Purpose and program authorization — Us Code Code § 6421

Us Code Code § 6421 — Purpose and program authorization. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 6421. Purpose and program authorization

(a) Purpose

It is the purpose of this part—

(1) to improve educational services for children and youth in local, tribal, and State institutions for neglected or delinquent children and youth so that such children and youth have the opportunity to meet the same challenging State academic standards that all children in the State are expected to meet;

(2) to provide such children and youth with the services needed to make a successful transition from institutionalization to further schooling or employment; and

(3) to prevent at-risk youth from dropping out of school, and to provide dropouts, and children and youth returning from correctional facilities or institutions for neglected or delinquent children and youth, with a support system to ensure their continued education and the involvement of their families and communities.

(b) Program authorized

In order to carry out the purpose of this part and from amounts appropriated under section 6302(d) of this title, the Secretary shall make grants to State educational agencies to enable such agencies to award subgrants to State agencies and local educational agencies to establish or improve programs of education for neglected, delinquent, or at-risk children and youth.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title I, §1401, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title I, §101, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1580; amended Pub. L. 114–95, title I, §1401(1), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1900.)


Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 6421, Pub. L. 89–10, title I, §1401, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3591, set out findings and purpose and authorized program, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110.

A prior section 1401 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 2821 of this title, prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 89–10 by Pub. L. 103–382.

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–95, §1401(1)(A), inserted ", tribal," after "youth in local" and substituted "challenging State academic standards" for "challenging State academic content standards and challenging State student academic achievement standards".

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 114–95, §1401(1)(B), inserted "and the involvement of their families and communities" after "to ensure their continued education".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment 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.

About This Section

20 U.S.C. § 6421 is part of Title 20 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 20 U.S.C. § 6421. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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