---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 6471"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "6471"
heading: "Program evaluations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/6471"
units:
  - "Chapter 70 — Strengthening and Improvement of Elementary and Secondary Schools"
  - "Subchapter I — Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged"
  - "Part D — Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk"
  - "Subpart 3 — general provisions"
---

# §6471. Program evaluations

- (a) **Scope of evaluation—** Each [State](/usc/20/7171.md?p=b-6) agency or [local educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=30-A) that conducts a program under subpart 1 or 2 of this part shall evaluate the program, disaggregating data on participation by gender, race, ethnicity, and age while protecting individual student privacy,,[^1] not less than once every 3 years, to determine the program’s impact on the ability of participants—
  - (1) to maintain and improve educational achievement and to graduate from [high school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=28) in the number of years established by the [State](/usc/20/7171.md?p=b-6) under either the [four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate](/usc/20/7801.md?p=25-A) or the [extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate](/usc/20/7801.md?p=23-A), if applicable;
  - (2) to accrue school credits that meet [State](/usc/20/7171.md?p=b-6) requirements for grade promotion and [high school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=28) graduation;
  - (3) to make the transition to a regular program or other education program operated by a [local educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=30-A) or school operated or funded by the Bureau of [Indian](/usc/20/7491.md?p=3) Education;
  - (4) to complete [high school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=28) (or [high school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=28) equivalency requirements) and obtain employment after leaving the correctional facility or [institution for neglected or delinquent children and youth](/usc/20/6472.md?p=4); and
  - (5) as appropriate, to participate in postsecondary education and job training programs.
- (b) **Exception—** The disaggregation required under [subsection (a)](#a) shall not be required in a case in which the number of students in a category is insufficient to yield statistically reliable information or the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student.
- (c) **Evaluation measures—** In conducting each evaluation under [subsection (a)](#a), a [State](/usc/20/7171.md?p=b-6) agency or [local educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=30-A) shall use multiple and appropriate measures of student progress.
- (d) **Evaluation results—** Each [State](/usc/20/7171.md?p=b-6) agency and [local educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=30-A) shall—
  - (1) submit evaluation results to the [State educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=49) and the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46); and
  - (2) use the results of evaluations under this section to plan and improve subsequent programs for participating children and youth.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–10, title I, § 1431, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title I, § 101, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1591; amended Pub. L. 114–95, title I, § 1401(14), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1905.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6471, Pub. L. 89–10, title I, § 1431, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3600, related to program evaluations, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110.

A prior section 1431 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 2831 of this title, prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 89–10 by Pub. L. 103–382.

### Amendments

2015—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(14)(A), (B), inserted “while protecting individual student privacy,” after “age” in introductory provisions and substituted “high school” for “secondary school” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(14)(C), inserted “and to graduate from high school in the number of years established by the State under either the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate or the extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, if applicable” after “educational achievement”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 114–95, § 1401(14)(D), inserted “or school operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Education” after “local educational agency”.

### 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.