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Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§1015c Database of Student Information Prohibited

Title 20 › CHAPTER 28 — HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › Part C — Cost of Higher Education › § 1015c

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The federal government must not create, run, or keep a national database of personal information that identifies people who get help under this law, attend schools paid by it, or take part in studies under it. That ban covers systems that track individual students over time. The only exception is for systems needed to run programs under subchapters II, IV, or VII that the Secretary or a contractor was already using on August 13, 2008. States or groups of States may build and keep their own databases that track people over time, such as state student records about enrollment, graduation, financial aid, and job outcomes.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §1015c

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Prohibition
Except as described in subsection (b), nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the development, implementation, or maintenance of a Federal database of personally identifiable information on individuals receiving assistance under this chapter, attending institutions receiving assistance under this chapter, or otherwise involved in any studies or other collections of data under this chapter, including a student unit record system, an education bar code system, or any other system that tracks individual students over time.
(b)Exception
The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to a system (or a successor system) that—
(1)is necessary for the operation of programs authorized by subchapter II, IV, or VII; and
(2)was in use by the Secretary, directly or through a contractor, as of the day before August 14, 2008.
(c)State databases
Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a State or a consortium of States from developing, implementing, or maintaining State-developed databases that track individuals over time, including student unit record systems that contain information related to enrollment, attendance, graduation and retention rates, student financial assistance, and graduate employment outcomes.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1015c, Pub. L. 89–329, title I, § 134, as added Pub. L. 102–325, title I, § 101, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 466, defined “public broadcasting entity” for purposes of former part C of this subchapter, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 105–244. Another prior section 1015c, Pub. L. 89–329, title I, § 134, as added Pub. L. 94–482, title I, § 101(g)(3), Oct. 12, 1976, 90 Stat. 2089, related to annual reports by Assistant Secretary and content of these reports, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 96–374.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 1015c

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110