---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 7922"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "7922"
heading: "Rule of construction regarding travel to and from school"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/7922"
units:
  - "Chapter 70 — Strengthening and Improvement of Elementary and Secondary Schools"
  - "Subchapter VIII — General Provisions"
  - "Part F — Uniform Provisions"
  - "Subpart 2 — other provisions"
---

# §7922. Rule of construction regarding travel to and from school

- (a) **In general—** Subject to [subsection (b)](#b), nothing in this chapter shall authorize the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) to, or shall be construed to—
  - (1) prohibit a [child](/usc/20/7801.md?p=3) from traveling to and from school on foot or by car, bus, or bike when the [parents](/usc/20/7801.md?p=38) of the [child](/usc/20/7801.md?p=3) have given permission; or
  - (2) expose [parents](/usc/20/7801.md?p=38) to civil or criminal charges for allowing their [child](/usc/20/7801.md?p=3) to responsibly and safely travel to and from school by a means the [parents](/usc/20/7801.md?p=38) believe is age appropriate.
- (b) **No preemption of State or local laws—** Notwithstanding [subsection (a)](#a), nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt [State](/usc/20/7171.md?p=b-6) or local laws.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VIII, § 8542, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title VIII, § 8034, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2118.)

## Notes

### 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.