Title 20 — EducationRelease 119-73
§6434 State plan and State agency applications
Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 70— - STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - IMPROVING THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF THE DISADVANTAGED › Part Part D— - Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk › Subpart subpart 1— - state agency programs › § 6434
Summary
States that want grant money must send a plan to the Secretary explaining how they will educate neglected, delinquent, and at‑risk children, help students move between correctional facilities and local programs, and connect this work with other state and federal programs. The plan must set goals and ways to measure progress, try to give these students the same chances as other students, prioritize helping them earn a regular high school diploma when possible, promise the state will follow the plan and make subgrantees follow the rules, and set up quick re‑enrollment, credit transfer, and chances to take credit‑bearing courses while in school or training. The plan stays in effect while the State takes part and must be reviewed and updated as needed. The Secretary will approve plans that meet these rules and may seek expert help to review them. State agencies that want money must apply to the state education agency and explain how they will assess students’ needs (ideally when they enter a facility), give priority in adult prisons to youth likely to leave within 2 years, include a first‑year budget with annual updates, and show how the program meets the state plan. The application must also cover staff training, use of program evaluations, required local spending, coordination with other programs, sharing of records to help transitions, a named transition contact at each facility, work with businesses and families, services and notices for students with disabilities, plans to re‑enroll dropouts or give them skills or a diploma, extra supports like career counseling or distance learning, coordination with juvenile justice programs, and, when possible, tracking and evidence‑based help for youth who are in both child welfare and juvenile justice.
Full Legal Text
Title 20, §6434
Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)Each State educational agency that desires to receive a grant under this subpart shall submit, for approval by the Secretary, a plan—
(A)for meeting the educational needs of neglected, delinquent, and at-risk children and youth;
(B)for assisting in the transition of children and youth between correctional facilities and locally operated programs; and
(C)that is integrated with other programs under this chapter or other Acts, as appropriate.
(2)Each such State plan shall—
(A)describe the program objectives and outcomes established by the State that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the program in improving the academic, career, and technical skills of children in the program;
(B)provide that, to the extent feasible, such children will have the same opportunities to achieve as such children would have if such children were in the schools of local educational agencies in the State;
(C)describe how the State will place a priority for such children to attain a regular high school diploma, to the extent feasible;
(D)contain an assurance that the State educational agency will—
(i)ensure that programs assisted under this subpart will be carried out in accordance with the State plan described in this subsection; and
(ii)ensure that the State agencies receiving subgrants under this subpart comply with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements; and
(E)provide assurances that the State educational agency has established—
(i)procedures to ensure the timely re-enrollment of each student who has been placed in the juvenile justice system in secondary school or in a re-entry program that best meets the needs of the student, including the transfer of credits that such student earns during placement; and
(ii)opportunities for such students to participate in credit-bearing coursework while in secondary school, postsecondary education, or career and technical education programming.
(3)Each such State plan shall—
(A)remain in effect for the duration of the State’s participation under this part; and
(B)be periodically reviewed and revised by the State, as necessary, to reflect changes in the State’s strategies and programs under this part.
(b)(1)The Secretary shall approve each State plan that meets the requirements of this subpart.
(2)The Secretary may review any State plan with the assistance and advice of individuals with relevant expertise.
(c)Any State agency that desires to receive funds to carry out a program under this subpart shall submit an application to the State educational agency that—
(1)describes the procedures to be used, consistent with the State plan under section 6311 of this title, to assess the educational needs of the children to be served under this subpart and, to the extent practicable, provide for such assessment upon entry into a correctional facility;
(2)provide an assurance that in making services available to children and youth in adult correctional institutions, priority will be given to such children and youth who are likely to complete incarceration within a 2-year period;
(3)describes the program, including a budget for the first year of the program, with annual updates to be provided to the State educational agency;
(4)describes how the program will meet the goals and objectives of the State plan;
(5)describes how the State agency will consult with experts and provide the necessary training for appropriate staff, to ensure that the planning and operation of institution-wide projects under section 6436 of this title are of high quality;
(6)describes how the State agency will use the results of the most recent evaluation under section 7981 of this title to plan and improve the program;
(7)includes data showing that the State agency has maintained the fiscal effort required of a local educational agency, in accordance with section 7901 of this title;
(8)describes how the programs will be coordinated with other appropriate State and Federal programs, such as programs under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [29 U.S.C. 3111 et seq.], career and technical education programs, State and local dropout prevention programs, and special education programs;
(9)describes how the State agency will encourage correctional facilities receiving funds under this subpart to coordinate with local educational agencies or alternative education programs attended by incarcerated children and youth prior to and after their incarceration to ensure that student assessments and appropriate academic records are shared jointly between the correctional facility and the local educational agency or alternative education program in order to facilitate the transition of such children and youth between the correctional facility and the local educational agency or alternative education program;
(10)describes how appropriate professional development will be provided to teachers and other staff;
(11)designates an individual in each affected correctional facility or institution for neglected or delinquent children and youth to be responsible for issues relating to the transition of such children and youth between such facility or institution and locally operated programs;
