Directs the Secretary of Education to provide for: (1) financial assistance for comprehensive early childhood education programs to prime sponsors and other public and private nonprofit entities; (2) technical assistance, planning, and evaluation; (3) Federal standards for early childhood education, and development of a uniform minimum code for licensing facilities; (4) research and demonstration projects; and (5) procedures to assure that adequate nutrition services will be provided in early childhood education programs under this Act.
Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance for: (1) preservice and inservice professional and nonprofessional training of individuals, including volunteers, for employment in early childhood education programs, to be conducted by the program agencies or higher education institutions; and (2) establishing and operating model early childhood education programs for the children of civilian Federal employees.
Establishes a Special Committee on Federal Standards for Early Childhood Education. Sets forth requirements for early childhood education councils, special grants to States, use of public facilities for child development programs, and Federal share of program costs. Prohibits discrimination, political activities, sectarian instruction, medical or psychological examination or treatment requirements, or research or experimentation on children (other than routine testing) without parents' informed consent, under programs assisted by this Act.