---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12513"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12513"
heading: "Study of program effectiveness"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12513"
units:
  - "Chapter 129 — National and Community Service"
  - "Subchapter I — National and Community Service State Grant Program"
  - "Division A — General Provisions"
---

# §12513. Study of program effectiveness

- (a) **In general—** Not later than 12 months after April 21, 2009, the Comptroller General of the United States shall develop performance measures for each [program](/usc/42/12511.md?p=34) receiving Federal assistance under the [national service laws](/usc/42/12511.md?p=26).
- (b) **Contents—** The performance measures developed under [subsection (a)](#a) shall—
  - (1) to the maximum extent practicable draw on research-based, quantitative data;
  - (2) take into account [program](/usc/42/12511.md?p=34) purpose and [program](/usc/42/12511.md?p=34) design;
  - (3) include criteria to evaluate the cost effectiveness of [programs](/usc/42/12511.md?p=34) receiving assistance under the [national service laws](/usc/42/12511.md?p=26);
  - (4) include criteria to evaluate the administration and management of [programs](/usc/42/12511.md?p=34) receiving Federal assistance under the [national service laws](/usc/42/12511.md?p=26); and
  - (5) include criteria to evaluate oversight and accountability of recipients of assistance through such [programs](/usc/42/12511.md?p=34) under the [national service laws](/usc/42/12511.md?p=26).
- (c) **Report—** Not later than 2 years after the development of the performance measures under [subsection (a)](#a), and every 5 years thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall prepare and submit to the [authorizing committees](/usc/42/12511.md?p=7) and the [Corporation](/usc/42/12511.md?p=12)’s [Board](/usc/42/12626.md?p=1) of [Directors](/usc/42/12626.md?p=6) a report containing an assessment of each such [program](/usc/42/12511.md?p=34) with respect to the performance measures developed under [subsection (a)](#a).
- (d) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **In general—** The terms “[authorizing committees](/usc/42/12511.md?p=7)”, “[Corporation](/usc/42/12511.md?p=12)”, and “[national service laws](/usc/42/12511.md?p=26)” have the meanings given the terms in [section 12511 of this title](/usc/42/12511.md).
  - (2) **Program—** The term “[program](/usc/42/12511.md?p=34)” means an entire [program](/usc/42/12511.md?p=34) carried out by the [Corporation](/usc/42/12511.md?p=12) under the [national service laws](/usc/42/12511.md?p=26), such as the entire AmeriCorps [program](/usc/42/12511.md?p=34) carried out under subtitle C.[^1]

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1712, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1551.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Subtitle C, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), probably means subtitle C (§ 121 et seq.) of title I of Pub. L. 101–610, which is classified generally to division C (§ 12571 et seq.) of this subchapter. For complete classification of subtitle C to the Code, see Tables.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Serve America Act, and not as part of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 which comprises this chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as an Effective Date of 2009 Amendment note under section 4950 of this title.