§9843. Technical assistance and training

(a) Technical assistance and personnel training

The Secretary shall provide, directly or through grants or other arrangements (1) technical assistance to communities in developing, conducting, and administering programs under this subchapter; and (2) training for specialized or other personnel needed in connection with Head Start programs, in accordance with the process, and the provisions for allocating resources, set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

(b) Consideration of local needs

The process for determining the technical assistance and training activities to be carried out under this section shall-

(1) ensure that the needs of local Head Start agencies and programs relating to improving program quality and to program expansion are addressed to the maximum extent feasible; and

(2) incorporate mechanisms to ensure responsiveness to local needs, including an ongoing procedure for obtaining input from the individuals and agencies carrying out Head Start programs.

(c) Prioritization of resource allocation

In allocating resources for technical assistance and training under this section, the Secretary shall-

(1) give priority consideration to activities to correct program and management deficiencies identified through reviews pursuant to section 9836a(c) of this title (including the provision of assistance to local programs in the development of quality improvement plans under section 9836a(d)(2) of this title);

(2) address the training and career development needs of classroom staff (including instruction for providing services to children with disabilities) and nonclassroom staff, including home visitors and other staff working directly with families, including training relating to increasing parent involvement and services designed to increase family literacy and improve parenting skills;

(3) assist Head Start agencies and programs in conducting and participating in communitywide strategic planning and needs assessment;

(4) assist Head Start agencies and programs in developing full-working-day and full-calendar-year programs where community need is clearly identified and making the transition to such programs, with particular attention to involving parents and programming for children throughout a longer day;

(5) assist Head Start agencies in better serving the needs of families with very young children;

(6) assist Head Start agencies and programs in the development of sound management practices, including financial management procedures;

(7) assist in efforts to secure and maintain adequate facilities for Head Start programs; and

(8) assist Head Start agencies in developing innovative program models, including mobile and home-based programs.

(d) Training in performing and visual arts and electronic media

The Secretary may provide, either directly or through grants to public or private nonprofit entities, training for Head Start personnel in the use of the performing and visual arts and interactive programs using electronic media to enhance the learning experience of Head Start children. Special consideration shall be given to entities that have demonstrated effectiveness in educational programming for preschool children that includes components for parental involvement, care provider training, and developmentally appropriate related activities.

(e) Child development and assessment program

The Secretary shall provide, either directly or through grants or other arrangements, funds from programs authorized under this subchapter to support an organization to administer a centralized child development and national assessment program leading to recognized credentials for personnel working in early childhood development and child care programs, training for personnel providing services to non-English language background children, training for personnel in helping children cope with community violence, and resource access projects for personnel working with disabled children.

( Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, §648, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 505 ; Pub. L. 98–558, title I, §106, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2879 ; Pub. L. 101–501, title I, §116(a), Nov. 3, 1990, 104 Stat. 1232 ; Pub. L. 102–586, §7(b), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5035 ; Pub. L. 103–252, title I, §114, May 18, 1994, 108 Stat. 642 .)

Amendments

1994-Pub. L. 103–252, §114(1), substituted "Technical assistance and training" for "Technical assistance, training, and staff qualifications" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–252, §114(3)(A), redesignated as subsec. (e) the last sentence which read as follows: "The Secretary shall provide, either directly or through grants or other arrangements, funds from programs authorized under this subchapter to support an organization to administer a centralized child development and national assessment program leading to recognized credentials for personnel working in early childhood development and child care programs, training for personnel providing services to non-English language background children, training for personnel in helping children cope with community violence, and resource access projects for personnel working with disabled children."

Pub. L. 103–252, §114(2), substituted "(2) training for specialized or other personnel needed in connection with Head Start programs, in accordance with the process, and the provisions for allocating resources, set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. The Secretary shall provide, either directly or through grants or other arrangements," for "(2) training for specialized or other personnel needed in connection with Head Start programs, including".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–252, §114(4), (5), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which related to teacher qualifications and waiver of same.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–252, §114(4), (5), added subsec. (c) and struck out former subsec. (c) which related to Secretary developing systematic approach to training Head Start personnel and reporting on such approach to Congress.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–252, §114(6), inserted at end "Special consideration shall be given to entities that have demonstrated effectiveness in educational programming for preschool children that includes components for parental involvement, care provider training, and developmentally appropriate related activities."

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–252, §114(3), redesignated last sentence of subsec. (a) as (e).

1992-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 102–586, §7(b)(1), substituted "funds from programs authorized under this subchapter to support an organization to administer a centralized child development and national assessment program leading to recognized credentials for personnel working in early childhood development and child care programs, training for personnel providing services to non-English language background children, training for personnel in helping children cope with community violence, and resource access projects for personnel working with disabled" for "a centralized child development training and national assessment program which may be administered at the State or local level leading to recognized credentials for such personnel, training for personnel providing services to non-English language background children, and resource access projects for personnel of handicapped".

Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 102–586, §7(b)(2), added subsecs. (c) and (d).

1990-Pub. L. 101–501 substituted "Technical assistance, training, and staff qualifications" for "Technical assistance and training" in section catchline, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted "training for personnel providing services to non-English language background children," after "such personnel," in cl. (2), and added subsec. (b).

1984-Pub. L. 98–558 substituted "shall" for "may" and inserted provision including a centralized child development training and national assessment program.

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.

Head Start Training Improvement

Section 7(a) of Pub. L. 102–586 provided that: "It is the purpose of this section-

"(1) to promote continued access for Head Start and other early childhood staff to the Child Development Associate credential;

"(2) to increase the ability of Head Start staff to address the problems facing Head Start families;

"(3) to create a systematic approach to training, thereby improving the quality of Head Start instruction and using training funds more efficiently and effectively; and

"(4) to allow the use of training funds for creative approaches to learning for children."

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 9835 of this title.