20 U.S.C. § 6611

Current through P.L. 118-106 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/04/2024)

Section 6611 - Formula grants to States

(a) Reservation of funds

From the total amount appropriated under section 6603(a) of this title for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve-

(1) one-half of 1 percent for allotments for the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, to be distributed among those outlying areas on the basis of their relative need, as determined by the Secretary, in accordance with the purpose of this subchapter; and

(2) one-half of 1 percent for the Secretary of the Interior for programs under this part in schools operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Education.

(b) State allotments

(1) Hold harmless

(A) Fiscal years 2017 through 2022

For each of fiscal years 2017 through 2022, subject to paragraph (2) and subparagraph (C), from the funds appropriated under section 6603(a) of this title for a fiscal year that remain after the Secretary makes the reservations under subsection (a), the Secretary shall allot to each State an amount equal to the total amount that such State received for fiscal year 2001 under-

(i) section 2202(b) of this Act (as in effect on the day before January 8, 2002); and

(ii) section 306 of the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2001 (as enacted into law by section 1(a)(1) of Public Law 106-554).

(B) Ratable reduction

If the funds described in subparagraph (A) are insufficient to pay the full amounts that all States are eligible to receive under subparagraph (A) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall ratably reduce those amounts for the fiscal year.

(C) Percentage reduction

For each of fiscal years 2017 through 2022, the amount in subparagraph (A) shall be reduced by a percentage equal to the product of 14.29 percent and the number of years between the fiscal year for which the determination is being made and fiscal year 2016.

(2) Allotment of additional funds

(A) In general

Subject to subparagraph (B), for any fiscal year for which the funds appropriated under section 6603(a) of this title and not reserved under subsection (a) exceed the total amount required to make allotments under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall allot to each State the sum of-

(i) for fiscal year 2017-

(I) an amount that bears the same relationship to 35 percent of the excess amount as the number of individuals aged 5 through 17 in the State, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data, bears to the number of those individuals in all such States, as so determined; and

(II) an amount that bears the same relationship to 65 percent of the excess amount as the number of individuals aged 5 through 17 from families with incomes below the poverty line in the State, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data, bears to the number of those individuals in all such States, as so determined;

(ii) for fiscal year 2018-

(I) an amount that bears the same relationship to 30 percent of the excess amount as the number of individuals aged 5 through 17 in the State, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data, bears to the number of those individuals in all such States, as so determined; and

(II) an amount that bears the same relationship to 70 percent of the excess amount as the number of individuals aged 5 through 17 from families with incomes below the poverty line in the State, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data, bears to the number of those individuals in all such States, as so determined;

(iii) for fiscal year 2019-

(I) an amount that bears the same relationship to 25 percent of the excess amount as the number of individuals aged 5 through 17 in the State, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data, bears to the number of those individuals in all such States, as so determined; and

(II) an amount that bears the same relationship to 75 percent of the excess amount as the number of individuals aged 5 through 17 from families with incomes below the poverty line in the State, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data, bears to the number of those individuals in all such States, as so determined; and

(iv) for fiscal year 2020 through fiscal year 2022-

(I) an amount that bears the same relationship to 20 percent of the excess amount as the number of individuals aged 5 through 17 in the State, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data, bears to the number of those individuals in all such States, as so determined; and

(II) an amount that bears the same relationship to 80 percent of the excess amount as the number of individuals aged 5 through 17 from families with incomes below the poverty line in the State, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data, bears to the number of those individuals in all such States, as so determined.

(B) Exception

No State receiving an allotment under subparagraph (A) may receive less than one-half of 1 percent of the total excess amount allotted under such subparagraph for a fiscal year.

(3) Fiscal year 2023 and succeeding fiscal years

For fiscal year 2023 and each of the succeeding fiscal years-

(A) the Secretary shall allot funds appropriated under section 6603(a) of this title and not reserved under subsection (a) to each State in accordance with paragraph (2)(A)(iv); and

(B) the amount appropriated but not reserved shall be treated as the excess amount.

(4) Reallotment

If any State does not apply for an allotment under this subsection for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall reallot the amount of the allotment to the remaining States in accordance with this subsection.

(c) State uses of funds

(1) In general

Except as provided under paragraph (3), each State that receives an allotment under subsection (b) for a fiscal year shall reserve not less than 95 percent of such allotment to make subgrants to local educational agencies for such fiscal year, as described in section 6612 of this title.

