H.R. 8859

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8859 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8859

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the knowledge and 
skills of principals and school leaders regarding early childhood 
education.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 15, 2026

Ms. Pettersen (for herself and Mrs. Hayes) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the knowledge and 
skills of principals and school leaders regarding early childhood 
education.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Creating Early Childhood Leaders 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Since principals and school leaders have the second 
largest in-school impact on student achievement (after 
teachers), a principal or school leader's knowledge has a 
substantial impact on the teachers and students under the 
principal or school leader's supervision.
(2) Principals and school leaders are increasingly being 
asked to supervise teachers and children in pre-kindergarten 
programs, yet school leaders often do not have training in 
early childhood education.
(3) Given the critical development that occurs in a child's 
early life and the impacts of this developmental period on 
later life outcomes, understanding the standards of early 
childhood education is particularly important.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to ensure that principals 
and school leaders are able to effectively support teachers in 
providing pre-kindergarten students with developmentally appropriate 
instruction.

SEC. 3. SCHOOL LEADER TRAINING REGARDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

Section 202(f)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1022a(f)(1)(B)) is amended--
(1) by striking clause (v) and inserting the following:
``(v) engage and involve parents, community 
members, the local educational agency, 
businesses, providers of early childhood 
education programs, and other community 
leaders, to leverage additional resources to 
improve student academic achievement;'';
(2) in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(vii) understand child development, 
social and emotional development, 
developmentally appropriate behavioral 
interventions and supports, and effective 
instructional leadership skills for children 
from birth through age 8, in order to 
effectively manage and support developmentally 
appropriate early childhood education 
programs.''.
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