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Title 20 — EducationRelease 119-73

§1070d–33 Scholarships authorized

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 28— - HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Part Part A— - Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education › Subpart subpart 6— - robert c. byrd honors scholarship program › § 1070d–33

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can give money to states so they can offer scholarships to students who have shown outstanding schoolwork and promise to keep doing well. Winners may use the scholarship at any eligible college or university. Scholarships must last at least 1 year and no more than 4 years, and cover only the first 4 years of study. States decide the award length within that range. If yearly funding is higher than in fiscal year 1993, the Secretary must tell each State how many extra scholarships it gets under section 1070d–34(b), and the State must award at least that many for 4 years. Recipients are called "Byrd Scholars."

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §1070d–33

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary is authorized, in accordance with the provisions of this subpart, to make grants to States to enable the States to award scholarships to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and who show promise of continued academic achievement.
(b)Scholarships under this section shall be awarded for a period of not less than 1 or more than 4 years during the first 4 years of study at any institution of higher education eligible to participate in any programs assisted under this subchapter. The State educational agency administering the program in a State shall have discretion to determine the period of the award (within the limits specified in the preceding sentence), except that—
(1)if the amount appropriated for this subpart for any fiscal year exceeds the amount appropriated for this subpart for fiscal year 1993, the Secretary shall identify to each State educational agency the number of scholarships available to that State under section 1070d–34(b) of this title that are attributable to such excess; and
(2)the State educational agency shall award not less than that number of scholarships for a period of 4 years.
(c)A student awarded a scholarship under this subpart may attend any institution of higher education.
(d)Individuals awarded scholarships under this subpart shall be known as “Byrd Scholars”.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1070d–33, Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 419C, as added Pub. L. 98–558, title VIII, § 801(a), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2900; amended Pub. L. 99–145, title XVI, § 1627(b), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 779, authorized the award of scholarships under Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program, prior to the general revision of this part by Pub. L. 99–498.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–39 inserted “and” after semicolon at end. 1993—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–208 substituted “for a period of not less than 1 or more than 4 years during the first 4 years of study” for “for a period of not more than 4 years for the first 4 years of study” and inserted at end “The State educational agency administering the program in a State shall have discretion to determine the period of the award (within the limits specified in the preceding sentence), except that— “(1) if the amount appropriated for this subpart for any fiscal year exceeds the amount appropriated for this subpart for fiscal year 1993, the Secretary shall identify to each State educational agency the number of scholarships available to that State under section 1070d–34(b) of this title that are attributable to such excess; “(2) the State educational agency shall award not less than that number of scholarships for a period of 4 years.” 1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–325 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “Scholarships under this section shall be awarded for a period of one academic year for the first year of study at an institution of higher education.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2009 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–39 effective as if enacted on the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–315 (Aug. 14, 2008), see section 3 of Pub. L. 111–39, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1993 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–208 effective on and after Dec. 20, 1993, see section 5(b)(2) of Pub. L. 103–208, set out as a note under section 1051 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 1070d–33

Title 20 — Education

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73