20 USC § 3997 - Approval of applications

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t20/s3997"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "20 USC § 3997 - Approval of applications"
title_number: 20
title_name: "EDUCATION"
section_number: "3997"
section_name: "Approval of applications"
chapter_number: 52
chapter_name: "EDUCATION FOR ECONOMIC SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "PARTNERSHIPS IN EDUCATION FOR MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND ENGINEERING"
part_number: "B"
part_name: "Elementary and Secondary Education Partnerships"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 98–377, title III, § 327, as added Pub. L. 100–418, title VI, § 6031(a)(2), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1482.)"
---


# § 3997. Approval of applications

**(a)** **Criteria** The State shall establish criteria for approval of applications under this section. Such criteria shall include—

**(1)** consideration of the local district’s need for, and inability to locally provide for, the activities, equipment, library and instructional materials requested;

**(2)** the number and nature of elementary and secondary students who will benefit from the planned program; and

**(3)** the expressed level of financial and in-kind commitment from other parties to the program.

**(b)** **Approval procedures** The State shall adopt approval procedures designed to ensure that grants are equitably distributed among—

**(1)** rural, urban, and suburban areas; and

**(2)** small, medium, and large local educational agencies.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–377, title III, § 327, as added Pub. L. 100–418, title VI, § 6031(a)(2), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1482.)