Sec. 23. Head Start staff wages
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Section 653 of the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9848 ) is amended— by striking the section designation and heading and inserting the following: ; by redesignating subsection
(b)as subsection (d); striking subsection
(a)and inserting the following: In this section, a reference to a Head Start program includes an Early Head Start program and a reference to a Head Start agency includes an Early Head Start agency. The Secretary shall take such action as may be necessary to ensure that persons employed in carrying out Head Start programs financed under this subchapter shall— receive compensation that— for Head Start program educational staff, is not less than the higher of— the amount required in order for parity to be achieved between— the compensation provided to Head Start program educational staff with similar credentials and experience to elementary school educators employed by the local educational agency serving the area of the Head Start program; and the compensation provided to such elementary school educators; or includes an annual base salary of— for fiscal year 2026, $60,000; and for fiscal year 2027 and each subsequent fiscal year (referred to in this subclause as the determination fiscal year ), an amount equal to the annual base salary under this clause for the preceding year, increased by the estimated percentage increase (if any), as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers, issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, occurring in the most recent fiscal year ending prior to the beginning of such determination fiscal year; establishes or improves a salary scale, wage ladder, or pay structure for all Head Start program staff that increases with qualifications and experience; sufficiently provides a livable and competitive salary for all Head Start program staff within the agency’s service area; ensures comparability of compensation across Head Start preschool and Early Head Start staff positions; and ensures Head Start agencies provide compensation and benefits that are— based on staff responsibilities, qualifications, training, and experience; and updated not less than once every 3 years; provide or facilitate access to competitive benefits for Head Start program staff working not less than 30 hours per week, such as— high-quality, affordable health coverage; paid personal leave; and access to short-term, free or minimal cost behavioral health services; facilitate access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage for staff working less than 30 hours per week; and facilitate access to high-quality, affordable child care and to the public service loan forgiveness program under section 455(m) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087e(m) ). The Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to Head Start agencies to meet the immediate staff needs and enhance the program quality of Head Start programs. A grant award under this subsection shall be for a period of not more than 5 years. A Head Start agency desiring a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such application shall include— information regarding— the current staff of the Head Start agency, as of the date of application, including the number of staff employed, the positions and responsibilities of such staff, the degrees held by such staff (as applicable), and the early childhood education experience of such staff; and the current unfilled staffing needs of the Head Start agency, as of the date of application; a description of the recruitment and retention activities proposed to be conducted by the eligible agency under the grant, such as professional development activities and plans to ensure new staff are well-supported and well-compensated; and plans to address immediate staff needs to enhance program quality and improve Head Start program services to eligible children and families. From amounts appropriated to carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall reserve not less than a total of 4.5 percent to award grants to— American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Head Start agencies; and migrant and seasonal Head Start agencies. Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall give priority to applications that propose to, in accordance with paragraph (1)— address staffing shortages that are associated with a reduction in funding for the Head Start agency due to chronic underenrollment, in accordance with section 641A(h); increase the staff skills and qualifications to meet the diverse (including linguistic and cultural) needs of eligible children (including infants and toddlers with disabilities, children with disabilities, homeless children, children in foster or kinship care, children who receive care during additional hours not typically included in a full calendar year schedule and children who are developing English proficiency) and their families; increase capacity to serve children who have been identified as part of underserved populations, rural communities, or areas of persistent poverty; and support and incorporate Native American languages and cultural instruction for Native American Head Start programs. A Head Start agency that receives a grant under this subsection shall use grant funds for not less than 1 of the following: Providing recruitment and retention bonuses for Head Start staff, particularly educators and mental health consultants. Supporting the mental health of Head Start staff. Delivering or facilitating professional development and instructional coaching for Head Start staff, particularly those who are involved in the direct education and care of children. The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation to assess the effectiveness of grants under this subsection in— attracting and retaining Head Start educators and other staff, particularly— in rural communities; to meet linguistically and culturally appropriate needs aligned with community needs assessments; and to support the mental health and well-being of children, families, and staff; and expanding the capacity of Head Start agencies to support children and families with health, mental health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services. ; and in subsection (d)(2), as so redesignated— in subparagraph (A)— by striking includes salary and inserting the following: “the sum of— the base salary, calculated as an annual rate of pay; and ; and by striking bonuses, periodic payments, severance pay, and inserting the following: severance pay, ; and in subparagraph (B), by inserting bonuses, stipends, awards, periodic payments, and before any Head Start agency .
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