Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§7886 Private, Religious, and Home Schools

Title 20 › CHAPTER 70 — STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS › SUBCHAPTER VIII — GENERAL PROVISIONS › Part F — Uniform Provisions › subpart 1 — private schools › § 7886

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Protects private, religious, and home schools from federal control. If a private school does not get money or services under this law, it is not affected and its students do not have to take any tests mentioned here. The same is true for home-schooled students, no matter how their state treats home schools. The federal government cannot control any part of these schools, though schools can still choose to take part in programs under this law. State or local education agencies that get funds under this law cannot force, direct, or control the teaching or curriculum of private or home schools, and they cannot use those federal funds to do so.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §7886

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Applicability to nonrecipient private schools

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect any private school that does not receive funds or services under this chapter, nor shall any student who attends a private school that does not receive funds or services under this chapter be required to participate in any assessment referenced in this chapter.

(b)Applicability to home schools

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect a home school, whether or not a home school is treated as a home school or a private school under State law, nor shall any student schooled at home be required to participate in any assessment referenced in this chapter.

(c)Rule of construction on prohibition of Federal control over nonpublic schools

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit, allow, encourage, or authorize any Federal control over any aspect of any private, religious, or home school, whether or not a home school is treated as a private school or home school under State law. This section shall not be construed to bar private, religious, or home schools from participation in programs or services under this chapter.

(d)Rule of construction on State and local educational agency mandates

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require any State educational agency or local educational agency that receives funds under this chapter to mandate, direct, or control the curriculum of a private or home school, regardless or whether or not a home school is treated as a private school under state law, nor shall any funds under this chapter be used for this purpose.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 7886

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110