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20 U.S.C. 1402: Office of Special Education ProgramsText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 20-EDUCATIONCHAPTER 33-EDUCATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

§1402. Office of Special Education Programs

(a)  Establishment

There shall be, within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in the Department of Education, an Office of Special Education Programs, which shall be the principal agency in the Department for administering and carrying out this chapter and other programs and activities concerning the education of children with disabilities.

(b)  Director

The Office established under subsection (a) shall be headed by a Director who shall be selected by the Secretary and shall report directly to the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

(c)  Voluntary and uncompensated services

Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, the Secretary is authorized to accept voluntary and uncompensated services in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter.

( Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 603 , as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101 , Dec. 3, 2004 , 118 Stat. 2659 .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1402, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 603, as added Pub. L. 105–17, title I, § 101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 46, related to the Office of Special Education Programs, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 108–446.

Another prior section 1402, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 603, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 177; Pub. L. 93–380, title VI, § 612(a), Aug. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 579; Pub. L. 98–199, § 3(a), Dec. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 1357; Pub. L. 101–476, title IX, § 901(b)(21), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1143; Pub. L. 102–119, § 25(b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 607, related to the Office of Special Education Programs, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 105–17.