Ready to Learn Act

Ready to Learn Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish Ready to Learn Television programs to: (1) expand availability of educational and instructional video programming and supporting educational resources for preschool and elementary school children as a tool to improve school readiness; and (2) develop and distribute such programming and support materials for parents, child care providers, and educators of young children. Directs the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to award contracts, cooperative agreements, or grants to eligible nonprofit nongovernmental entities to: (1) develop such programming (reflecting recognition of diverse cultural experiences and needs) and accompanying support materials and services; and (2) contract with public broadcasting, the Star Schools program, and other entities to distribute such programming to the widest possible audience. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) establish and administer a Special Projects of National Significance program of contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants to develop programming and support materials for young children in English-limited households, increase family literacy skills, and support innovative school readiness programs; (2) establish within the Department of Education a clearinghouse for information, referrals, and model program materials and programming; (3) develop and disseminate training materials, including interactive and distance-learning programs; and (4) coordinate activities with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make such programming and training materials available to other federally funded programs serving preschool and elementary school children. Sets forth requirements for applications, annual reports and evaluations, and administrative costs. Authorizes appropriations.

Ready to Learn Act - Amends the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) to establish Ready to Learn Television programs to: (1) expand availability of educational and instructional video programming and supporting educational resources for preschool and elementary school children as a tool to improve school readiness; and (2) develop and distribute such programming and support materials for parents, child care providers, and educators of young children. Authorizes the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to implement such programs. Directs the Secretary, in administering them, to: (1) set priorities for educational needs of preschool and elementary school children that can be addressed through video technologies; (2) award grants for development and dissemination of such educational and instructional programming and of training materials; (3) establish a Special Projects of National Significance program of grants to develop programming and to support materials to address learning needs of young children in English-limited households, to increase literacy skills among parents to assist them in teaching their children, and to support innovative school readiness programs; (4) establish within the Department of Education a clearinghouse for information, referrals, and model program materials; (5) coordinate activities with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make such programming and training materials available to other federally funded programs serving preschool and elementary school children; (6) consult with the Secretary of Commerce regarding what the educational and information needs of preschool and elementary school children are for purposes of implementing specified requirements of the Children's Television Act of 1990; and (7) coordinate activities funded under this Act with those of the National Endowment for Children's Educational Television established under the Communications Act of 1934. Sets forth requirements relating to awards of such grants for developing and distributing programming and training materials. Requires annual reports to the Secretary by grantees for programming and support materials development and distribution, and biannual reports by the Secretary to relevant congressional committees on information and outreach for training parents and personnel. Authorizes appropriations for Ready to Learn Television programs. Requires at least 60 percent of such funds to be used for grants to develop and distribute educational programming for children. Limits the portions of such funds which may be used for the Special Projects of National Significance program and for administrative expenses.

Ready to Learn Act - Amends the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) to establish Ready to Learn Television programs to: (1) expand availability of educational and instructional video programming and supporting educational resources for preschool and elementary school children as a tool to improve school readiness; and (2) develop and distribute such programming and support materials for parents, child care providers, and educators of young children. Authorizes the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to implement such programs. Directs the Secretary, in administering them, to: (1) set priorities for educational needs of preschool and elementary school children that can be addressed through video technologies; (2) award grants for development and dissemination of such educational and instructional programming and of training materials; (3) establish a Special Projects of National Significance program of grants to develop programming and to support materials to address learning needs of young children in English-limited households, and to increase literacy skills among parents to assist them in teaching their children; (4) establish within the Department of Education a clearinghouse for information, referrals, and model program materials; (5) coordinate activities with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make such programming and training materials available to other federally funded programs serving preschool and elementary school children; (6) consult with the Secretary of Commerce regarding what the educational and information needs of preschool and elementary school children are for purposes of implementing specified requirements of the Children's Television Act of 1990; and (7) coordinate activities funded under this Act with those of the National Endowment for Children's Educational Television established under the Communications Act of 1934. Sets forth requirements relating to awards of such grants for developing and distributing programming and training materials. Requires annual reports to the Secretary by grantees for programming and support materials development and distribution, and biannual reports by the Secretary to relevant congressional committees on information and outreach for training parents and personnel. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with a public broadcasting entity to distribute educational video programming for preschool and elementary school children, parents, and child care providers, on at least one channel under a specified satellite interconnection. Designates such channel the Ready to Learn Channel. Authorizes appropriations for Ready to Learn Television programs. Requires at least 60 percent of such funds to be used for grants to develop and distribute educational programming for children. Limits the portions of such funds which may be used for the Special Projects of National Significance program and for administrative expenses. Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act Amendments of 1992 to allow States to expand their allotments for any fiscal year under the child care and development block grant program in that fiscal year or in the succeeding three fiscal years. Provides that the value of any child care provided or arranged (or any amount received as payment for such care or reimbursement for costs incurred for such care) under such program shall not be treated as income for purposes of any other Federal or federally-assisted program that bases eligibility, or the amount of benefits, on need. Makes technical and conforming amendments to such Act and to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. Revises provisions of the Head Start Act for technical assistance, training, and staff qualifications. Provides for use of Head Start program funds to support an organization to administer a centralized child development and national assessment program leading to recognized credentials for personnel working in early child development and child care programs. (Current law allows administration of such program at the State or local level and limits such credentials to specialized or other personnel needed in connection with Head Start programs.) Directs the Secretary of HHS to: (1) develop a systematic approach to training Head Start personnel, including specific goals and objectives for program improvement and professional development, a process for continuing input from the Head Start community, and a strategy for delivering training and technical assistance; and (2) report on such approach to specified congressional committees. Authorizes the Secretary of HHS to provide (either directly or through grants) 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.

