20 U.S.C. § 7231: Findings and purpose

Summary

Provides federal help to local school districts to support and expand magnet schools that reduce racial isolation and improve education. Congress found that magnet schools are a key tool for voluntary desegregation, have grown a lot since the program began, and now serve about 2,500,000 students, more than 69 percent of whom are non-white. Magnet schools offer special programs that have helped improve other schools. The United States should keep backing districts that must follow court desegregation orders and those that choose to promote meaningful interaction among students of different races, starting in early grades. The law also recognizes segregation can be between minority and nonminority students and among different minority groups. The program’s purpose is to give money to eligible school districts for six main goals: stop or reduce racial isolation in schools with large minority populations; create, run, and grow magnet programs that support wide school improvement and help students meet state standards; develop new teaching methods that promote diversity and more school choices; offer courses that strengthen academic and career skills; build districts’ ability, through staff training, to keep magnet schools working well after federal funds end; and make sure all students in magnet programs have fair access to high-quality education so they can succeed in college or work.

Title 20, §7231

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Findings

Congress makes the following findings:

(1)Magnet schools are a significant part of the Nation’s effort to achieve voluntary desegregation in our Nation’s schools.

(2)The use of magnet schools has increased dramatically since the inception of the magnet schools assistance program under this chapter, with approximately 2,500,000 students nationwide attending such schools, of whom more than 69 percent are non-white.

(3)Magnet schools offer a wide range of distinctive programs that have served as models for school improvement efforts.

(4)It is in the best interests of the United States—

(A)to continue the Federal Government’s support of local educational agencies that are implementing court-ordered desegregation plans and local educational agencies that are voluntarily seeking to foster meaningful interaction among students of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, beginning at the earliest stage of such students’ education;

(B)to ensure that all students have equitable access to a high quality education that will prepare all students to function well in a technologically oriented and a highly competitive economy comprised of people from many different racial and ethnic backgrounds; and

(C)to continue to desegregate and diversify schools by supporting magnet schools, recognizing that segregation exists between minority and nonminority students as well as among students of different minority groups.

(5)Desegregation efforts through magnet school programs are a significant part of our Nation’s effort to achieve voluntary desegregation in schools and help to ensure equal educational opportunities for all students.

(b)Purpose

The purpose of this part is to assist in the desegregation of schools served by local educational agencies by providing financial assistance to eligible local educational agencies for— (1)

(2)the development, implementation, and expansion of magnet school programs that will assist local educational agencies in achieving systemic reforms and providing all students the opportunity to meet challenging State academic standards;

(3)the development, design, and expansion of innovative educational methods and practices that promote diversity and increase choices in public elementary schools and public secondary schools and public educational programs;

(4)courses of instruction within magnet schools that will substantially strengthen the knowledge of academic subjects and the attainment of tangible and marketable career, technological, and professional skills of students attending such schools;

(5)improving the capacity of local educational agencies, including through professional development, to continue operating magnet schools at a high performance level after Federal funding for the magnet schools is terminated; and

(6)ensuring that all students enrolled in the magnet school programs have equitable access to high quality education that will enable the students to succeed academically and continue with postsecondary education or employment.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 7231, Pub. L. 89–10, title V, § 5201, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3695, set forth

Short Title

and findings for the Women’s Educational Equity Act of 1994, prior to the general amendment of former subchapter V of this chapter by Pub. L. 107–110. A prior section 4401 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 3121 of this title, prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 89–10 by Pub. L. 103–382.

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 114–95, § 4401(1)(A), substituted “2,500,000” for “2,000,000” and “69” for “65”. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 114–95, § 4401(1)(B)(i), substituted “, implementation, and expansion” for “and implementation” and “standards” for “content standards and student academic achievement standards”. Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 114–95, § 4401(1)(B)(ii), substituted “, design, and expansion” for “and design”. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 114–95, § 4401(1)(B)(iii), substituted “career” for “vocational”. Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 114–95, § 4401(1)(B)(iv), struck out “productive” before “employment”.

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.

§7231 Findings and Purpose