§7401 — Title 20 Education | U.S. Code

Summary

The United States must honor its special duty to provide education for Indian children. The federal government must work with school districts, Indian tribes and groups, colleges, and others so programs for Indian children are high quality, meet basic and culturally related learning needs, and keep them out of run‑down school buildings that hurt their learning.

Title 20, §7401

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

It is the policy of the United States to fulfill the Federal Government’s unique and continuing trust relationship with and responsibility to the Indian people for the education of Indian children. The Federal Government will continue to work with local educational agencies, Indian tribes and organizations, postsecondary institutions, and other entities toward the goal of ensuring that programs that serve Indian children are of the highest quality and provide for not only the basic elementary and secondary educational needs, but also the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of these children. It is further the policy of the United States to ensure that Indian children do not attend school in buildings that are dilapidated or deteriorating, which may negatively affect the academic success of such children.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 7401, Pub. L. 89–10, title VII, § 7101, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3716, set forth

Short Title

of Bilingual Education Act, prior to the general amendment of former subchapter VII of this chapter by Pub. L. 107–110. A prior section 6101 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 7311 of this title, prior to the general amendment of former subchapter VI of this chapter by Pub. L. 107–110. Another prior section 6101 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 3261 of this title, prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 89–10 by Pub. L. 103–382.

Amendments

2015—Pub. L. 114–95, § 6002(a), inserted at end “It is further the policy of the United States to ensure that Indian children do not attend school in buildings that are dilapidated or deteriorating, which may negatively affect the academic success of such children.”

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.

Savings Provision

s Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 703, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1947, provided that: “Funds appropriated for parts A, B, and C of title IX of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [former 20 U.S.C. 7801 et seq., 7901 et seq., 7931 et seq.] (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 8, 2002]) shall be available for use under parts A, B, and C, respectively, of title VII [now VI] of such Act [20 U.S.C. 7401 et seq., 7511 et seq., 7541 et seq.], as added by this section [section 701].”

Executive Documents

Executive Order No. 13096 Ex. Ord. No. 13096, Aug. 6, 1998, 63 F.R. 42681, which related to American Indian and Alaska Native education, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13336, § 9(b), Apr. 30, 2004, 69 F.R. 25297, formerly set out below. Executive Order No. 13336 Ex. Ord. No. 13336, Apr. 30, 2004, 69 F.R. 25295, which established the Interagency Working Group on American Indian and Alaska Native Education and required a study, report, and conference relating to American Indian and Alaska Native students’ achievement under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13592, § 5(c), Dec. 2, 2011, 76 F.R. 76607, formerly set out below. Executive Order No. 13592 Ex. Ord. No. 13592, Dec. 2, 2011, 76 F.R. 76603, which established the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education and the Interagency Working Group on AI/AN education and TCUs, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14049, § 4(b), Oct. 11, 2021, 86 F.R. 57317, formerly set out below. Executive Order No. 14049 Ex. Ord. No. 14049, Oct. 11, 2021, 86 F.R. 57313, establishing the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, § 2(nn), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8239.

§7401 Statement of policy