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Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§1232i Limitations on Withholding of Federal Assistance

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 4 — Records; Privacy; Limitation on Withholding Federal Funds › § 1232i

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Schools and education agencies cannot lose federal money just because they refuse to give out personally identifiable student or family information on privacy grounds, except under section 1232g(b)(1)(D). A refusal like that also cannot be used to deny or delay future funding. If there is a dispute, the applicant must get fair notice and a chance for a hearing. The Secretary may not cut off or limit federal aid for alleged violations of Title VI or other nondiscrimination laws unless the agency gets due process. That means at least 30 days written notice naming the program, a hearing before an administrative law judge within 60 days of any deferral, a judge’s decision within 90 days of the hearing (with up to 60 extra days if needed), any funding hold lasting no more than 15 days after the decision unless the record shows noncompliance, and procedures to make sure enough funds are available to follow the judge’s decision. The Secretary also may not withhold federal funds from a college just because it did not follow admission quotas or similar numeric requirements.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §1232i

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Refusal to supply personal data on students or families
Except as provided in section 1232g(b)(1)(D) of this title, the refusal of a State or local educational agency or institution of higher education, community college, school, agency offering a preschool program, or other educational institution to provide personally identifiable data on students or their families, as a part of any applicable program, to any Federal office, agency, department, or other third party, on the grounds that it constitutes a violation of the right to privacy and confidentiality of students or their parents, shall not constitute sufficient grounds for the suspension or termination of Federal assistance. Such a refusal shall also not constitute sufficient grounds for a denial of, a refusal to consider, or a delay in the consideration of, funding for such a recipient in succeeding fiscal years. In the case of any dispute arising under this section, reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing shall be afforded the applicant.
(b)Noncompliance with nondiscrimination provisions of Federal law
The extension of Federal financial assistance to a local educational agency may not be limited, deferred, or terminated by the Secretary on the ground of noncompliance with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.] or any other nondiscrimination provision of Federal law unless such agency is accorded the right of due process of law, which shall include—
(1)at least 30 days prior written notice of deferral to the agency, setting forth the particular program or programs which the Secretary finds to be operated in noncompliance with a specific provision of Federal law;
(2)the opportunity for a hearing on the record before a duly appointed administrative law judge within a 60-day period (unless such period is extended by mutual consent of the Secretary and such agency) from the commencement of any deferral;
(3)the conclusion of such hearing and the rendering of a decision on the merits by the administrative law judge within a period not to exceed 90 days from the commencement of such hearing, unless the judge finds by a decision that such hearing cannot be concluded or such decision cannot be rendered within such period, in which case such judge may extend such period for not to exceed 60 additional days;
(4)the limitation of any deferral of Federal financial assistance which may be imposed by the Secretary to a period not to exceed 15 days after the rendering of such decision unless there has been an express finding on such record that such agency has failed to comply with any such nondiscrimination provision of Federal law; and
(5)procedures, which shall be established by the Secretary, to ensure the availability of sufficient funds, without regard to any fiscal year limitations, to comply with the decision of such judge.
(c)Failure to comply with imposition of quotas
It shall be unlawful for the Secretary to defer or limit any Federal financial assistance on the basis of any failure to comply with the imposition of quotas (or any other numerical requirements which have the effect of imposing quotas) on the student admission practices of an institution of higher education or community college receiving Federal financial assistance.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 88–352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 2000d et seq.) of chapter 21 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2000a of this title and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 446 of Pub. L. 90–247 was classified to section 1233e of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–382.

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–382, § 212(b)(3)(C), made technical amendment to reference to section 1232g(b)(1)(D) of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act. 1976—Pub. L. 94–482 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsecs. (b) and (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–482 effective 30 days after Oct. 12, 1976, except either as specifically otherwise provided or, if not so specifically otherwise provided, effective July 1, 1976, for those

Amendments

providing for authorization of appropriations, see section 532 of Pub. L. 94–482, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 93–380, title V, § 515(b), Aug. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 574, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [enacting this section] shall be effective upon enactment of this Act [Aug. 21, 1974].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 1232i

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110