§7131 — Title 20 Education | U.S. Code

§7131 Internet safety

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 70— - STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - 21ST CENTURY SCHOOLS › Part Part A— - Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants › Subpart subpart 2— - internet safety › § 7131

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Schools that do not get discounted telecom services under 47 U.S.C. 254(h)(5) must not use federal money from this program to buy computers that access the Internet or to pay Internet costs unless the school (or its school board, district, or other responsible authority) has an Internet safety policy and actually uses a technology protection measure (like filtering or blocking tools). The policy must block access to obscene material and child pornography for all users, and must also block material that is harmful to minors when minors use the computers. The school must run the filter during any use by minors. An authorized official may turn off the filter for real research or other lawful reasons. The local education agency must certify compliance when it applies for program funds for the next school year after December 21, 2000, and every year after that. If a school does not yet have a qualifying policy, the district must first certify that it is taking steps to create one the first year it applies after December 21, 2000, and must certify actual compliance in the second program year after that date. If the school still is not compliant in that second year, it cannot get funds until it becomes compliant. A waiver is possible if buying or contracting rules prevent timely compliance, but the district must notify the Secretary and promise the school will comply before the start of the third program year after December 21, 2000. If the Secretary finds large noncompliance, the Secretary may withhold payments, issue a complaint to force compliance, or make a compliance agreement; these are the only remedies and the Secretary will not seek to recover funds once withheld. Payments resume once the problem is fixed. Definitions (one line each): computer — hardware, software, or other tech used with a computer; computer with Internet access — has a modem or is on a network that reaches the Internet; receipt of funds for a computer — any use of funds to buy, lease, support, or run the computer; minor — under 17 years old; child pornography — meaning in 18 U.S.C. 2256; harmful to minors — visual material that appeals to sexual interest, is patently offensive for minors, and lacks serious value for minors; obscene — meaning in 18 U.S.C. 1460; sexual act/sexual contact — meanings in 18 U.S.C. 2246. If any part is struck down, the rest stays in effect.

Title 20, §7131

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)No funds made available under this part to a local educational agency for an elementary school or secondary school that does not receive services at discount rates under section 254(h)(5) of title 47 may be used to purchase computers used to access the Internet, or to pay for direct costs associated with accessing the Internet, for such school unless the school, school board, local educational agency, or other authority with responsibility for administration of such school both—

(1)(A)has in place a policy of Internet safety for minors that includes the operation of a technology protection measure with respect to any of its computers with Internet access that protects against access through such computers to visual depictions that are—

(i)obscene;

(ii)child pornography; or

(iii)harmful to minors; and

(B)is enforcing the operation of such technology protection measure during any use of such computers by minors; and

(2)(A)has in place a policy of Internet safety that includes the operation of a technology protection measure with respect to any of its computers with Internet access that protects against access through such computers to visual depictions that are—

(i)obscene; or

(ii)child pornography; and

(B)is enforcing the operation of such technology protection measure during any use of such computers.

(b)(1)The local educational agency with responsibility for a school covered by subsection (a) shall certify the compliance of such school with the requirements of subsection (a) as part of the application process for the next program funding year under this chapter following December 21, 2000, and for each subsequent program funding year thereafter.

(2)(A)A local educational agency with responsibility for a school covered by subsection (a) that has in place an Internet safety policy meeting the requirements of subsection (a) shall certify its compliance with subsection (a) during each annual program application cycle under this chapter.

(B)(i)A local educational agency with responsibility for a school covered by subsection (a) that does not have in place an Internet safety policy meeting the requirements of subsection (a)—

(I)for the first program year after December 21, 2000, in which the local educational agency is applying for funds for such school under this chapter, shall certify that it is undertaking such actions, including any necessary procurement procedures, to put in place an Internet safety policy that meets such requirements; and

(II)for the second program year after December 21, 2000, in which the local educational agency is applying for funds for such school under this chapter, shall certify that such school is in compliance with such requirements.

(ii)Any school covered by subsection (a) for which the local educational agency concerned is unable to certify compliance with such requirements in such second program year shall be ineligible for all funding under this part for such second program year and all subsequent program years until such time as such school comes into compliance with such requirements.

