U.S. Code » Title 20 » Chapter CHAPTER 31— GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING EDUCATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— APPROPRIATIONS AND EVALUATIONS › Part Part 2— Planning and Evaluation of Federal Education Activities

20 U.S.C. § 1228a

Equity for students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries

Read at: OLRCuscode.house.gov CornellLII GovInfogovinfo.gov JustiaTitle 20 CasesGoogle Scholar
(a) PurposeThe purpose of this section is to assist the Department in implementing the Department’s mission to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the Nation, by—(1) ensuring equal opportunities to participate for all eligible students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries in any project or activity carried out under an applicable program; and(2) promoting the ability of such students, teachers, and beneficiaries to meet high standards.(b) Requirement to develop steps to ensure equity

The Secretary shall require each applicant for assistance under an applicable program (other than an individual) to develop and describe in such applicant’s application the steps such applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and equitable participation in, the project or activity to be conducted with such assistance, by addressing the special needs of students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries in order to overcome barriers to equitable participation, including barriers based on gender, race, color, national origin, disability, and age.

(c) Establishment of criteria

The Secretary may establish criteria and provide technical assistance for meeting the requirements of this section.

(d) Effect on other laws

Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter in any way the rights or responsibilities established under the laws cited in section 1221(d) of this title.

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 427, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title II, § 236, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3917.)Editorial NotesPrior Provisions

A prior section 427 of Pub. L. 90–247 was renumbered section 434, and is classified to section 1231d of this title.

Another prior section 427 of Pub. L. 90–247 was renumbered section 429, and was classified to section 1231f of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–382.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date

Section effective July 1, 1995, for noncompetitive programs in which funds are allocated on the basis of a formula and for programs that are conducted on a competitive basis, with respect to appropriations for use under such programs in fiscal year 1995 and in subsequent fiscal years, see section 3(a)(2) of Pub. L. 103–382, set out as an Effective Date of 1994 Amendment note under section 1221 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1 case (1 in the last 5 years), 2026–2026 · leading case: Council for Opportunity in Educ. v. U.S. Dep't of Educ. (D.D.C. 2026).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Council for Opportunity in Educ. v. U.S. Dep't of Educ. (D.D.C. 2026). “See 20 U.S.C. § 1228a(b). According to COE, however, the language used in certain members’ denial letters—that the proposals “conflict with the Department’s policy of prioritizing merit, fairness, and excellence in education and the Department’s commitment to upholding the…”
— 20 U.S.C. § 1228a(b) — 1 case
Council for Opportunity in Educ. v. U.S. Dep't of Educ. (D.D.C. 2026). “See 20 U.S.C. § 1228a(b). According to COE, however, the language used in certain members’ denial letters—that the proposals “conflict with the Department’s policy of prioritizing merit, fairness, and excellence in education and the Department’s commitment to upholding the…”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.