---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 9852b"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "9852b"
heading: "Centers of Excellence in Early Childhood"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/9852b"
units:
  - "Chapter 105 — Community Services Programs"
  - "Subchapter II — Head Start Programs"
---

# §9852b. Centers of Excellence in Early Childhood

- (a) **Definition—** In this section, the term “center of excellence” means a Center of Excellence in Early Childhood designated under [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Designation and bonus grants—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) shall, subject to the availability of funds under this section, establish a program under which the [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) shall—
  - (1) designate not more than 200 exemplary Head Start [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) (including Early Head Start [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), Indian Head Start [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), and migrant and seasonal Head Start [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1)) as Centers of Excellence in Early Childhood; and
  - (2) make bonus grants to the centers of excellence to carry out the activities described in [subsection (d)](#d).
- (c) **Application and designation—**
  - (1) **Application—**
    - (A) **Nomination and submission—**
      - (i) **In general—** To be eligible to receive a designation as a center of excellence under [subsection (b)](#b), except as provided in [clause (ii)](#c-1-A-ii), a Head Start [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) in a [State](/usc/42/9832.md?p=25) shall be nominated by the Governor of the [State](/usc/42/9832.md?p=25), after selection for nomination by such Governor through a competitive process, and shall submit an application to the [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) may require.
      - (ii) **Indian and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs—** In the case of an Indian Head Start [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or a migrant or seasonal Head Start [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), to be eligible to receive a designation as a center of excellence under [subsection (b)](#b), such an [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) shall be nominated by the head of the appropriate regional office of the Department of Health and Human Services and shall submit an application to the [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) in accordance with [clause (i)](#c-1-A-i).
    - (B) **Contents—** At a minimum, the application shall include—
      - (i) evidence that the Head Start program carried out by the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) involved has significantly improved the school readiness of children who have participated in the program;
      - (ii) evidence that the program meets or exceeds standards described in [section 9836a(a)(1) of this title](/usc/42/9836a.md?p=a-1), as evidenced by the results of monitoring reviews described in [section 9836a(c) of this title](/usc/42/9836a.md?p=c), and has no findings of [deficiencies](/usc/42/9832.md?p=2) in the preceding 3 years;
      - (iii) evidence that the program is making progress toward meeting the requirements described in [section 9843a of this title](/usc/42/9843a.md);
      - (iv) an assurance that the Head Start [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) will develop a collaborative partnership with the [State](/usc/42/9832.md?p=25) (or a [State agency](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=12)) and other providers of early childhood education and development programs and services in the local community involved to conduct activities under [subsection (d)](#d);
      - (v) a nomination letter from the Governor, or appropriate regional office, demonstrating the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1)’s ability to provide the coordination, transition, and training services of the program to be carried out under the bonus grant involved, including coordination of activities with [State](/usc/42/9832.md?p=25) and local [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that provide early childhood education and development to children and families in the community served by the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), and carry out the activities described under [subsection (d)(1)](#d-1); and
      - (vi) a description of how the center involved, in order to expand accessibility and continuity of quality early childhood education and development services and programs, will coordinate activities, as appropriate, assisted under this section with—
        - (I) programs carried out under subchapter II–B;
        - (II) the Early Head Start programs carried out under [section 9840a of this title](/usc/42/9840a.md);
        - (III) preschool programs carried out under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 6301](/usc/20/6301.md) et seq.);
        - (IV) programs carried out under [section 619](/usc/42/619.md) and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ([20 U.S.C. 1419](/usc/20/1419.md), 1431 et seq.);
        - (V) [State](/usc/42/9832.md?p=25) prekindergarten programs; and
        - (VI) other programs of early childhood education and development.
  - (2) **Selection—** In selecting [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) to designate as centers of excellence under [subsection (b)](#b), the [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) shall designate not less than 1 from each of the 50 [States](/usc/42/9832.md?p=25), the District of Columbia, an Indian Head Start program, a [migrant or seasonal Head Start program](/usc/42/9832.md?p=17), and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  - (3) **Priority—** In making bonus grant determinations under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) shall give priority to [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that, through their applications, demonstrate that their programs are of exceptional quality and would serve as exemplary models for programs in the same geographic region. The [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) may also consider the populations served by the applicants, such as [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that serve large proportions of families of [limited English proficient](/usc/42/9832.md?p=15) children or other underserved populations, and may make bonus grants to [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that do an exceptional job meeting the needs of children in such populations.
  - (4) **Term of designation—**
    - (A) **In general—** Subject to [subparagraph (B)](#c-4-B), the [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) shall designate a Head Start [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) as a center of excellence for a 5-year term. During the period of that designation, subject to the availability of appropriations, the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) shall be eligible to receive a bonus grant under [subsection (b)](#b).
