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Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§7871 Approval and Disapproval of State Plans

Title 20 › CHAPTER 70 — STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS › SUBCHAPTER VIII — GENERAL PROVISIONS › Part E — Approval and Disapproval of State Plans and Local Applications › § 7871

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must approve a State plan sent under sections 6611(d), 7113(c), 7173, or 7842, or under part C, unless the Secretary gives a written decision within 120 days saying the plan does not meet those requirements and explains why. Before finally rejecting a plan, the Secretary must give the State education agency notice and a chance for a hearing. If the plan is found partly or fully noncompliant, the Secretary must immediately tell the State which parts fail, offer the State 45 days to revise and resubmit (and to provide supporting information), offer technical help if asked, hold a hearing within 30 days after a resubmission unless the State declines, and may ask for more information only about the noncompliant parts. If the State resubmits within 45 days, the Secretary must approve it unless it still fails to meet the requirements. If the State does not respond within 45 days, the plan will be treated as disapproved. Whether a plan is approved or rejected cannot depend on the kinds of activities it proposes if those activities meet the program rules. Any part of a consolidated State plan that relates to part A of subchapter I must go through the peer-review process in section 6311(a)(4).

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §7871

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Approval
A plan submitted by a State pursuant to section 6611(d), 7113(c), 7173, or 7842 of this title shall be approved by the Secretary unless the Secretary makes a written determination (which shall include the supporting information and rationale supporting such determination), prior to the expiration of the 120-day period beginning on the date on which the Secretary received the plan, that the plan is not in compliance with section 6611(d), 7113(c), or 7173 of this title, or part C, respectively.
(b)Disapproval process
(1)In general
The Secretary shall not finally disapprove a plan submitted under section 6611(d), 7113(c), 7173, or 7842 of this title, except after giving the State educational agency notice and an opportunity for a hearing.
(2)Notifications
If the Secretary finds that the plan is not in compliance, in whole or in part, with section 6611(d), 7113(c), or 7173 of this title, or part C, as applicable, the Secretary shall—
(A)immediately notify the State of such determination;
(B)provide a detailed description of the specific provisions of the plan that the Secretary determines fail to meet the requirements, in whole or in part, of such section or part, as applicable;
(C)offer the State an opportunity to revise and resubmit its plan within 45 days of such determination, including the chance for the State to present supporting information to clearly demonstrate that the State plan meets the requirements of such section or part, as applicable;
(D)provide technical assistance, upon request of the State, in order to assist the State to meet the requirements of such section or part, as applicable;
(E)conduct a hearing within 30 days of the plan’s resubmission under subparagraph (C), unless a State declines the opportunity for such hearing; and
(F)request additional information, only as to the noncompliant provisions, needed to make the plan compliant.
(3)Response
If the State educational agency responds to the Secretary’s notification described in paragraph (2)(A) prior to the expiration of the 45-day period beginning on the date on which the State educational agency received the notification, and resubmits the plan as described in paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary shall approve such plan unless the Secretary determines the plan does not meet the requirements of section 6611(d), 7113(c), or 7173 of this title, or part C, as applicable.
(4)Failure to respond
If the State educational agency does not respond to the Secretary’s notification described in paragraph (2)(A) prior to the expiration of the 45-day period beginning on the date on which the State educational agency received the notification, such plan shall be deemed to be disapproved.
(c)Limitation
A plan submitted under section 6611(d), 7113(c), 7173, or 7842 of this title shall not be approved or disapproved based upon the nature of the activities proposed within such plan if such proposed activities meet the applicable program requirements.
(d)Peer-review requirements
Notwithstanding any other requirements of this part, the Secretary shall ensure that any portion of a consolidated State plan that is related to part A of subchapter I is subject to the peer-review process described in section 6311(a)(4) of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 7871, Pub. L. 89–10, title IX, § 9151, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3792, established the National Advisory Council on Indian Education, prior to the general amendment of former subchapter IX of this chapter by Pub. L. 107–110.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section 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 an

Effective Date

of 2015 Amendment note under section 6301 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 7871

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110