(2) Considerations for designation In selecting from among qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall consider the effectiveness of each such applicant to provide Head Start services, based on
(A) any past performance of such applicant in providing services comparable to Head Start services, including how effectively such applicant provided such comparable services;
(B) the plan of such applicant to provide comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services needed to aid participating children in attaining their full potential, and to prepare children to succeed in school;
(C) the plan of such applicant to attract and retain qualified staff capable of delivering, including implementing, a high-quality and comprehensive program, including the ability to carry out a research based curriculum aligned with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate, State early learning standards;
(D) the ability of such applicant to maintain child-to-teacher ratios and family service worker caseloads that reflect best practices and are tied to high-quality service delivery;
(E) the capacity of such applicant to serve eligible children with
(i) curricula that are based on scientifically valid research, that are developmentally appropriate, and that promote the school readiness of children participating in the program involved; and
(ii) teaching practices that are based, as appropriate, on scientifically valid research, that are developmentally appropriate, and that promote the school readiness of children participating in the program involved;
(F) the plan of such applicant to meet standards described in section
9836a (a)(1) of this title, with particular attention to the standards described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section;
(G) the proposed budget of the applicant and plan of such applicant to maintain strong fiscal controls and cost-effective fiscal management;
(H) the plan of such applicant to coordinate and collaborate with other public or private entities providing early childhood education and development programs and services for young children in the community involved, including
(ii) other preschool programs under title I of that Act (
20 U.S.C.
6301 et seq.);
(iii) programs under section
619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (
20 U.S.C.
1419,
1431 et seq.);
(iv) State prekindergarten programs;
(v) child care programs;
(vi) the educational programs that the children in the Head Start program involved will enter at the age of compulsory school attendance; and
(vii) local entities, such as a public or school library, for
(I) conducting reading readiness programs;
(II) developing innovative programs to excite children about the world of books, including providing fresh books in the Head Start classroom;
(III) assisting in literacy training for Head Start teachers; or
(IV) supporting parents and other caregivers in literacy efforts;
(I) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the Head Start program that the applicant proposes to carry out, with public and private entities that are willing to commit resources to assist the Head Start program in meeting its program needs;
(J) the plan of such applicant
(i) to facilitate the involvement of parents (including grandparents and kinship caregivers, as appropriate) of children participating in the proposed Head Start program, in activities (at home and, if practicable, at the location of the Head Start program) designed to help such parents become full partners in the education of their children;
(ii) to afford such parents the opportunity to participate in the development and overall conduct of the program at the local level, including transportation assistance, as appropriate;
(iii) to offer (directly or through referral to local entities, such as entities carrying out Even Start programs under subpart 3 of part B of title I of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (
20 U.S.C.
6381 et seq.), public and school libraries, and entities carrying out family support programs) to such parents
(I) family literacy services; and
(II) parenting skills training;
(iv) to offer to parents of participating children substance abuse counseling (either directly or through referral to local entities), if needed, including information on the effect of drug exposure on infants and fetal alcohol syndrome;
(v) at the option of such applicant, to offer (directly or through referral to local entities) to such parents
(I) training in basic child development (including cognitive, social, and emotional development);
(II) assistance in developing literacy and communication skills;
(III) opportunities to share experiences with other parents (including parent-mentor relationships);
(IV) regular in-home visitation;
(V) health services, including information on maternal depression; or
(VI) any other activity designed to help such parents become full partners in the education of their children;
(vi) to provide, with respect to each participating family, a family needs assessment that includes consultation with such parents (including foster parents, grandparents, and kinship caregivers, where applicable), in a manner and language that such parents can understand, to the extent practicable, about the benefits of parent involvement and about the activities described in this subparagraph in which such parents may choose to become involved (taking into consideration their specific family needs, work schedules, and other responsibilities); and
(vii) to extend outreach to fathers (including father figures), in appropriate cases, in order to strengthen the role of those fathers in families, in the education of young children, and in the Head Start program, by working directly with the fathers through activities such as
(I) in appropriate cases, including the fathers in home visits and providing opportunities for direct father-child interactions; and
(II) targeting increased male participation in the conduct of the program;
(K) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of limited English proficient children and their families, including procedures to identify such children, plans to provide trained personnel, and plans to provide services to assist the children in making progress toward the acquisition of the English language, while making meaningful progress in attaining the knowledge, skills, abilities, and development described in section
9836a (a)(1)(B) of this title;
(L) the plan of such applicant to meet the diverse needs of the population served;
(M) the plan of such applicant who chooses to assist younger siblings of children who will participate in the Head Start program to obtain health services from other sources;
(N) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of children with disabilities, including procedures to identify such children, procedures for referral of such children for evaluation to State or local agencies providing services under section
619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (
20 U.S.C.
1419,
1431 et seq.), and plans for collaboration with those State or local agencies;
(O) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of homeless children, including transportation needs, and the needs of children in foster care; and
(P) other factors related to the requirements of this subchapter.