    - (B) **Revocation—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) may revoke an [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1)’s designation under [subsection (b)](#b) if the [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) determines that the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) is not demonstrating adequate performance or has had findings of [deficiencies](/usc/42/9832.md?p=2) described in [paragraph (1)(B)(ii)](#c-1-B-ii).
  - (5) **Amount of bonus grant—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) shall base the amount of funding provided through a bonus grant made under [subsection (b)](#b) to a center of excellence on the number of children eligible for Head Start services in the community involved. The [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) shall, subject to the availability of funding, make such a bonus grant in an amount of not less than $200,000 per year.
- (d) **Use of funds—** A center of excellence that receives a bonus grant under [subsection (b)](#b)—
  - (1) shall use not less than 15 percent of the funds made available through the bonus grant to disseminate to other Head Start [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) in the [State](/usc/42/9832.md?p=25) involved, best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for achieving early academic success, including—
    - (A) best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for achieving school readiness, including developing early literacy and mathematics skills, for children at risk for school difficulties;
    - (B) best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for achieving the acquisition of the English language for [limited English proficient](/usc/42/9832.md?p=15) children, if appropriate to the population served; and
    - (C) best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for providing high-quality comprehensive services for eligible children and their families;
  - (2) may use the funds made available through the bonus grant—
    - (A) to provide Head Start services to additional eligible children;
    - (B) to better meet the needs of working families in the community served by the center by serving more children in existing Early Head Start programs (existing as of the date the center is designated under this section) or in [full-working-day](/usc/42/9832.md?p=7), [full calendar year](/usc/42/9832.md?p=6) Head Start programs;
    - (C) to further coordinate early childhood education and development programs and services and social services available in the community served by the center for at-risk children (birth through age 8), their families, and pregnant women;
    - (D) to provide [professional development](/usc/42/9832.md?p=21) for Head Start teachers and staff, including joint training for Head Start teachers and staff, child care providers, public and private preschool and elementary school teachers, and other providers of early childhood education and development programs;
    - (E) to provide effective transitions between Head Start programs and elementary schools and to facilitate ongoing communication between Head Start and elementary school teachers concerning children receiving Head Start services to improve the teachers’ ability to work effectively with low-income, at-risk children and their families;
    - (F) to develop or maintain partnerships with institutions of higher education and [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations, including community-based organizations, that recruit, train, place, and support college students to serve as mentors and reading partners to preschool children in Head Start programs; and
    - (G) to carry out other activities determined by the center to improve the overall quality of the Head Start program carried out by the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and the program carried out under the bonus grant involved.
- (e) **Research and reports—**
  - (1) **Research—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) shall, subject to the availability of funds to carry out this subsection, award a grant or contract to an independent organization to conduct research on the ability of the centers of excellence to use the funds received under this section to improve the school readiness of children receiving Head Start services, and to positively impact school results in the earliest grades. The organization shall also conduct research to measure the success of the centers of excellence at encouraging the center’s [delegate agencies](/usc/42/9832.md?p=3), additional Head Start [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), and other providers of early childhood education and development programs in the communities involved to meet measurable improvement goals, particularly in the area of school readiness.
  - (2) **Research report—** Not later than 48 months after December 12, 2007, the organization shall prepare and submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) and Congress a report containing the results of the research described in [paragraph (1)](#e-1).
  - (3) **Reports to the Secretary—** Each center of excellence shall submit an annual report to the [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24), at such time and in such manner as the [Secretary](/usc/42/9832.md?p=24) may require, that contains a description of the activities the center carried out with funds received under this section, including a description of how such funds improved services for children and families.
- (f) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to make bonus grants to centers of excellence under [subsection (b)](#b) to carry out activities described in [subsection (d)](#d) and research and report activities described in [subsection (e)](#e).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, § 657B, as added Pub. L. 110–134, § 26, Dec. 12, 2007, 121 Stat. 1444; amended Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(nn)(6), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2177.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(B)(vi)(III), is Pub. L. 89–10, Apr. 11, 1965, 79 Stat. 27. Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 6301 et seq.) of chapter 70 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6301 of Title 20 and Tables.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(B)(vi)(IV), is title VI of Pub. L. 91–230, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 175. Part C of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 1431 et seq.) of chapter 33 of Title 20, Education. Section 619 of the Act is classified to section 1419 of Title 20. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1400 of Title 20 and Tables.

### Amendments

2015—Subsec. (c)(1)(B)(vi)(III) to (VII). Pub. L. 114–95 redesignated subcls. (IV) to (VII) as (III) to (VI), respectively, in subcl. (III) as redesignated, struck out “other” before “preschool programs” and substituted “the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965” for “that Act”, and struck out former subcl. (III) which read as follows: “Early Reading First and Even Start programs carried out under subparts 2 and 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6371 et seq., 6381 et seq.);”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.