§1231 — Title 20 Education | U.S. Code

§1231 Joint Funding of Programs

Title 20 › Chapter 31— GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING EDUCATION › Subchapter III— GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS CONCERNING OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS: GENERAL AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY › Part 1— General Authority › § 1231

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can make deals with other federal agencies to run projects together and to move money to or receive money from those agencies for projects they both want. Money moved or received must be used only the way the original law allows, and only people or groups who are eligible under that law can get the grants or contracts. If one agency runs a project, that agency uses its own rules for giving and managing awards unless the agencies agree to use a different party’s rules. When needed, the agencies can set one set of rules and ask for one joint application for a project, and applicants must meet each program’s eligibility rules. The Secretary cannot use these powers to override any law that limits joint funding. Within 60 days of any joint funding agreement, the Secretary must tell the House Committee on Education and Labor and the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources what the project is for, how much money and which programs the money comes from, and the rules for awarding the funds.

Title 20, §1231

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Secretary is authorized to enter into arrangements with other Federal agencies to jointly carry out projects of common interest, to transfer to such agencies funds appropriated under any applicable program, and to receive and use funds from such agencies, for projects of common interest.

(2)Funds transferred or received pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be used only in accordance with the statutes authorizing the appropriation of such funds, and shall be made available by contract or grant only to recipients eligible to receive such funds under such statutes.

(3)If the Secretary enters into an agreement under this subsection for the administration of a project, the agency administering the project shall use such agency’s procedures to award contracts or grants and to administer such awards, unless the parties to the agreement specify the use of procedures of another agency that is a party to the agreement.

(4)If the Secretary has entered into an agreement authorized under this subsection and the Secretary and the heads of the other agencies participating in the agreement determine that joint funding is necessary to address a special need consistent with the purposes and authorized activities of each program that provides funding under the joint project, the Secretary and the heads of the other participating agencies may develop a single set of criteria for the jointly funded project and require each applicant for such project to submit a single application for review by the participating agencies.

(b)The Secretary may develop the criteria for, and require the submission of, joint applications under two or more applicable programs under which funds are awarded on a competitive basis, and may jointly review and approve such applications separately from other applications under such programs, when the Secretary determines that such joint awards are necessary to address a special need consistent with the purposes and authorized activities of each such program. Any applicant for such a joint award shall meet the eligibility requirements of each such program.

(c)The Secretary may not construe the provisions of this section to take precedence over a limitation on joint funding contained in an applicable statute.

(d)(1)The Secretary shall provide notice to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate of each joint funding agreement made with other Federal agencies not later than 60 days after the making of such agreements.

(2)Such notice shall include—

(A)a description of the purpose and objectives of the joint funding arrangement;

(B)the amounts and sources, by program, of the funds dedicated to such arrangement; and

(C)the criteria developed to govern the award of contracts and grants.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 430 of Pub. L. 90–247 was renumbered section 436, and is classified to section 1231g of this title.

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–382, § 241, amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section consisted of subsecs. (a) to (c) relating to administration of education programs, delegations of authority, utilization of services and facilities of other agencies, and consolidation of programs. 1972—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 92–318, § 302(a), added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Education and the Workforce of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023. Committee on Labor and Human Resources of Senate changed to Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of Senate by Senate Resolution No. 20, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 19, 1999.

Effective Date

of 1972 Amendment; Inconsistent Provisions Ineffective Pub. L. 92–318, title III, § 302(c),

June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 333, provided that: “The provisions of section 421(c) [now 430(c)] of the General Education Provisions Act [subsec. (c) of this section] shall be effective upon the date of enactment of this Act [

June 23, 1972]. No provision of any law which is inconsistent with such section 421(c) shall be effective nor shall any such provision control to the extent of such inconsistency, unless such a law is enacted after the date of enactment of this Act.”