(2) State administration

A State educational agency may use not more than 1 percent of the amount allotted to such State under subsection (b) for the administrative costs of carrying out such State educational agency's responsibilities under this part.

(3) Principals or other school leaders

Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and in addition to funds otherwise available for activities under paragraph (4), a State educational agency may reserve not more than 3 percent of the amount reserved for subgrants to local educational agencies under paragraph (1) for one or more of the activities for principals or other school leaders that are described in paragraph (4).

(4) State activities

(A) In general

The State educational agency for a State that receives an allotment under subsection (b) may use funds not reserved under paragraph (1) to carry out 1 or more of the activities described in subparagraph (B), which may be implemented in conjunction with a State agency of higher education (if such agencies are separate) and carried out through a grant or contract with a for-profit or nonprofit entity, including an institution of higher education.

(B) Types of State activities

The activities described in this subparagraph are the following:

(i) Reforming teacher, principal, or other school leader certification, recertification, licensing, or tenure systems or preparation program standards and approval processes to ensure that-

(I) teachers have the necessary subject-matter knowledge and teaching skills, as demonstrated through measures determined by the State, which may include teacher performance assessments, in the academic subjects that the teachers teach to help students meet challenging State academic standards;

(II) principals or other school leaders have the instructional leadership skills to help teachers teach and to help students meet such challenging State academic standards; and

(III) teacher certification or licensing requirements are aligned with such challenging State academic standards.

(ii) Developing, improving, or providing assistance to local educational agencies to support the design and implementation of teacher, principal, or other school leader evaluation and support systems that are based in part on evidence of student academic achievement, which may include student growth, and shall include multiple measures of educator performance and provide clear, timely, and useful feedback to teachers, principals, or other school leaders, such as by-

(I) developing and disseminating high-quality evaluation tools, such as classroom observation rubrics, and methods, including training and auditing, for ensuring inter-rater reliability of evaluation results;

(II) developing and providing training to principals, other school leaders, coaches, mentors, and evaluators on how to accurately differentiate performance, provide useful and timely feedback, and use evaluation results to inform decisionmaking about professional development, improvement strategies, and personnel decisions; and

(III) developing a system for auditing the quality of evaluation and support systems.

(iii) Improving equitable access to effective teachers.

(iv) Carrying out programs that establish, expand, or improve alternative routes for State certification of teachers (especially for teachers of children with disabilities, English learners, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or other areas where the State experiences a shortage of educators), principals, or other school leaders, for-

(I) individuals with a baccalaureate or master's degree, or other advanced degree;

(II) mid-career professionals from other occupations;

(III) paraprofessionals;

(IV) former military personnel; and

(V) recent graduates of institutions of higher education with records of academic distinction who demonstrate the potential to become effective teachers, principals, or other school leaders.

(v) Developing, improving, and implementing mechanisms to assist local educational agencies and schools in effectively recruiting and retaining teachers, principals, or other school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement, including effective teachers from underrepresented minority groups and teachers with disabilities, such as through-

(I) opportunities for effective teachers to lead evidence-based (to the extent the State determines that such evidence is reasonably available) professional development for the peers of such effective teachers; and

(II) providing training and support for teacher leaders and principals or other school leaders who are recruited as part of instructional leadership teams.

(vi) Fulfilling the State educational agency's responsibilities concerning proper and efficient administration and monitoring of the programs carried out under this part, including provision of technical assistance to local educational agencies.

(vii) Developing, or assisting local educational agencies in developing-

(I) career opportunities and advancement initiatives that promote professional growth and emphasize multiple career paths, such as instructional coaching and mentoring (including hybrid roles that allow instructional coaching and mentoring while remaining in the classroom), school leadership, and involvement with school improvement and support;

(II) strategies that provide differential pay, or other incentives, to recruit and retain teachers in high-need academic subjects and teachers, principals, or other school leaders, in low-income schools and school districts, which may include performance-based pay systems; and

(III) new teacher, principal, or other school leader induction and mentoring programs that are, to the extent the State determines that such evidence is reasonably available, evidence-based, and designed to-

(aa) improve classroom instruction and student learning and achievement, including through improving school leadership programs; and

(bb) increase the retention of effective teachers, principals, or other school leaders.

