Title 20EducationRelease 119-73

§7221 Purpose

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 70— - STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - 21ST CENTURY SCHOOLS › Part Part C— - Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools › § 7221

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Set eight main goals to support and grow public charter schools and improve education for all students. The goals fund planning and starting charter schools, increase the number of high‑quality charter schools, study and share how charter schools affect students and communities, and push states to help pay for school buildings like they do for regular public schools. They also expand access for students with disabilities, English learners, and other underserved students, and strengthen oversight, audits, accountability, and transparency for charter authorizers, including state education agencies, local school districts, and other authorizing groups.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §7221

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

It is the purpose of this part to—
(1)improve the United States education system and education opportunities for all people in the United States by supporting innovation in public education in public school settings that prepare students to compete and contribute to the global economy and a stronger Nation;
(2)provide financial assistance for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools;
(3)increase the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across the United States;
(4)evaluate the impact of charter schools on student achievement, families, and communities, and share best practices between charter schools and other public schools;
(5)encourage States to provide support to charter schools for facilities financing in an amount more nearly commensurate to the amount States typically provide for traditional public schools;
(6)expand opportunities for children with disabilities, English learners, and other traditionally underserved students to attend charter schools and meet the challenging State academic standards;
(7)support efforts to strengthen the charter school authorizing process to improve performance management, including transparency, oversight and monitoring (including financial audits), and evaluation of such schools; and
(8)support quality, accountability, and transparency in the operational performance of all authorized public chartering agencies, including State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and other authorizing entities.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 7221, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4301, formerly title V, § 5201, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title V, § 501, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1788; renumbered title IV, § 4301, Pub. L. 114–95, title IV, § 4001(b)(2)(A), (B), (D)(iii), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1967, related to purpose of former subpart 1 of part B of subchapter V of this chapter, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 114–95, § 5, title IV, § 4301(1), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1806, 1993, effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs. A prior section 4301 of Pub. L. 89–10 was renumbered section 8571, and is classified to section 7971 of this title. Another prior section 4301 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 3081 of this title, prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 89–10 by Pub. L. 103–382.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section 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 an

Effective Date

of 2015 Amendment note under section 6301 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 7221

Title 20Education

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73