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20 U.S.C. 1701: Congressional declaration of policyText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 20-EDUCATIONCHAPTER 39-EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS

§1701. Congressional declaration of policy

(a)  Entitlement to equal educational opportunity; neighborhood as appropriate basis

The Congress declares it to be the policy of the United States that⁠—

(1)  all children enrolled in public schools are entitled to equal educational opportunity without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin; and

(2)  the neighborhood is the appropriate basis for determining public school assignments.

(b)  Purpose

In order to carry out this policy, it is the purpose of this subchapter to specify appropriate remedies for the orderly removal of the vestiges of the dual school system.

( Pub. L. 93–380, title II, § 202 , Aug. 21, 1974 , 88 Stat. 514 .)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective on and after sixtieth day after Aug. 21, 1974, see section 2(c) of Pub. L. 93–380, set out as a note under section 1221–1 of this title.

Short Title

Pub. L. 93–380, title II, § 201, Aug. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 514, provided that:

“This title [enacting this chapter and section 1228 of this title and amending section 1608 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974’.”