§ 1221-1. — National policy with respect to equal educational opportunity.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 20USC1221-1]
TITLE 20--EDUCATION
CHAPTER 31--GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING EDUCATION
Sec. 1221-1. National policy with respect to equal educational
opportunity
Recognizing that the Nation's economic, political, and social
security require a well-educated citizenry, the Congress (1) reaffirms,
as a matter of high priority, the Nation's goal of equal educational
opportunity, and (2) declares it to be the policy of the United States
of America that every citizen is entitled to an education to meet his or
her full potential without financial barriers.
(Pub. L. 93-380, title VIII, Sec. 801, Aug. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 597.)
Codification
Section was enacted as part of Education Amendments of 1974, and not
as part of General Education Provisions Act which comprises this
chapter.
Effective Date
Section 2(c) of Pub. L. 93-380 provided that:
``(1) Unless otherwise specified, each provision of this Act [see
Tables for classification] and each amendment made by this Act shall be
effective on and after the sixtieth day after the enactment of this Act
[Aug. 21, 1974].
``(2) In any case where the effective date for an amendment made by
this Act is expressly stated to be effective after June 30, 1973, or on
July 1, 1973, such amendment shall be deemed to have been enacted on
June 30, 1973.''
Study of Civilian Aviation Training Programs
Pub. L. 102-325, title XIV, Sec. 1410, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 821,
directed Secretary of Education to enter into appropriate arrangements
with National Academy of Sciences Commission on Behavioral and Social
Sciences and Education to study civilian aviation training programs
needed to satisfy workforce requirements of commercial aviation industry
in year 2000 and beyond, directed Secretary to request that National
Academy of Sciences Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and
Education submit an interim report to Secretary and Congress within 1
year after July 23, 1992, and directed that the study be completed
within 2 years of July 23, 1992, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105-332,
Sec. 6(b)(2), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3128.
National Commission on Independent Higher Education
Pub. L. 102-325, title XIV, part B, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 824, as
amended by Pub. L. 103-208, Sec. 2(k)(11), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat.
2486, provided that part B could be cited as the ``National Independent
Colleges and Universities Discovery Act'', provided for establishment,
membership, etc., of National Commission on Independent Higher
Education, which Commission was to develop factual base for
understanding status of independent colleges and universities, their
contributions to public priorities, and effects of national higher
education policies on independent nonprofit sector, to review issuance
of Federal regulations regarding independent colleges and universities,
and suggest means by which independent colleges and universities can be
held accountable for use of public resources without inappropriate
intrusion into institutional autonomy, and to address the relationship
between Federal and State policies in independent colleges and
universities, particularly with respect to student access and choice,
finance, institutional subsidies, and institutional accountability, and
directed that the Commission terminate 3 years after July 23, 1992,
prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105-332, Sec. 6(b)(2), Oct. 31, 1998, 112
Stat. 3128.
National Commission on Cost of Higher Education
Pub. L. 102-325, title XIV, part C, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 827, as
amended by Pub. L. 103-208, Sec. 2(k)(12), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat.
2486, provided for establishment, membership, etc., of National
Commission on the Cost of Higher Education, which Commission was to make
findings and specific recommendations regarding the increase in tuition
costs compared with other commodities and services as well as methods of
reducing increased tuition costs, administrative costs of colleges and
universities and methods of reducing such costs, the extent to which
Federal, State, and local regulations contribute to increased tuition
costs and the increase in the cost of higher education, and extent to
which the lack of student financial assistance programs contribute to
increased tuition costs, and directed that the Commission cease to exist
on the date that is 90 days after the Commission submits its final
report, which report was to be submitted to the President and Congress
not later than Sept. 1, 1994, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105-332,
Sec. 6(b)(2), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3128.
Education Council Act of 1991
Pub. L. 102-62, June 27, 1991, 105 Stat. 305, as amended by Pub. L.
102-359, Sec. 1, Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 962; Pub. L. 103-290, Sec. 1,
Aug. 1, 1994, 108 Stat. 1456; Pub. L. 103-382, title III, Sec. 362, Oct.
20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3975, provided for establishment, membership, etc.,
of National Education Commission on Time and Learning, which Commission
was to examine the quality and adequacy of the study and learning time
of elementary and secondary students in the United States, including
issues regarding the length of the school day and year, the extent and
role of homework, how time is being used for academic subjects, year-
round professional opportunities for teachers, and use of school
facilities for extended learning programs, report to Congress and the
Secretary on the results of the study not later than 2 years after the
Commission concludes its first meeting, and terminate Sept. 30, 1994,
and provided for establishment, membership, etc., of National Council on
Education Standards and Testing, which Council was to advise the
American people whether suitable specific education standards should be
established for the knowledge and skills that students should possess
and that schools should impart in order that American student leave
grades 4, 8, and 12 demonstrating competency in challenging subject
matters and whether an appropriate system of voluntary national tests or
examinations should be established to provide prompt and accurate
information on the progress made towards specific education standards by
individual students, schools, school systems, States, and the Nation as
a whole, submit a final report, as soon as possible, but not later than
Dec. 31, 1991, to Congress, Secretary of Education, and National
Education Goals Panel, and cease to exist 90 days after submitting its
final report.
