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HR 702 111th Congress House

PRE-K Act

Official title: To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to improve early education.

Introduced: January 27, 2009 Introduced by: Hirono, Mazie K. Democratic · Hawaii See on congress.gov
Education Child care and developmentChild healthEducation of the disadvantagedEducation programs funding
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Educational facilities and institutionsHigher educationIndian social and development programsLanguage artsMinority educationPreschool educationRural conditions and developmentSchool administrationSpecial educationTeaching, teachers, curricula
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 27, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Jan 27, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 27, 2009

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Providing Resources Early for Kids Act of 2009 or the PRE-K Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award matching grants to states to enhance or improve state-funded preschool programs.

Sets forth a grant formula favoring states that: (1) have curricula aligned with state early learning standards; (2) use nationally-established, or better, best practices for class size and teacher-to-student ratios; (3) require each teacher to have at least an associate degree in early childhood education or a related field; (4) require such programs to operate for at least a full academic year; and (5) have a plan for meeting the requirement, within five years of receiving such grant, that teachers have at least a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education or have such degree in a related field, but have also completed specialized training in early childhood education.

Directs the Secretary to establish a competitive process for awarding grants to other states that demonstrate that they will meet such requirements within two fiscal years.

Prohibits state grantees from reducing their preschool or child care expenditures.

Requires states to give priority, in using grant funds, to preschool programs in communities with high concentrations of impoverished children.

Includes among grant uses: (1) increasing the qualifications of, and benefits provided to, teachers, teacher aides, and program directors; (2) decreasing class size and improving teacher-to-student ratios; (3) providing certain comprehensive services that support healthy child development; (4) extending program duration; and (5) improving program monitoring and learning environments.

Reserves funds for competitive grants to Indians for their preschool programs.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 702: PRE-K Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-702/
MLA
"H.R. 702: PRE-K Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-702/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 702, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-702/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 702: PRE-K Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-702/)
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