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Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§1228a Equity for Students, Teachers, and Other Program Beneficiaries

Title 20 › CHAPTER 31 — GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING EDUCATION › SUBCHAPTER II — APPROPRIATIONS AND EVALUATIONS › Part 2 — Planning and Evaluation of Federal Education Activities › § 1228a

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Require applicants (not individuals) for federal education program funds to explain in their application what steps they will take to make projects fair and accessible. The goal is to give eligible students, teachers, and other beneficiaries equal chances to join and to help them meet high standards. Plans must address special needs and remove barriers based on gender, race, color, national origin, disability, and age. The Secretary may set rules and offer help to meet these requirements. Nothing here changes the rights or duties set by the laws listed in section 1221(d).

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §1228a

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Purpose
The purpose of this section is to assist the Department in implementing the Department’s mission to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the Nation, by—
(1)ensuring equal opportunities to participate for all eligible students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries in any project or activity carried out under an applicable program; and
(2)promoting the ability of such students, teachers, and beneficiaries to meet high standards.
(b)Requirement to develop steps to ensure equity
The Secretary shall require each applicant for assistance under an applicable program (other than an individual) to develop and describe in such applicant’s application the steps such applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and equitable participation in, the project or activity to be conducted with such assistance, by addressing the special needs of students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries in order to overcome barriers to equitable participation, including barriers based on gender, race, color, national origin, disability, and age.
(c)Establishment of criteria
The Secretary may establish criteria and provide technical assistance for meeting the requirements of this section.
(d)Effect on other laws
Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter in any way the rights or responsibilities established under the laws cited in section 1221(d) of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 427 of Pub. L. 90–247 was renumbered section 434, and is classified to section 1231d of this title. Another prior section 427 of Pub. L. 90–247 was renumbered section 429, and was classified to section 1231f of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–382.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective July 1, 1995, for noncompetitive programs in which funds are allocated on the basis of a formula and for programs that are conducted on a competitive basis, with respect to appropriations for use under such programs in fiscal year 1995 and in subsequent fiscal years, see section 3(a)(2) of Pub. L. 103–382, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1994 Amendment note under section 1221 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 1228a

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110