Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 1.djvu/670

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108 STAT. 644 PUBLIC LAW 103-252—MAY 18, 1994 "(C) will receive such credential under the terms of such program not later than 180 days after beginning employment as a teacher with such agency. "(3) LIMITATION.— The Secretary may not grant more than one such waiver with respect to such individual. "(b) MEISTTOR TEACHERS.— "(1) DEFINITION; FUNCTION.— For purposes of this subsection, the term 'mentor teacher' means an individual responsible for observing and assessing the classroom activities of a Head Start program and providing on-the-job guidance and training to the Head Stsirt program staff and volunteers, in order to improve the qualifications and training of classroom staff, to maintain high quality education services, and to promote career development, in Head Start programs. "(2) REQUIREMENT.—In order to assist Head Start agencies in establishing positions for mentor teachers, the Secretary shall— "(A) provide technical assistance and training to enable Head Start agencies to establish such positions; "(B) give priority consideration, in providing assistance pursuant to subparagraph (A), to Head Start programs that have substantial numbers of new classroom staff, that are experiencing difficulty in meeting applicable education standards, or that lack staff of a similar cultural background to that of the participating children and their families; "(C) encourage Head Start programs to give priority consideration for such positions to Head Start teachers at the appropriate level of career advancement in such programs; ana "(D) promote the development of model curricula, designed to ensure the attainment of appropriate competencies of mentor teachers in Head Start programs. "(c) FAMILY SERVICE WORKERS.— In order to improve the quality and effectiveness of staff providing in-home and other services (including needs assessment, development of service plans, family advocacy, and coordination of service delivery) to families of children participating in Head Start programs, the Secretary, in coordination with concerned public and private agencies and organizations examining the issues of standeirds and training for family service workers, shall— "(1) review and, as necessary, revise or develop new qualification standards for Head Start staff providing such services; "(2) promote the development of model curricula (on subjects including parenting training and family literacy) designed to ensure the attainment of appropriate competencies by individuals working or planning to work in the field of early childhood and family services; and "(3) promote the establishment of a credential that indicates attainment of the competencies and that is accepted nationwide. "(d) HEAD START FELLOWSHIPS.— "(1) AUTHORITY.— The Secretary may establish a program of fellowships, to be known as 'Head Start Fellowships', in accordance with this subsection. The Secretary may award the fellowships to individuals, to be known as 'Head Start Fellows', who are staff in local Head Start programs or other