---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1234b"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "1234b"
heading: "Measure of recovery"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/1234b"
units:
  - "Chapter 31 — General Provisions Concerning Education"
  - "Subchapter IV — Enforcement"
---

# §1234b. Measure of recovery

- (a) **Amount returned proportionate to extent of harm violation caused to an identifiable Federal interest; reduction; determination of identifiable Federal interest—**
  - (1) A [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) determined to have made an unallowable expenditure, or to have otherwise failed to discharge its responsibility to account properly for funds, shall be required to return funds in an amount that is proportionate to the extent of the harm its violation caused to an identifiable Federal interest associated with the program under which the [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) received the award. Such amount shall be reduced in whole or in part by an amount that is proportionate to the extent the mitigating circumstances caused the violation.
  - (2) For the purpose of [paragraph (1)](#a-1), an identifiable Federal interest includes, but is not limited to, serving only eligible beneficiaries; providing only authorized services or benefits; complying with expenditure requirements and conditions (such as set-aside, excess cost, maintenance of effort, comparability, supplement-not-supplant, and matching requirements); preserving the integrity of planning, application, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements; and maintaining accountability for the use of funds.
- (b) **Reduction or waiver of amount based on mitigating circumstances; burden of proof; determination of mitigating circumstances; weight, etc., of written request for guidance—**
  - (1) When a State or local educational agency is determined to have made an unallowable expenditure, or to have otherwise failed to discharge its responsibility to account properly for funds, and mitigating circumstances exist, as described in [paragraph (2)](#b-2), the judge shall reduce such amount by an amount that is proportionate to the extent the mitigating circumstances caused the violation. Furthermore, the judge is authorized to determine that no recovery is justified when mitigating circumstances warrant. The burden of demonstrating the existence of mitigating circumstances shall be upon the State or local educational agency.
  - (2) For the purpose of [paragraph (1)](#b-1), mitigating circumstances exist only when it would be unjust to compel the recovery of funds because the State or local educational agency—
    - (A) actually and reasonably relied upon erroneous written guidance provided by the [Department](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-3);
    - (B) made an expenditure or engaged in a practice after—
      - (i) the State or local educational agency submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-4), in good faith, a written request for guidance with respect to the expenditure or practice at issue, and
      - (ii) a [Department](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-3) official did not respond within 90 days of receipt by the [Department](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-3) of such request; or
    - (C) actually and reasonably relied upon a judicial decree issued to the [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1).
  - (3) A written request for guidance as described in [paragraph (2)](#b-2) sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) shall be conclusive proof of receipt by the [Department](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-3).
  - (4) If the [Secretary](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-4) responds to a written request for guidance described in [paragraph (2)(B)](#b-2-B) more than 90 days after its receipt, the State or local educational agency that submitted the request shall comply with the guidance received at the earliest practicable time.
  - (5) In order to demonstrate the existence of the mitigating circumstances described in [paragraph (2)(B)](#b-2-B), the State or local educational agency shall demonstrate that—
    - (A) the written request for guidance accurately described the proposed expenditure or practice and included the facts necessary for a determination of its legality; and
    - (B) the written request for guidance contained a certification by the chief legal officer of the State educational agency that such officer had examined the proposed expenditure or practice and believed the proposed expenditure or practice was permissible under then applicable State and Federal law; and
    - (C) the State or local educational agency reasonably believed that the proposed expenditure or practice was permissible under then applicable State and Federal law.
  - (6) The [Secretary](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-4) shall disseminate to State educational agencies responses to written requests for guidance, described in [paragraph (5)](#b-5), that reflect significant interpretations of applicable law or policy.
- (c) **Review of written requests for guidance on periodic basis—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-4) shall periodically review the written requests for guidance submitted under this section to determine the need for new or supplementary regulatory or other guidance under [applicable programs](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 453, as added Pub. L. 95–561, title XII, § 1232, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2349; amended Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 353.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–297 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to measure of recovery for provisions relating to withholdings. See section 1234d of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–297 effective 180 days after Apr. 28, 1988, but not applicable to recipients receiving written notice to return funds prior to that date, see section 3501(b) of Pub. L. 100–297, set out as a note under section 1234 of this title.