(12)describes how the State agency will endeavor to coordinate with businesses for training and mentoring for participating children and youth;
(13)provides an assurance that the State agency will assist in locating alternative programs through which students can continue their education if the students are not returning to school after leaving the correctional facility or institution for neglected or delinquent children and youth;
(14)provides assurances that the State agency will work with parents to secure parents’ assistance in improving the educational achievement of their children and youth, and preventing their children’s and youth’s further involvement in delinquent activities;
(15)provides an assurance that the State agency will work with children and youth with disabilities in order to meet an existing individualized education program and an assurance that the agency will notify the child’s or youth’s local school if the child or youth—
(A)is identified as in need of special education services while the child or youth is in the correctional facility or institution for neglected or delinquent children and youth; and
(B)intends to return to the local school;
(16)provides an assurance that the State agency will work with children and youth who dropped out of school before entering the correctional facility or institution for neglected or delinquent children and youth to encourage the children and youth to reenter school and attain a regular high school diploma once the term of the incarceration is completed or provide the child or youth with the skills necessary to gain employment, continue the education of the child or youth, or attain a regular high school diploma or its recognized equivalent if the child or youth does not intend to return to school;
(17)provides an assurance that certified or licensed teachers and other qualified staff are trained to work with children and youth with disabilities and other students with special needs taking into consideration the unique needs of such students;
(18)describes any additional services to be provided to children and youth, such as career counseling, distance learning, and assistance in securing student loans and grants;
(19)provides an assurance that the program under this subpart will be coordinated with any programs operated under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 [34 U.S.C. 11101 et seq.] or other comparable programs, if applicable; and
(20)describes how the State agency will, to the extent feasible—
(A)note when a youth has come into contact with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems; and
(B)deliver services and interventions designed to keep such youth in school that are evidence-based (to the extent a State determines that such evidence is reasonably available).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(8), is Pub. L. 113–128, July 22, 2014, 128 Stat. 1425. Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 3111 et seq.) of chapter 32 of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 3101 of Title 29 and Tables. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (c)(19), is Pub. L. 93–415, Sept. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1109, which is classified principally to chapter 111 (§ 11101 et seq.) of Title 34, Crime Control and Law
Enforcement
. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
of 1974 Act note set out under section 10101 of Title 34 and Tables.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 6434, Pub. L. 89–10, title I, § 1414, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3593; amended Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(f) [title VIII, § 405(d)(18)(B), (f)(13)(B)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–337, 2681–422, 2681–431, related to State plan and State agency applications, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110.
Amendments
2015—Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(A)(i), substituted “between correctional facilities and locally operated programs” for “from correctional facilities to locally operated programs”. Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(A)(ii)(I), substituted “the program objectives and outcomes established by the State” for “the program goals, objectives, and performance measures established by the State” and “career” for “vocational”. Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(A)(ii)(II), struck out “and” after semicolon at end. Subsec. (a)(2)(C), (D). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(A)(ii)(III)–(V), added subpar. (C), redesignated former subpar. (C) as (D), and in subpar. (D) in cl. (i) inserted “and” after semicolon at end, redesignated cl. (iii) as (ii), and struck out former cls. (ii) and (iv) which related to assurance that the agency would carry out the evaluation requirements of section 6471 of this title and provide such other information as the Secretary might reasonably require. Subsec. (a)(2)(E). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(A)(ii)(VI), added subpar. (E). Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(B)(i), inserted “and, to the extent practicable, provide for such assessment upon entry into a correctional facility” after “to be served under this subpart”. Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(B)(ii), substituted “will use” for “will carry out the evaluation requirements of section 7941 of this title and how”, inserted “under section 7981 of this title” after “most recent evaluation”, and struck out “will be used” before “to plan and improve the program”. Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(B)(iii), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 7901 of this title. Subsec. (c)(8). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(B)(iv), substituted “the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act” for “Public Law 105–220” and “career” for “vocational”. Subsec. (c)(9). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(B)(v), inserted “and after” after “prior to” and “in order to facilitate the transition of such children and youth between the correctional facility and the local educational agency or alternative education program” before semicolon at end. Subsec. (c)(11). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(B)(vi), substituted “transition of such children and youth between such facility or institution and locally operated programs” for “transition of children and youth from such facility or institution to locally operated programs”. Subsec. (c)(16). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(B)(vii), inserted “and attain a regular high school diploma” after “reenter school” and substituted “or attain a regular high school diploma” for “or achieve a secondary school diploma”. Subsec. (c)(17). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(B)(viii), inserted “certified or licensed” before “teachers”. Subsec. (c)(20). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(3)(B)(ix)–(xi), added par. (20).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
20 U.S.C. § 6434
Title 20 — Education
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73