Sec. 324. Two years of voluntary, high-quality, full-day, universal prekindergarten for all eligible children
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From amounts made available to carry out this section and not reserved under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to States to enable the States to provide free, voluntary, high-quality prekindergarten programs for all eligible children who reside in the State. For each fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve not more than 1 percent of the amount made available to carry out this section for the Secretary of the Interior to carry out activities consistent with this section for Indian children.
A State that desires a grant under this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The application described in paragraph
(1)shall include the following: A State plan describing how the State proposes to offer a high-quality prekindergarten program— free of charge to all eligible children in the State; and for a fee using a sliding scale based on family income, for children who reside in the State and who are from families with annual incomes of more than $75,000. A description of the prekindergarten program to be implemented under the grant, and how the program meets the requirements of a high-quality prekindergarten program. A demonstration that the State has the capacity to provide high-quality prekindergarten programs to all eligible children in the State. A State receiving a grant under this section shall use grant funds to provide free and reduced-price high-quality prekindergarten programs to children in the State, in accordance with the State plan approved by the Secretary in the application submitted under subsection (b). Not later than 45 days after the end of the grant period for a grant under this section, each State receiving such grant shall prepare and submit a report to the Secretary regarding the progress made under the grant. Not later than 60 days after the receipt of the report described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report regarding the grant program under this section. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.