---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 7221a"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "7221a"
heading: "Program authorized"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/7221a"
units:
  - "Chapter 70 — Strengthening and Improvement of Elementary and Secondary Schools"
  - "Subchapter IV — 21st Century Schools"
  - "Part C — Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools"
---

# §7221a. Program authorized

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) may carry out a [charter school](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) program that supports [charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) that serve early childhood, [elementary school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=19), or [secondary school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=45) students by—
  - (1) supporting the startup of new [charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2), the replication of [high-quality charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=8), and the expansion of [high-quality charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=8);
  - (2) assisting [charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) in accessing credit to acquire and renovate facilities for school use; and
  - (3) carrying out national activities to support—
    - (A) the activities described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1);
    - (B) the dissemination of best practices of [charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) for all schools;
    - (C) the evaluation of the impact of the [charter school](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) program under this part on schools participating in such program; and
    - (D) stronger [charter school](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) authorizing practices.
- (b) **Funding allotment—** From the amount made available under [section 7221j of this title](/usc/20/7221j.md) for a fiscal year, the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) shall—
  - (1) reserve 12.5 percent to support [charter school](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) facilities assistance under [section 7221c of this title](/usc/20/7221c.md);
  - (2) reserve 22.5 percent to carry out national activities under [section 7221d of this title](/usc/20/7221d.md); and
  - (3) use the remaining amount after the reservations under paragraphs [(1)](#b-1) and [(2)](#b-2) to carry out [section 7221b of this title](/usc/20/7221b.md).
- (c) **Prior grants and subgrants—** The recipient of a grant or subgrant under part B of title V (as such part was in effect on the day before December 10, 2015) shall continue to receive funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of such grant or subgrant.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4302, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title IV, § 4301(1), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1994.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Part B of title V (as such part was in effect on the day before December 10, 2015), referred to in subsec. (c), means part B of title V of Pub. L. 89–10, which was classified generally to part B (§ 7221 et seq.) of subchapter V of this chapter prior to being amended by Pub. L. 114–95. Pub. L. 114–95, title IV, §§ 4001(b)(1)(B), (2), 4301, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1967, 1993, repealed subparts 2 (§ 7223 et seq.) and 3 (§ 7225 et seq.) of part B of subchapter V, redesignated the remainder of part B as this part, struck out the subpart 1 designation and heading, repealed and amended various sections of this part, and added several new sections. For complete classification of Pub. L. 114–95 to the Code, see Tables.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 7221a, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4302, formerly title V, § 5202, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title V, § 501, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1788; renumbered title IV, § 4302, Pub. L. 114–95, title IV, § 4001(b)(2)(A), (B), (D)(iii), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1967, related to authorization of grant program, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 114–95, § 5, title IV, § 4301(1), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1806, 1993, effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs.

A prior section 4302 of Pub. L. 89–10 was renumbered section 8572, and is classified to section 7972 of this title.

### 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.