Ready to Learn Act - Amends the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) to establish Ready to Learn Television programs to: (1) expand availability of educational and instructional video programming and supporting educational resources for preschool and elementary school children as a tool to improve school readiness; and (2) develop and distribute such programming and support materials for parents, child care providers, and educators of young children. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to implement such programs. Directs the Secretary, in administering them, to: (1) set priorities regarding educational needs of preschool and elementary school children; (2) award grants for development and dissemination of such educational and instructional programming and of training materials; (3) establish a Special Projects of National Significance program of grants to develop programming and to support materials to address learning needs of young children in English-limited households, and to increase literacy skills among parents to assist them in teaching their children; (4) establish within the Department of Education a clearinghouse for information, referrals, and model program materials; (5) coordinate activities with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make such programming and training materials available to other federally funded programs serving preschool and elementary school children; (6) consult with the Secretary of Commerce regarding what the educational and information needs of preschool and elementary school children are for purposes of implementing specified requirements of the Children's Television Act of 1990; and (7) coordinate activities funded under this Act with those of the National Endowment for Children's Educational Television established under the Communications Act of 1934. Sets forth requirements relating to awards of such grants for developing and distributing programming and training materials. Requires annual reports to the Secretary by grantees for programming and support materials development and distribution and biannual reports by the Secretary to relevant congressional committees on information and outreach for training parents and personnel. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with a public broadcasting entity to distribute educational video programming for preschool and elementary school children, parents, and child care providers, on at least one channel under a specified satellite interconnection. Designates such channel the Ready to Learn Channel. Authorizes appropriations for Ready to Learn Television programs. Requires at least 60 percent of such funds to be used for grants to develop and distribute educational programming for children. Amends the Head Start Act (the Act) to revise various provisions for the Head Start program (the program). Extends for one additional year the formula for distribution of certain quality improvement funds allocated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), thus extending local determination of the use of such funds over that period. Requires early childhood intervention programs under the program to include parental literacy training among the services they provide for parents. Establishes guidelines which the Secretary of HHS must consider in determining whether a local Head Start agency may receive a waiver or reduction of required non-Federal matching funds. Includes consideration of community lack of resources, whether the community is adversely affected by a major disaster, impacts of program costs in initial years or unanticipated increases in operating costs, and impact on the community if the program were forced to close there. Directs the Secretary of HHS to issue transportation safety regulations for all Head Start programs. Directs the Secretary of HHS to review each newly designated Head Start agency immediately after completion of its first year and to conduct followup reviews of Head Start agencies when appropriate. Revises provisions for designation of Head Start agencies to include consideration of the applicant agency's effectiveness based on: (1) its plan to provide, directly or through referral, child development and literacy skills training to parents of participating children; and (2) its plan (if it chooses to do so) for assisting younger siblings of participants to obtain health services from other sources. Requires Head Start agencies to provide, directly or through referral, child development and literacy skills training to parents of participating children. Requires such agencies to consider providing services to assist younger siblings of participants to obtain health services from other sources. Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish uniform procedures for Head Start agencies to request approval to purchase facilities to be used to carry out Head Start programs. Requires such request applications to include: (1) facility site description; (2) facility plans and specifications; (3) information demonstrating either that the purchase will result in a cost savings (compared to an alternative facility) or that there are no alternative facilities available; and (4) additional information and assurances that the Secretary of HHS requires. Makes certain technical amendments to the Act and to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 and the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. Revises requirements for technical assistance, training, and staff qualifications. Provides for use of Head Start program funds to support an organization to administer a centralized child development and national assessment program leading to recognized credentials for personnel working in early child development and child care programs. (Current law allows administration of such program at the State or local level and limits such credentials to specialized or other personnel needed in connection with Head Start programs.) Directs the Secretary of HHS to: (1) develop a systematic approach to training Head Start personnel, including specific goals and objectives for program improvement and professional development, a process for continuing input from the Head Start community, and a strategy for delivering training and technical assistance; and (2) report on such approach to specified congressional committees. Authorizes the Secretary of HHS to provide (either directly or through grants) 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.