(viii) Providing assistance to local educational agencies for the development and implementation of high-quality professional development programs for principals that enable the principals to be effective and prepare all students to meet the challenging State academic standards.

(ix) Supporting efforts to train teachers, principals, or other school leaders to effectively integrate technology into curricula and instruction, which may include training to assist teachers in implementing blended learning (as defined in section 7112(1) of this title) projects.

(x) Providing training, technical assistance, and capacity-building to local educational agencies that receive a subgrant under this part.

(xi) Reforming or improving teacher, principal, or other school leader preparation programs, such as through establishing teacher residency programs and school leader residency programs.

(xii) Establishing or expanding teacher, principal, or other school leader preparation academies, with an amount of the funds described in subparagraph (A) that is not more than 2 percent of the State's allotment, if-

(I) allowable under State law;

(II) the State enables candidates attending a teacher, principal, or other school leader preparation academy to be eligible for State financial aid to the same extent as participants in other State-approved teacher or principal preparation programs, including alternative certification, licensure, or credential programs; and

(III) the State enables teachers, principals, or other school leaders who are teaching or working while on alternative certificates, licenses, or credentials to teach or work in the State while enrolled in a teacher, principal, or other school leader preparation academy.

(xiii) Supporting the instructional services provided by effective school library programs.

(xiv) Developing, or assisting local educational agencies in developing, strategies that provide teachers, principals, or other school leaders with the skills, credentials, or certifications needed to educate all students in postsecondary education coursework through early college high school or dual or concurrent enrollment programs.

(xv) Providing training for all school personnel, including teachers, principals, other school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, and paraprofessionals, regarding how to prevent and recognize child sexual abuse.

(xvi) Supporting opportunities for principals, other school leaders, teachers, paraprofessionals, early childhood education program directors, and other early childhood education program providers to participate in joint efforts to address the transition to elementary school, including issues related to school readiness.

(xvii) Developing and providing professional development and other comprehensive systems of support for teachers, principals, or other school leaders to promote high-quality instruction and instructional leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects, including computer science.

(xviii) Supporting the professional development and improving the instructional strategies of teachers, principals, or other school leaders to integrate career and technical education content into academic instructional practices, which may include training on best practices to understand State and regional workforce needs and transitions to postsecondary education and the workforce.

(xix) Enabling States, as a consortium, to voluntarily develop a process that allows teachers who are licensed or certified in a participating State to teach in other participating States without completing additional licensure or certification requirements, except that nothing in this clause shall be construed to allow the Secretary to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over State teacher licensing or certification requirements.

(xx) Supporting and developing efforts to train teachers on the appropriate use of student data to ensure that individual student privacy is protected as required by section 1232g of this title (commonly known as the "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974") and in accordance with State student privacy laws and local educational agency student privacy and technology use policies.

(xxi) Supporting other activities identified by the State that are, to the extent the State determines that such evidence is reasonably available, evidence-based and that meet the purpose of this subchapter.

(d) State application

(1) In general

In order to receive an allotment under this section for any fiscal year, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may reasonably require.

(2) Contents

Each application described under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) A description of how the State educational agency will use funds received under this subchapter for State-level activities described in subsection (c).

(B) A description of the State's system of certification and licensing of teachers, principals, or other school leaders.

(C) A description of how activities under this part are aligned with challenging State academic standards.

(D) A description of how the activities carried out with funds under this part are expected to improve student achievement.

(E) If a State educational agency plans to use funds under this part to improve equitable access to effective teachers, consistent with section 6311(g)(1)(B) of this title, a description of how such funds will be used for such purpose.

(F) If applicable, a description of how the State educational agency will work with local educational agencies in the State to develop or implement State or local teacher, principal, or other school leader evaluation and support systems that meet the requirements of subsection (c)(4)(B)(ii).

(G) An assurance that the State educational agency will monitor the implementation of activities under this part and provide technical assistance to local educational agencies in carrying out such activities.

(H) An assurance that the State educational agency will work in consultation with the entity responsible for teacher, principal, or other school leader professional standards, certification, and licensing for the State, and encourage collaboration between educator preparation programs, the State, and local educational agencies to promote the readiness of new educators entering the profession.

