---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 6673"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "6673"
heading: "School leader recruitment and support"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/6673"
units:
  - "Chapter 70 — Strengthening and Improvement of Elementary and Secondary Schools"
  - "Subchapter II — Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-Quality Teachers, Principals, or Other School Leaders"
  - "Part B — National Activities"
  - "Subpart 4 — programs of national significance"
---

# §6673. School leader recruitment and support

- (a) **In general—** From the funds reserved under [section 6671(2) of this title](/usc/20/6671.md?p=2) for a fiscal year, the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to [eligible entities](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) to enable such entities to improve the recruitment, preparation, placement, support, and retention of effective principals or other [school leaders](/usc/20/7801.md?p=44) in [high-need schools](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-2), which may include—
  - (1) developing or implementing leadership training programs designed to prepare and support principals or other [school leaders](/usc/20/7801.md?p=44) in [high-need schools](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-2), including through new or alternative pathways or [school leader residency programs](/usc/20/6602.md?p=1);
  - (2) developing or implementing programs or activities for recruiting, selecting, and developing aspiring or current principals or other [school leaders](/usc/20/7801.md?p=44) to serve in [high-need schools](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-2);
  - (3) developing or implementing programs for recruiting, developing, and placing [school leaders](/usc/20/7801.md?p=44) to improve schools implementing comprehensive support and improvement activities and targeted support and improvement activities under [section 6311(d) of this title](/usc/20/6311.md?p=d), including through cohort-based activities that build effective instructional and school leadership teams and develop a school culture, design, instructional program, and [professional development](/usc/20/7801.md?p=42) program focused on improving student learning;
  - (4) providing continuous [professional development](/usc/20/7801.md?p=42) for principals or other [school leaders](/usc/20/7801.md?p=44) in [high-need schools](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-2);
  - (5) developing and disseminating information on best practices and strategies for effective school leadership in [high-need schools](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-2), such as training and supporting principals to identify, develop, and maintain school leadership teams using various leadership models; and
  - (6) other [evidence-based](/usc/20/7801.md?p=21-A) programs or activities described in [section 6611(c)(4) of this title](/usc/20/6611.md?p=c-4) or [section 6613(b)(3) of this title](/usc/20/6613.md?p=b-3) focused on principals or other [school leaders](/usc/20/7801.md?p=44) in [high-need schools](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-2).
- (b) **Program periods and diversity of projects—**
  - (1) **In general—** A grant awarded by the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) to an [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) under this section shall be for a period of not more than 5 years.
  - (2) **Renewal—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) may renew a grant awarded under this section for 1 additional 2-year period.
  - (3) **Diversity of projects—** In awarding grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, grants are distributed among [eligible entities](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) that will serve geographically diverse areas, including urban, suburban, and rural areas.
  - (4) **Limitation—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) shall not award more than 1 grant under this section to an [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) during a grant competition.
- (c) **Cost-sharing—**
  - (1) **In general—** An [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) that receives a grant under this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, not less than 25 percent of the funds for the total cost for each year of activities carried out under this section.
  - (2) **Acceptable contributions—** An [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) that receives a grant under this section may meet the requirement of [paragraph (1)](#c-1) by providing contributions in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, and services.
  - (3) **Waivers—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) may waive or modify the requirement of [paragraph (1)](#c-1) in cases of demonstrated financial hardship.
- (d) **Applications—** An [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) that desires a grant under this section shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) an application at such time, and in such manner, as the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) may require.
- (e) **Priority—** In awarding grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) shall give priority to an [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1)—
  - (1) with a record of preparing or developing principals who—
    - (A) have improved school-level student outcomes;
    - (B) have become principals in [high-need schools](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-2); and
    - (C) remain principals in [high-need schools](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-2) for multiple years; and
  - (2) who will implement [evidence-based](/usc/20/7801.md?p=21-A) activities, defined for the purpose of this paragraph as activities meeting the requirements of [section 7801(21)(A)(i) of this title](/usc/20/7801.md?p=21-A-i).
- (f) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Eligible entity—** The term “[eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1)” means—
    - (A) a [local educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=30-A), including an [educational service agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=18), that serves a [high-need school](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-2) or a consortium of such agencies;
    - (B) a [State educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=49) or a consortium of such agencies;
    - (C) a [State educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=49) in partnership with 1 or more [local educational agencies](/usc/20/7801.md?p=30-A), or [educational service agencies](/usc/20/7801.md?p=18), that serve a [high-need school](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-2);
    - (D) the Bureau of [Indian](/usc/20/7491.md?p=3) Education; or
    - (E) an entity described in subparagraph [(A)](#f-1-A), [(B)](#f-1-B), [(C)](#f-1-C), or [(D)](#f-1-D) in partnership with 1 or more nonprofit organizations or institutions of higher education.
  - (2) **High-need school—** The term “[high-need school](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-2)” means—
    - (A) an [elementary school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=19) in which not less than 50 percent of the enrolled students are from families with incomes below the [poverty line](/usc/20/7801.md?p=41); or
    - (B) a [secondary school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=45) in which not less than 40 percent of the enrolled students are from families with incomes below the [poverty line](/usc/20/7801.md?p=41).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2243, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2002, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1949.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6673, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2303, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1649, related to recruitment and selection of Troops-to-Teachers Program participants, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title V, § 541(d)(1), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1735.

Another prior section 6673, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2303, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3634, related to grants for the implementation of professional development programs, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section 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.