modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting practices;

(E) skills to interact with their child to enhance age-appropriate development;

(F) skills to recognize and seek help for health issues and developmental delays; and

(G) activities designed to help parents become full partners in the education of their children.

(2) Conducting annual health, vision, hearing, and developmental screening for participating children who are English language learners.

(3) Providing referrals for participating eligible families with English language learners, as needed, to additional resources available in the community, such as center-based early education programs, child

care services, health or mental health services, family literacy programs, employment agencies, and social services.

(4) Offering group meetings, on not less frequently than a monthly basis, for eligible families with English language learners that--

(A) further enhance the information, activities, and skill-building addressed during home visitation;

(B) offer opportunities for parents to meet with and support each other; and

(5) Providing training and technical assistance to early childhood home visitation and early childhood care and education staff relating to--

(A) effective service to eligible families with English language learners;

(B) effective methods of conducting parent education, home visiting, and promoting quality early childhood development;

(D) early childhood development with respect to children from birth until entry into kindergarten;

(E) methods to help parents promote emergent literacy in their children from birth until entry into kindergarten;

(F) implementing strategies for helping eligible families with English language learners coping with a crisis;

(G) recruiting, supervising, and retaining qualified staff;

(H) increasing services for underserved eligible families with English language learners;

(I) methods to help parents effectively respond to their children's needs and behaviors; and

(J) implementation of ongoing program quality improvement and evaluation of activities and outcomes.

(6) Coordinating existing programs of early childhood home visitation in order to effectively and efficiently meet the needs of more eligible families with English language learners.

(g) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT- Grant funds provided under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, Federal and non-Federal funds available for carrying out the activities described in this section.

(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2005 through 2007.

SEC. 8. TARGETED GRANTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITATION FOR MILITARY FAMILIES.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, shall make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible applicants to enable such applicants to support and expand efforts to deliver services under the Parents as Teachers programs, or other programs of early childhood home visitation, to eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces.

(b) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT- In this section, the term `eligible applicant' means any of the following:

(1) A local educational agency that receives payments under title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.).

(2) A school of the defense dependents' education system under the Defense Dependents' Education Act of 1978 (20 U.S.C. 921 et seq.).

(3) A school established under section 2164 of title 10, United States Code.

(4) A community-based organization serving families with a family member in the Armed Forces.

(c) APPLICATIONS- An eligible applicant that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary of Defense at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of Defense may require. The application shall include a description of--

(1) the results of a communitywide needs assessment that describes--

(A) community demographics demonstrating the need for outreach and services to eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces;

(B) the quality, capacity, and existing programs of early childhood home visitation for eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces;

(C) the gaps in programs of early childhood home visitation for eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces; and

(D) the type of program of early childhood home visitation necessary to address the gaps identified;

(2) the program of early childhood home visitation that will be supported by the grant under this section;

(3) how the proposed program of early childhood home visitation will promote positive parenting skills and children's early learning and development;

(4) how the proposed program of early childhood home visitation will incorporate the authorized activities described in subsection (f);

(5) how services provided through a grant under this section will use materials that are geared toward eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces;

(6) how the activities under this section will be coordinated with existing programs of early childhood home visitation, if such programs exist in the community, in an effort to promote an array of home visitation that ensures more eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces are being served and are getting the most appropriate services to meet their needs;

(7) how the program will ensure that--

(A) eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces are linked to schools; and

(B) the activities under this section will support the preparation of children for school;

(8) how channels of communication will be established between staff of programs of early childhood home visitation and staff of other early childhood education programs, preschool programs, family support programs, and child care programs, to facilitate the coordination of services for eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces;

(9) how eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces will be recruited and retained to receive services under this section;

(10) how training and technical assistance will help staff of programs of early childhood home visitation involved in activities under this section to more effectively serve eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces;

(11) how the eligible applicant will evaluate the activities supported under this section in order to demonstrate outcomes related to the--

(A) increase in number of eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces served by programs of early childhood home visitation;

(B) enhancement of participating parents' knowledge of early learning and development;

(D) enhancement of children's cognitive, language, social-emotional, and physical development; and

(12) such other information as the Secretary of Defense may require.

(d) APPROVAL OF LOCAL APPLICATIONS-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Defense shall select applicants for funding under this section based on the quality of the applications and the recommendations of a peer review panel, as described in paragraph (2).

(2) PEER REVIEW PANEL- The peer review panel shall include not less than--

(A) 2 individuals who are experts in the field of home visitation;

(B) 2 individuals who are experts in early childhood development; and

(e) DURATION OF GRANTS- Grants made under this section shall be for a period of no more than 3 years.

(f) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES- Each eligible applicant that receives a grant under this section shall carry out the following activities:

(1) Providing to eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces voluntary early childhood home visitation, on not less frequently than a monthly basis, through the implementation of Parents as Teachers programs, or other programs of early childhood home visitation, that provides parents with--

(A) knowledge of age appropriate child development in cognitive, language, social-emotional, and motor domains;

(B) knowledge of realistic expectations of age-appropriate child behaviors;

(D) modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting practices;

(E) skills to interact with their child to enhance age-appropriate development;

(F) skills to recognize and seek help for health issues and developmental delays; and

(G) activities designed to help parents become full partners in the education of their children.

(2) Conducting annual health, vision, hearing, and developmental screening for participating children.

(3) Providing referrals for participating eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces, as needed, to additional resources available in the community, such as center-based early education programs, child care services, health or mental health services, family literacy programs, employment agencies, and social services.

(4) Offering group meetings, on not less frequently than a monthly basis, for eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces that--

(A) further enhance the information, activities, and skill-building addressed during home visitation;

(B) offer opportunities for parents to meet with and support each other; and

(5) Providing training and technical assistance to early childhood home visitation and early childhood care and education staff relating to--

(A) effective service to eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces;

(B) effective methods of conducting parent education, home visiting, and promoting quality early childhood development;

(D) early childhood development with respect to children from birth until entry into kindergarten;

(E) methods to help parents promote emergent literacy in their children from birth until entry into kindergarten;

(F) implementing strategies for helping eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces coping with crisis;

(G) recruiting, supervising, and retaining qualified staff;

(H) increasing services for underserved eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces;

(I) methods to help parents effectively respond to their children's needs and behaviors; and

(J) implementation of ongoing program quality improvement and evaluation of activities and outcomes.

(6) Coordinating existing programs of early childhood home visitation in order to effectively and efficiently meet the needs of more eligible families with a family member in the Armed Forces.

(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2005 through 2007.

SEC. 9. EVALUATION.

(a) IN GENERAL- From funds reserved under section 5(b)(1)(A), the Secretary shall conduct an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of this Act.

(b) REPORTS-

(1) INTERIM REPORT- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit an interim report on the evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection (a) to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives.

(2) FINAL REPORT- Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a final report on the evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection (a) to the committees described in paragraph (1).

(1) How the grant funds have expanded access to early childhood home visitation.

(2) How the States are--

(A) enhancing parents' knowledge of early learning and development;

(B) enhancing positive parenting practices related to early learning and development; and

(3) The effectiveness of early childhood home visitation on different populations, including families with English language learners and families with a family member in the Armed Forces.

(4) The effectiveness of the training and technical assistance activities funded under this Act.

(5) Recommendations on strengthening or modifying this Act.

END