(I) An assurance that the State educational agency will comply with section 7881 of this title (regarding participation by private school children and teachers).

(J) A description of how the State educational agency will improve the skills of teachers, principals, or other school leaders in order to enable them to identify students with specific learning needs, particularly children with disabilities, English learners, students who are gifted and talented, and students with low literacy levels, and provide instruction based on the needs of such students.

(K) A description of how the State will use data and ongoing consultation as described in paragraph (3) to continually update and improve the activities supported under this part.

(L) A description of how the State educational agency will encourage opportunities for increased autonomy and flexibility for teachers, principals, or other school leaders, such as by establishing innovation schools that have a high degree of autonomy over budget and operations, are transparent and accountable to the public, and lead to improved academic outcomes for students.

(M) A description of actions the State may take to improve preparation programs and strengthen support for teachers, principals, or other school leaders based on the needs of the State, as identified by the State educational agency.

(3) Consultation

In developing the State application under this subsection, a State shall-

(A) meaningfully consult with teachers, principals, other school leaders, paraprofessionals (including organizations representing such individuals), specialized instructional support personnel, charter school leaders (in a State that has charter schools), parents, community partners, and other organizations or partners with relevant and demonstrated expertise in programs and activities designed to meet the purpose of this subchapter;

(B) seek advice from the individuals, organizations, or partners described in subparagraph (A) regarding how best to improve the State's activities to meet the purpose of this subchapter; and

(C) coordinate the State's activities under this part with other related strategies, programs, and activities being conducted in the State.

(4) Limitation

Consultation required under paragraph (3) shall not interfere with the timely submission of the application required under this section.

(e) Prohibition

Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the Secretary or any other officer or employee of the Federal Government to mandate, direct, or control any of the following:

(1) The development, improvement, or implementation of elements of any teacher, principal, or other school leader evaluation system.

(2) Any State or local educational agency's definition of teacher, principal, or other school leader effectiveness.

(3) Any teacher, principal, or other school leader professional standards, certification, or licensing.

20 U.S.C. § 6611

Pub. L. 89-10, title II, §2101, as added Pub. L. 114-95, §2002, 129 Stat. 1917; amended Pub. L. 116-260, §315, 134 Stat. 1610.

EDITORIAL NOTES

REFERENCES IN TEXTSection 2202(b) of this Act (as in effect on the day before January 8, 2002), referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(A)(i), is section 2202(b) of Pub. L. 89-10, as added by Pub. L. 103-382, §101, 108 Stat. 3621, which was classified to section 6642(b) of this title prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107-110, §201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1620. Section 306 of the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2001, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(A)(ii), is section 1(a)(1) [title III, §306] of Pub. L. 106-554, Nov. 29, 1999, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-41, which is not classified to the Code.

PRIOR PROVISIONSA prior section 6611, Pub. L. 89-10, title II, §2111, as added Pub. L. 107-110, §201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1621, related to allotments to States, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 114-95, §5, title II, §2002, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1806, 1913, effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs.A prior section 2101 of Pub. L. 89-10 was classified to section 6601 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 114-95.Another prior section 2101 of Pub. L. 89-10 was classified to section 6621 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107-110. Another prior section 2101 of Pub. L. 89-10 was classified to section 3001 of this title, prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 89-10 by Pub. L. 103-382.

AMENDMENTS2020-Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(iv). Pub. L. 116-260, §315(1), in introductory provisions, inserted "through fiscal year 2022" after "for fiscal year 2020". Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 116-260, §315(2), substituted "2023" for "2021" in heading and text of introductory provisions.

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

EFFECTIVE DATESection 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.