National Commission on Responsibilities for Financing Postsecondary
Education
Pub. L. 99-498, title XIII, Sec. 1321, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat.
1584, as amended by Pub. L. 101-324, July 6, 1990, 104 Stat. 300; Pub.
L. 102-170, title III, Sec. 306, Nov. 26, 1991, 105 Stat. 1136,
established as an independent agency in executive branch a commission to
be known as National Commission on Responsibilities for Financing
Postsecondary Education, directed Commission to study and investigate
extent to which (1) there is a consistent and coherent Federal policy
regarding the appropriate family role in financing costs of
postsecondary education for family members, (2) current Federal laws and
regulations promote stated Federal policy, and (3) extent to which State
laws which remove parental responsibilities for children over 18 years
of age conflict with Federal policy in this area, directed Commission to
(A) summarize appropriate findings of National Commission on Student
Financial Assistance, (B) recommend to Congress a comprehensive analysis
on extent to which consensus exists regarding appropriate role of family
in financing postsecondary education, and (C) recommend changes in
current law required to achieve desired Federal policy, and provided
that Commission would terminate 2 years after first meeting of its
member, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105-332, Sec. 6(a), Oct. 31, 1998,
112 Stat. 3127.
Study of Classroom Use of Volunteers
Pub. L. 99-498, title XIII, Sec. 1341, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat.
1587, as amended by Pub. L. 100-50, Sec. 23(7), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat.
362, directed National Academy of Sciences to conduct a thorough study
of how volunteers could best be used in the classroom with the study to
(1) feasibility of using recipients of student loans as part of
repayment of such loans, (2) use of older Americans as such volunteers,
(3) use of business persons and other professionals as volunteers, and
(4) place of incentives to encourage volunteerism, and with National
Academy of Sciences to prepare and submit to Congress a report, together
with a description of programs on use of volunteers and with such
recommendations as deemed appropriate not later than one year after
entering into a contract to conduct the study, prior to repeal by Pub.
L. 105-332, Sec. 6(a), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3127.
Native Hawaiian Education Study
Pub. L. 96-374, title XIII, Sec. 1331, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1499,
established an Advisory Council on Native Hawaiian Education consisting
of seven members appointed by Secretary of Education, after consultation
with Governor of Hawaii, from among individuals who were professionals
in various fields relating to human development, and who were familiar
with educational problems of Native Hawaiians, to conduct a study to (A)
evaluate effectiveness of State and federally assisted educational
programs in serving Native Hawaiian children and extent to which such
programs achieve their purposes with respect to such children, and (B)
take into account special health, social, and psychological needs of
Native Hawaiian children, and to submit a report to Secretary and to
Congress not later than Jan. 31, 1983, containing findings and
recommendations of the Council, with the Council to terminate 60 days
after submission of its report.
Appropriations Not Authorized for Native Hawaiian Education Study for
Fiscal Year 1982, 1983, or 1984
Pub. L. 97-35, title V, Sec. 512(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 444,
provided that: ``No funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
part D of title XIII of the Education Amendments of 1980 [section 1331
of Pub. L. 96-374, set out as a note above] for fiscal year 1982, 1983,
or 1984.''
Financing of Elementary and Secondary Education; Studies and Surveys;
Advisory Panel; Reports
Pub. L. 95-561, title XII, Sec. 1203, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2335,
as amended by Pub. L. 96-46, Sec. 2(a)(4), Aug. 6, 1979, 93 Stat. 340;
Pub. L. 96-88, title III, Sec. 301(a)(2), (b)(1), title V, Sec. 501(a),
507, Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 677, 678, 689, 692, established a 15-member
Advisory Panel on Financing Elementary and Secondary Education within
Department of Education to provide for (1) availability of reliable and
comparative data on status and trends in financing elementary and
secondary education, (2) conduct of studies necessary to understand and
analyze the trends and problems affecting financing of elementary and
secondary education, both public and non-public, including prospects for
adequate financing during the next ten years, and development of
recommendations for Federal policies to assist in improving equity and
efficiency of Federal and State systems for raising and distributing
revenues to support elementary and secondary education, with views and
recommendations of the Panel to be presented to 1980 White House
Conference on Education.
White House Conference on Education: Report of Findings and
Recommendations; National Conference Committee: Establishment,
Membership, Report to President and Congress, Travel Expenses;
Apportionment of Funds; Authorization of Appropriations
Pub. L. 93-380, title VIII, Sec. 804, Aug. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 597,
as amended by Pub. L. 95-272, title III, Sec. 301, May 3, 1978, 92 Stat.
227; Pub. L. 95-561, title XII, Sec. 1203(c)(8), Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat.
2335, directed President to call and conduct a White House Conference on
Education in 1980, established a National Conference Committee to
provide guidance and planning and to make a final report to President
and Congress not later than Dec. 1, 1980, authorized making of grants to
States to assist in meeting cost of that State's participation, and
authorized appropriations.
