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Title 20 — EducationRelease 119-73not60

§3902 Definitions

Title 20 › Chapter 52— EDUCATION FOR ECONOMIC SECURITY › § 3902

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines the key words used in this chapter. Area career and technical education school has the same meaning given in section 2302(3) of this title. Director means the Director of the National Science Foundation. Elementary school, local educational agency, secondary school, and State educational agency have the same meanings given in section 7801 of this title. Foundation means the National Science Foundation. Institution of higher education has the same meaning as in section 1001 of this title. Governor means the chief executive of a State. State covers each State plus the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. State agency for higher education means the state board or other agency that mainly oversees higher education, or, if none exists, an officer or agency chosen by the Governor or by State law. Secretary means the Secretary of Education.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §3902

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For the purpose of this chapter—
(1)The term “area career and technical education school” has the same meaning given that term under section 2302(3) of this title.
(2)The term “Director” means the Director of the National Science Foundation.
(3)The term “elementary school” has the same meaning given that term under section 7801 of this title.
(4)The term “Governor” means the chief executive of a State.
(5)The term “Foundation” means the National Science Foundation.
(6)The term “institution of higher education” has the same meaning given that term by section 1001 of this title.
(7)The term “local educational agency” has the same meaning given that term under section 7801 of this title.
(8)The term “secondary school” has the same meaning given that term under section 7801 of this title.
(9)The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Education.
(10)The term “State” means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
(11)The term “State agency for higher education” means the State board of higher education or other agency or officer primarily responsible for the State supervision of higher education, or, if there is no such officer or agency, an officer or agency designated for the purpose of this chapter 11 See References in Text note below. by the Governor or by State law.
(12)The term “State educational agency” has the meaning given that term under section 7801 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in par. (11), was in the original “this title” and has been translated as if the reference was to “this Act” to reflect the probable intent of Congress inasmuch as this section is not part of a title of Pub. L. 98–377.

Amendments

2015—Pars. (3), (7). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(dd)(1)(A), (B), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 7801 of this title. Par. (8). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(dd)(1)(C), substituted “section 7801 of this title” for “section 198(a)(7) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965”. Par. (12). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(dd)(1)(D), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 7801 of this title. 2006—Par. (1). Pub. L. 109–270 substituted “area career and technical education school” for “area vocational education school” and “section 2302(3) of this title.” for “section 2471(3) of this title..” 2002—Par. (3). Pub. L. 107–110, § 1076(l)(1)(A), substituted “7801 of this title” for “198(a)(7) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965”. Par. (7). Pub. L. 107–110, § 1076(l)(1)(B), substituted “7801 of this title” for “198(a)(10) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965”. Par. (12). Pub. L. 107–110, § 1076(l)(1)(C), substituted “7801 of this title” for “198(a)(17) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965”. 1998—Par. (6). Pub. L. 105–244 substituted “section 1001” for “section 1141(a)”. 1985—Par. (1). Pub. L. 99–159 substituted reference to section 2471(3) of this title for reference to section 195(2) of the Vocational Education Act of 1965.

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.

Effective Date

of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–110 effective Jan. 8, 2002, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 107–110, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 6301 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1998 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 105–244 effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105–244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

Executive Documents

Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 3902

Title 20 — Education

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60