20 U.S.C. § 7907: Prohibitions on Federal…

Summary

Federal officials cannot force states, school districts, or schools to use a particular curriculum, control what is taught, or make them spend local money unless the federal program itself pays for it. The Department of Education may not use money from this program to approve, require, promote, or create any curriculum for elementary or secondary schools, including any tied to the Common Core. The law also says the federal government may not be read as giving itself the power to review or control local teaching, nor to require schools to hand out false scientific or medical materials or to forbid giving out true, accurate ones. It does not create a new legal right people can sue over. States do not have to get federal approval of their academic standards to get these funds, and no national school-building rules are required.

Title 20, §7907

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)General prohibition

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize an officer or employee of the Federal Government, including through a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, to mandate, direct, or control a State, local educational agency, or school’s curriculum, program of instruction, or allocation of State or local resources, or mandate a State or any subdivision thereof to spend any funds or incur any costs not paid for under this chapter.

(b)Prohibition on endorsement of curriculum

Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal law, no funds provided to the Department under this chapter may be used by the Department, whether through a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, to endorse, approve, develop, require, or sanction any curriculum, including any curriculum aligned to the Common Core State Standards developed under the Common Core State Standards Initiative or any other academic standards common to a significant number of States, designed to be used in an elementary school or secondary school.

(c)Local control

Nothing in this section shall be construed to—

(1)authorize an officer or employee of the Federal Government, whether through a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement to mandate, direct, review, or control a State, local educational agency, or school’s instructional content, curriculum, and related activities;

(2)limit the application of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.);

(3)require the distribution of scientifically or medically false or inaccurate materials or to prohibit the distribution of scientifically or medically true or accurate materials; or

(4)create any legally enforceable right.

(d)Prohibition on requiring Federal approval or certification of standards

(1)In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal law, no State shall be required to have academic standards approved or certified by the Federal Government, in order to receive assistance under this chapter.

(2)Rule of construction

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a State, local educational agency, or school from using funds provided under this chapter for the development or implementation of any instructional content, academic standards, academic assessments, curriculum, or program of instruction that a State, local educational agency, or school chooses, as permitted under State and local law, as long as the use of such funds is consistent with the terms of the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement providing such funds.

(3)Building standards

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to mandate national school building standards for a State, local educational agency, or school.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The General Education Provisions Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is title IV of Pub. L. 90–247, Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 814, which is classified generally to chapter 31 (§ 1221 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1221 of this title and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 7907, Pub. L. 89–10, title IX, § 9207, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3801, related to Native Hawaiian gifted and talented program, prior to the general amendment of former subchapter IX of this chapter by Pub. L. 107–110.

Amendments

2015—Pub. L. 114–95, § 8024, amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section consisted of subsecs. (a) to (d) relating to prohibitions on Federal Government and use of Federal funds.

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.

§7907 Prohibitions on Federal Government and Use of Federal Funds