Sec. 152. Special grants to States
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/bill/118/s/388/is/section-152A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
On approving an application submitted by any State, the Secretary is authorized to provide a grant to the State for carrying out activities described in subsection (b). A State that receives a grant under subsection
(a)may use the grant funds for— identifying child care and early learning services goals and needs within the State; furnishing child care providers with start-up funding and technical assistance; supporting compensation for the child care and early learning workforce comparable to compensation for the primary education workforce, which may include retention or bonus awards; establishing or expanding the operation of community or neighborhood-based family child care networks by providing grants and contracts for training; supporting the recruitment, training, and professional development of the child care and early learning workforce; assisting in the establishment of Child Care and Early Learning Councils and strengthening the capability of such Councils to effectively advise on the child care and early learning programs; encouraging the cooperation and participation of State agencies in providing child care and early learning services, including health, family planning, mental health, education, nutrition, family, social, and rehabilitative services if that cooperation and participation are requested by appropriate prime sponsors in the development and implementation of child care and early learning plans; encouraging the full utilization of resources and facilities for child care and early learning programs within the State; disseminating the results of research on child care and early learning programs; conducting programs for the exchange of personnel involved in child care and early learning programs within the State; assisting prime sponsors in the acquisition or improvement of facilities for child care and early learning programs; assessing State and local licensing codes as the codes relate to child care and early learning programs within the State; developing information useful in reviewing prime sponsorship plans described in section 113(a) and child care and early learning plans described in section 114(b); facilitating collaboration among prime sponsors and delegate providers within the State; supporting a unified, birth-through-school-entry, early childhood system, including carrying out activities related to establishing braided or blended funding arrangements to promote the integration of services to children and families; and making grants and contracts to cover a portion of the fixed operating expenses of eligible providers of services through a child care and early learning program serving eligible children receiving assistance under this section, to support increased wages, program stability, and continuity of services for all children in such program. No State or community shall reduce its expenditures for child care and early learning programs (including home-based child care and early learning programs) because of financial assistance provided under this section.