---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1461"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "1461"
heading: "Purpose; definition of eligible entity"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/1461"
units:
  - "Chapter 33 — Education of Individuals with Disabilities"
  - "Subchapter IV — National Activities to Improve Education of Children with Disabilities"
  - "Part B — Personnel Preparation, Technical Assistance, Model Demonstration Projects, and Dissemination of Information"
---

# §1461. Purpose; definition of eligible entity

- (a) **Purpose—** The purpose of this part is—
  - (1) to provide Federal funding for [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b) preparation, technical assistance, model demonstration projects, information dissemination, and studies and evaluations, in order to improve early intervention, educational, and transitional results for children with disabilities; and
  - (2) to assist [State educational agencies](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) and [local educational agencies](/usc/20/1401.md?p=19-A) in improving their education systems for children with disabilities.
- (b) **Definition of eligible entity—**
  - (1) **In general—** In this part, the term “eligible entity” means—
    - (A) a [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32);
    - (B) a [local educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=19-A);
    - (C) a public charter school that is a [local educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=19-A) under [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) law;
    - (D) an [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1401.md?p=17);
    - (E) a public agency not described in subparagraphs [(A)](#b-1-A) through [(D)](#b-1-D);
    - (F) a private [nonprofit](/usc/20/1401.md?p=21) organization;
    - (G) an [outlying area](/usc/20/1401.md?p=22);
    - (H) an [Indian tribe](/usc/20/1401.md?p=13) or a tribal organization (as defined under [section 5304 of title 25](/usc/25/5304.md)); or
    - (I) a for-profit organization, if the [Secretary](/usc/20/1401.md?p=28) finds it appropriate in light of the purposes of a particular competition for a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this part.
  - (2) **Special rule—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/1401.md?p=28) may limit which [eligible entities](#b-1) described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) are eligible for a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this part to 1 or more of the categories of [eligible entities](#b-1) described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 661, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2774.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1461, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 661, as added Pub. L. 105–17, title I, § 101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 130, related to administrative provisions, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 108–446.

Another prior section 1461, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 661, as added Pub. L. 99–457, title III, § 317, Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1172; amended Pub. L. 100–630, title I, § 107(b), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3301; Pub. L. 101–476, title VII, § 701, title IX, § 901(b)(154)–(156), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1140, 1149; Pub. L. 102–119, § 25(a)(15), (b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 606, 607, related to financial assistance for the purpose of advancing use of new technology, media, and materials in education of students with disabilities and provision of related services and early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–17, title II, § 203(c), June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 157, effective Oct. 1, 1997.

Another prior section 1461, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 661, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 187; Pub. L. 93–380, title VI, § 621, Aug. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 585; Pub. L. 98–199, § 3(b), Dec. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 1358, related to research, training, and model centers respecting special programs for children with specific learning disabilities, providing in subsec. (a), Secretary’s grant and contract authority, functions of model centers, and considerations governing making of contracts and grants; subsec. (b), other considerations in making awards, geographical distribution of training programs and trained personnel, and a model center in each State; and subsec. (c), appropriations authorization of $10, $20, and $20 million dollars for fiscal years ending June 30, 1975 through 1977, respectively, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 98–199, § 14, Dec. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 1374.