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S. 5299

BillFederalSenateIn Committee
A bill to amend the Head Start Act to establish Tribal certification standards for Indian Head Start programs, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · August 6, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Congress
119th (2025–2027)
Introduced
August 6, 2026
Sponsor
Sen. Martin HeinrichD
Cosponsors (1)
0D 1R
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Summary

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This bill establishes separate teacher qualification standards for Native American Head Start and Early Head Start programs, exempting them from nationwide federal credentialing requirements. Under the new rules, Native American Head Start and Early Head Start teachers must have a child development associate credential, an early childhood education certificate from a college or tribal college, or be enrolled in a program to earn one of these credentials within two years of hire. The bill affects teachers and teaching assistants in Head Start programs serving Native American and Alaska Native children and families. It allows tribal organizations and colleges to play a larger role in certifying educators through pathways tailored to Native communities. The legislation does not specify new federal funding amounts but modifies existing Head Start Act requirements to give Native American programs more flexibility in meeting teacher qualification standards.

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