(C)Any school subject to a certification under subparagraph (B)(i)(II) for which the local educational agency concerned cannot make the certification otherwise required by that subparagraph may seek a waiver of that subparagraph if State or local procurement rules or regulations or competitive bidding requirements prevent the making of the certification otherwise required by that subparagraph. The local educational agency concerned shall notify the Secretary of the applicability of that subparagraph to the school. Such notice shall certify that the school will be brought into compliance with the requirements in subsection (a) before the start of the third program year after December 21, 2000, in which the school is applying for funds under this part.

(c)An administrator, supervisor, or person authorized by the responsible authority under subsection (a) may disable the technology protection measure concerned to enable access for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.

(d)(1)Whenever the Secretary has reason to believe that any recipient of funds under this part is failing to comply substantially with the requirements of this section, the Secretary may—

(A)withhold further payments to the recipient under this part;

(B)issue a complaint to compel compliance of the recipient through a cease and desist order; or

(C)enter into a compliance agreement with a recipient to bring it into compliance with such requirements,

(2)The actions authorized by paragraph (1) are the exclusive remedies available with respect to the failure of a school to comply substantially with a provision of this section, and the Secretary shall not seek a recovery of funds from the recipient for such failure.

(3)Whenever the Secretary determines (whether by certification or other appropriate evidence) that a recipient of funds who is subject to the withholding of payments under paragraph (1)(A) has cured the failure providing the basis for the withholding of payments, the Secretary shall cease the withholding of payments to the recipient under that paragraph.

(e)In this subpart:

(1)The term “computer” includes any hardware, software, or other technology attached or connected to, installed in, or otherwise used in connection with a computer.

(2)A computer shall be considered to have access to the Internet if such computer is equipped with a modem or is connected to a computer network that has access to the Internet.

(3)An elementary school or secondary school shall be considered to have received funds under this part for the acquisition or operation of any computer if such funds are used in any manner, directly or indirectly—

(A)to purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire or obtain the use of such computer; or

(B)to obtain services, supplies, software, or other actions or materials to support, or in connection with, the operation of such computer.

(4)The term “minor” means an individual who has not attained the age of 17.

(5)The term “child pornography” has the meaning given that term in section 2256 of title 18.

(6)The term “harmful to minors” means any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that—

(A)taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;

(B)depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and

(C)taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors.

(7)The term “obscene” has the meaning applicable to that term under section 1460 of title 18.

(8)The terms “sexual act” and “sexual contact” have the meanings given those terms in section 2246 of title 18.

(f)If any provision of this section is held invalid, the remainder of this section shall not be affected thereby.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was classified to section 6777 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 114–95.

Prior Provisions

Prior sections 7131 to 7140 were repealed by Pub. L. 114–95, § 5, title IV, § 4001(a)(5)(B), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1806, 1966, effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs. section 7131, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4121, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title IV, § 401, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1751, related to Federal activities. A prior section 7131, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4121, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3686, related to Federal activities, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110. section 7132, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4122, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title IV, § 401, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1752, related to impact evaluation. A prior section 7132, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4122, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3687, related to grants to institutions of higher education, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–244, § 3, title IX, § 981, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1585, 1837, effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105–244. section 7133, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4123, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title IV, § 401, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1752, related to hate crime prevention. A prior section 7133, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4123, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3687, related to hate crime prevention, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110. section 7134, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4124, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title IV, § 401, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1754, related to the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Advisory Committee. section 7135, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4125, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title IV, § 401, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1755, related to the National Coordinator Program. section 7136, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4126, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title IV, § 401, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1756, related to community service grant programs. section 7137, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4127, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title IV, § 401, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1756, related to the School Security Technology and Resource Center. section 7138, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4128, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title IV, § 401, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1756, related to the National Center for School and Youth Safety. section 7139, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4129, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title IV, § 401, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1757, authorized grants to reduce alcohol abuse. section 7140, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4130, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title IV, § 401, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1758, related to mentoring programs. Prior sections 7141 to 7144 were omitted in the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110. section 7141, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4131, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3689, defined terms. section 7142, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4132, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3689, related to materials. section 7143, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4133, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3690, set forth prohibited uses of funds. section 7144, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4134, as added Pub. L. 105–277, div. D, title I, § 122, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–756, related to quality rating of drug, alcohol, and tobacco prevention programs implemented in public elementary schools and secondary schools.