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

# §7221d. National activities

- (a) **In general—** From the amount reserved under [section 7221a(b)(2) of this title](/usc/20/7221a.md?p=b-2), the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) shall—
  - (1) use not more than 80 percent of such funds to award grants in accordance with [subsection (b)](#b);
  - (2) use not more than 9 percent of such funds to award grants, on a competitive basis, to [eligible applicants](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=6) for the purpose of carrying out the activities described in [section 7221b(h) of this title](/usc/20/7221b.md?p=h) in a [State](/usc/20/7171.md?p=b-6) that did not receive a grant under [section 7221b of this title](/usc/20/7221b.md); and
  - (3) after the uses described in paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) and [(2)](#a-2), use the remainder of such funds to—
    - (A) disseminate technical assistance to—
      - (i) [State](/usc/20/7171.md?p=b-6) entities in awarding subgrants under [section 7221b(b)(1) of this title](/usc/20/7221b.md?p=b-1); and
      - (ii) [eligible entities](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) and [States](/usc/20/7171.md?p=b-6) receiving grants under [section 7221c of this title](/usc/20/7221c.md);
    - (B) disseminate best practices regarding [charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2); and
    - (C) evaluate the impact of the [charter school](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) program carried out under this part, including the impact on student achievement.
- (b) **Grants for the replication and expansion of high-quality charter schools—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) shall make grants, on a competitive basis, to [eligible entities](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) having applications approved under [paragraph (3)](#b-3) to enable such entities to open and prepare for the operation of one or more replicated [high-quality charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=8) or to [expand](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=7) one or more [high-quality charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=8).
  - (2) **Definition of eligible entity—** For purposes of this subsection, the term “[eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1)” means a [charter management organization](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=3).
  - (3) **Application requirements—** An [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) desiring to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) at such time and in such manner as the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) may require. The application shall include the following:
    - (A) **Existing charter school data—** For each [charter school](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) currently operated or managed by the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1)—
      - (i) student assessment results for all students and for each subgroup of students described in [section 6311(c)(2) of this title](/usc/20/6311.md?p=c-2);
      - (ii) attendance and student retention rates for the most recently completed school year and, if applicable, the most recent available 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rates and [extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rates](/usc/20/7801.md?p=23-A); and
      - (iii) information on any significant compliance and management issues encountered within the last 3 school years by any school operated or managed by the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1), including in the areas of student safety and finance.
    - (B) **Descriptions—** A description of—
      - (i) the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1)’s objectives for implementing a [high-quality charter school](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=8) program with funding under this subsection, including a description of the proposed number of [high-quality charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=8) the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) proposes to open as a result of the replication of a [high-quality charter school](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=8) or to [expand](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=7) with funding under this subsection;
      - (ii) the educational program that the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) will implement in such [charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2), including—
        - (I) information on how the program will enable all students to meet the challenging [State](/usc/20/7171.md?p=b-6) academic standards;
        - (II) the grade levels or ages of students who will be served; and
        - (III) the instructional practices that will be used;
      - (iii) how the operation of such [charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) will be sustained after the grant under this subsection has ended, which shall include a multi-year financial and operating model for the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1);
      - (iv) how the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) will ensure that such [charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) will recruit and enroll students, including children with disabilities, [English learners](/usc/20/7801.md?p=20), and other educationally disadvantaged students; and
      - (v) any request and justification for any waivers of Federal statutory or regulatory requirements that the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) believes are necessary for the successful operation of such [charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2).
    - (C) **Assurance—** An assurance that the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) has sufficient procedures in effect to ensure timely closure of low-performing or financially mismanaged [charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) and clear plans and procedures in effect for the students in such schools to attend other high-quality schools.
  - (4) **Selection criteria—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) shall select [eligible entities](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) to receive grants under this subsection, on the basis of the quality of the applications submitted under [paragraph (3)](#b-3), after taking into consideration such factors as—
    - (A) the degree to which the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) has demonstrated success in increasing academic achievement for all students and for each of the subgroups of students described in [section 6311(c)(2) of this title](/usc/20/6311.md?p=c-2) attending the [charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) operates or manages;
    - (B) a determination that the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) has not operated or managed a significant proportion of [charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=2) that—
      - (i) have been closed;
      - (ii) have had the school’s charter revoked due to problems with statutory or regulatory compliance; or
      - (iii) have had the school’s affiliation with the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) revoked or terminated, including through voluntary disaffiliation; and
    - (C) a determination that the [eligible entity](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) has not experienced significant problems with statutory or regulatory compliance that could lead to the revocation of a school’s charter.
  - (5) **Priority—** In awarding grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) shall give priority to [eligible entities](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) that—
    - (A) plan to operate or manage [high-quality charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=8) with racially and socioeconomically diverse student bodies;
    - (B) demonstrate success in working with schools identified by the [State](/usc/20/7171.md?p=b-6) for comprehensive support and improvement under [section 6311(c)(4)(D)(i) of this title](/usc/20/6311.md?p=c-4-D-i);
    - (C) propose to use funds—
      - (i) to [expand](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=7) [high-quality charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=8) to serve [high school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=28) students; or
      - (ii) to [replicate](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=9) [high-quality charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=8) to serve [high school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=28) students; or
    - (D) propose to operate or manage [high-quality charter schools](/usc/20/7221i.md?p=8) that focus on dropout recovery and academic reentry.
- (c) **Terms and conditions—** Except as otherwise provided, grants awarded under paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) and [(2)](#a-2) of subsection (a) shall have the same terms and conditions as grants awarded to [State](/usc/20/7171.md?p=b-6) entities under [section 7221b of this title](/usc/20/7221b.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4305, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title IV, § 4301(1), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2009.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 7221d, Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4305, formerly title V, § 5205, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title V, § 501, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1795; renumbered title IV, § 4305, Pub. L. 114–95, title IV, § 4001(b)(2)(A), (B), (D)(iii), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1967, related to national activities, 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.

### 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.