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S 470 112th Congress Senate

Supporting State Systems of Early Learning Act

Official title: A bill to establish an Early Learning Challenge Fund to support States in building and strengthening systems of high-quality early learning and development programs and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 3, 2011 See on congress.gov
Education Academic performance and assessmentsChild care and developmentChild healthEducation of the disadvantaged
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Education programs fundingGovernment information and archivesIndian social and development programsMinority educationPerformance measurementPreschool educationTeaching, teachers, curricula
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) 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
Mar 3, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mar 3, 2011
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action March 3, 2011

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Supporting State Systems of Early Learning Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive, matching Quality Pathways grants to states that demonstrate the greatest progress toward establishing a high-quality system of early learning that includes: (1) state early learning standards; (2) preservice and ongoing training for staff; (3) the systematic review, rating, and monitoring of early learning programs for ameliorative purposes; (4) parental involvement; (5) health, disability, and family support services and referrals for participating children; (6) an early learning data system; and (7) a process for evaluating children's school readiness and ensuring their effective transition to the public school system.

Requires the grant to be used to further such progress and move more disadvantaged children into higher quality programs. Permits grantees to apply to the Secretary to reserve up to 25% of their grant to expand disadvantaged children's access to the highest quality early learning programs offering full-day, full-year services.

Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive Development grants to states that were not awarded a Pathways grant, but commit to developing a high-quality system of early learning that includes the components listed above.

Directs the Secretary to establish indicators to measure state progress in meeting grant objectives, and states to establish Secretary-approved benchmarks for success that are based on those indicators.

Requires the Secretary to use certain reserved funds to: (1) establish a competitive grant demonstration program for Native American school readiness programs; (2) provide technical assistance to states to help them qualify for, apply for, and maintain this Act's grants; and (3) support the Institute of Education Sciences' research into, and evaluation of, this Act's grant-related activities.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 470: Supporting State Systems of Early Learning Act. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-470/
MLA
"S. 470: Supporting State Systems of Early Learning Act." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-470/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 470, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-470/.
Markdown link
[S. 470: Supporting State Systems of Early Learning Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-470/)
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