Title 20EducationRelease 119-73not60

§6421 Purpose and Program Authorization

Title 20 › Chapter 70— STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS › Subchapter I— IMPROVING THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF THE DISADVANTAGED › Part D— Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk › § 6421

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Requires the Secretary to use funds under section 6302(d) to give grants to State education agencies so they can award subgrants to State agencies and local school districts. Those grants must create or improve education programs for neglected, delinquent, or at-risk children and youth. The programs should help these young people meet State academic standards, help them move from institutions back into school or work, and prevent dropouts or support students returning from correctional or care settings with family and community involvement.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §6421

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)It is the purpose of this part—
(1)to improve educational services for children and youth in local, tribal, and State institutions for neglected or delinquent children and youth so that such children and youth have the opportunity to meet the same challenging State academic standards that all children in the State are expected to meet;
(2)to provide such children and youth with the services needed to make a successful transition from institutionalization to further schooling or employment; and
(3)to prevent at-risk youth from dropping out of school, and to provide dropouts, and children and youth returning from correctional facilities or institutions for neglected or delinquent children and youth, with a support system to ensure their continued education and the involvement of their families and communities.
(b)In order to carry out the purpose of this part and from amounts appropriated under section 6302(d) of this title, the Secretary shall make grants to State educational agencies to enable such agencies to award subgrants to State agencies and local educational agencies to establish or improve programs of education for neglected, delinquent, or at-risk children and youth.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 6421, Pub. L. 89–10, title I, § 1401, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3591, set out findings and purpose and authorized program, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110. A prior section 1401 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 2821 of this title, prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 89–10 by Pub. L. 103–382.

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(1)(A), inserted “, tribal,” after “youth in local” and substituted “challenging State academic standards” for “challenging State academic content standards and challenging State student academic achievement standards”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(1)(B), inserted “and the involvement of their families and communities” after “to ensure their continued education”.

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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 6421

Title 20Education

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60