---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 9403"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "9403"
heading: "Prohibitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/9403"
units:
  - "Chapter 75 — Early Learning Opportunities"
---

# §9403. Prohibitions

- (a) **Participation not required—** No person, including a [parent](/usc/20/9402.md?p=8), shall be required to participate in any program of early childhood education, [early learning](/usc/20/9402.md?p=3), [parent](/usc/20/9402.md?p=8) education, or developmental screening pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
- (b) **Rights of parents—** Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect the rights of [parents](/usc/20/9402.md?p=8) otherwise established in Federal, [State](/usc/20/9402.md?p=12), or local law.
- (c) **Particular methods or settings—** No entity that receives funds under this chapter shall be required to provide services under this chapter through a particular instructional method or in a particular instructional setting to comply with this chapter.
- (d) **Nonduplication—** No funds provided under this chapter shall be used to carry out an activity funded under another provision of law providing for Federal child care or [early learning programs](/usc/20/9402.md?p=4), unless an expansion of such activity is identified in the local needs assessment and performance goals under this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(1) [title VIII, § 804], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–82.)