Department: The term "Department" means the Department of Education.
Secretary: The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Education.
State educational agency: The term "State educational agency" means the agency primarily responsible for the State supervision of public elementary schools and secondary schools.
State: The term "State" means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and each of the outlying areas.
child: The term "child" means any person within the age limits for which the State provides free public education.
early college high school: The term "early college high school" means a partnership between at least one local educational agency and at least one institution of higher education that allows participants to simultaneously complete requirements toward earning a regular high school diploma and earn not less than 12 credits that are transferable to the institutions of higher education in the partnership as part of an organized course of study toward a postsecondary degree or credential at no cost to the participant or participant's family.
elementary school: The term "elementary school" means a nonprofit institutional day or residential school, including a public elementary charter school, that provides elementary education, as determined under State law.
poverty line: The term "poverty line" means the poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance with section 9902(2) of title 42) applicable to a family of the size involved.
professional development: The term "professional development" means activities that-(A) are an integral part of school and local educational agency strategies for providing educators (including teachers, principals, other school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, paraprofessionals, and, as applicable, early childhood educators) with the knowledge and skills necessary to enable students to succeed in a well-rounded education and to meet the challenging State academic standards; and(B) are sustained (not stand-alone, 1-day, or short term workshops), intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, and classroom-focused, and may include activities that-(i) improve and increase teachers'-(I) knowledge of the academic subjects the teachers teach;(II) understanding of how students learn; and(III) ability to analyze student work and achievement from multiple sources, including how to adjust instructional strategies, assessments, and materials based on such analysis;(ii) are an integral part of broad schoolwide and districtwide educational improvement plans;(iii) allow personalized plans for each educator to address the educator's specific needs identified in observation or other feedback;(iv) improve classroom management skills;(v) support the recruitment, hiring, and training of effective teachers, including teachers who became certified through State and local alternative routes to certification;(vi) advance teacher understanding of-(I) effective instructional strategies that are evidence-based; and(II) strategies for improving student academic achievement or substantially increasing the knowledge and teaching skills of teachers;(vii) are aligned with, and directly related to, academic goals of the school or local educational agency;(viii) are developed with extensive participation of teachers, principals, other school leaders, parents, representatives of Indian tribes (as applicable), and administrators of schools to be served under this chapter;(ix) are designed to give teachers of English learners, and other teachers and instructional staff, the knowledge and skills to provide instruction and appropriate language and academic support services to those children, including the appropriate use of curricula and assessments;(x) to the extent appropriate, provide training for teachers, principals, and other school leaders in the use of technology (including education about the harms of copyright piracy), so that technology and technology applications are effectively used in the classroom to improve teaching and learning in the curricula and academic subjects in which the teachers teach;(xi) as a whole, are regularly evaluated for their impact on increased teacher effectiveness and improved student academic achievement, with the findings of the evaluations used to improve the quality of professional development;(xii) are designed to give teachers of children with disabilities or children with developmental delays, and other teachers and instructional staff, the knowledge and skills to provide instruction and academic support services, to those children, including positive behavioral interventions and supports, multi-tier system of supports, and use of accommodations;(xiii) include instruction in the use of data and assessments to inform and instruct classroom practice;(xiv) include instruction in ways that teachers, principals, other school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, and school administrators may work more effectively with parents and families;(xv) involve the forming of partnerships with institutions of higher education, including, as applicable, Tribal Colleges and Universities as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)), to establish school-based teacher, principal, and other school leader training programs that provide prospective teachers, novice teachers, principals, and other school leaders with an opportunity to work under the guidance of experienced teachers, principals, other school leaders, and faculty of such institutions;(xvi) create programs to enable paraprofessionals (assisting teachers employed by a local educational agency receiving assistance under part A of subchapter I) to obtain the education necessary for those paraprofessionals to become certified and licensed teachers;(xvii) provide follow-up training to teachers who have participated in activities described in this paragraph that are designed to ensure that the knowledge and skills learned by the teachers are implemented in the classroom; and(xviii) where practicable, provide jointly for school staff and other early childhood education program providers, to address the transition to elementary school, including issues related to school readiness.
school leader: The term "school leader" means a principal, assistant principal, or other individual who is-(A) an employee or officer of an elementary school or secondary school, local educational agency, or other entity operating an elementary school or secondary school; and(B) responsible for the daily instructional leadership and managerial operations in the elementary school or secondary school building.
specialized instructional support personnel: The term "specialized instructional support personnel" means-(i) school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists; and(ii) other qualified professional personnel, such as school nurses, speech language pathologists, and school librarians, involved in providing assessment, diagnosis, counseling, educational, therapeutic, and other necessary services (including related services as that term is defined in section 1401 of this title) as part of a comprehensive program to meet student needs.
technology: The term "technology" means modern information, computer and communication technology products, services, or tools, including, the Internet and other communications networks, computer devices and other computer and communications hardware, software applications, data systems, and other electronic content (including multimedia content) and data storage.