1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Head Start Improvement Act of 2017 . 2. Improvements The Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended to read as follows: 635. Short title This subchapter may be cited as the Head Start Act . 636. Statement of purpose It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote the school readiness of low-income children by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development in a learning environment that supports children's growth in language, literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional functioning, creative arts, physical skills, and approaches to learning. 637. Definitions For purposes of this subchapter: (1) Delegate agency The term delegate agency means a public, private nonprofit (including a community-based organization, as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 )), or for-profit organization or agency to which an eligible entity has delegated all or part of the responsibility of the grantee for administering funds under this subchapter. (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means the recipient of a subgrant under section 639(d)(3)(A). (3) Financial assistance The term financial assistance includes assistance provided by grant, agreement, or contract, and payments may be made in installments and in advance or by way of reimbursement with necessary adjustments on account of overpayments or underpayments. (4) Grant recipient The term grant recipient means the recipient of a grant under section 639(a). (5) Indian tribe The term Indian tribe means any tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Native village described in section 3(c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1602(c) ) or established pursuant to such Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. (6) Local educational agency The term