 CHAPTER 70--STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
                                 SCHOOLS
 
                     SUBCHAPTER V--PROMOTING EQUITY
 
                   Part B--Women's Educational Equity
 
Sec. 7235. Criteria and priorities


(a) Criteria and priorities

                           (1) In general

        The Secretary shall establish separate criteria and priorities 
    for awards under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 7233(b) of this 
    title to ensure that funds under this part are used for programs 
    that most effectively will achieve the purposes of this part.

                            (2) Criteria

        The criteria described in subsection (a) of this section may 
    include the extent to which the activities assisted under this 
    part--
            (A) address the needs of women and girls of color and women 
        and girls with disabilities;
            (B) meet locally defined and documented educational equity 
        needs and priorities, including compliance with title IX of the 
        Education Amendments of 1972 [20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.];
            (C) are a significant component of a comprehensive plan for 
        educational equity and compliance with title IX of the Education 
        Amendments of 1972 [20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.] in the particular 
        school district, institution of higher education, vocational-
        technical institution, or other educational agency or 
        institution; and
            (D) implement an institutional change strategy with long-
        term impact that will continue as a central activity of the 
        applicant after the grant under this part has terminated.

(b) Priorities

    In approving applications under this part, the Secretary may give 
special consideration to applications--
        (1) submitted by applicants that have not received assistance 
    under this part or under part C of title IX of this Act (as such 
    part was in effect on October 1, 1988);
        (2) for projects that will contribute significantly to directly 
    improving teaching and learning practices in the local community; 
    and
        (3) for projects that will--
            (A) provide for a comprehensive approach to enhancing gender 
        equity in educational institutions and agencies;
            (B) draw on a variety of resources, including the resources 
        of local educational agencies, community-based organizations, 
        institutions of higher education, and private organizations;
            (C) implement a strategy with long-term impact that will 
        continue as a central activity of the applicant after the grant 
        under this part has terminated;
            (D) address issues of national significance that can be 
        duplicated; and
            (E) address the educational needs of women and girls who 
        suffer multiple or compound discrimination based on sex and on 
        race, ethnic origin, disability, or age.

(c) Special rule

    To the extent feasible, the Secretary shall ensure that grants 
awarded under this part for each fiscal year address--
        (1) all levels of education, including preschool, elementary and 
    secondary education, higher education, vocational education, and 
    adult education;
        (2) all regions of the United States; and
        (3) urban, rural, and suburban educational institutions.

(d) Coordination

    Research activities supported under this part--
        (1) shall be carried out in consultation with the Office of 
    Educational Research and Improvement to ensure that such activities 
    are coordinated with and enhance the research and development 
    activities supported by the Office; and
        (2) may include collaborative research activities which are 
    jointly funded and carried out with the Office of Educational 
    Research and Improvement.

(e) Limitation

    Nothing in this part shall be construed as prohibiting men and boys 
from participating in any programs or activities assisted with funds 
under this part.

(Pub. L. 89-10, title V, Sec. 5205, as added Pub. L. 103-382, title I, 
Sec. 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3699.)

                       References in Text

    The Education Amendments of 1972, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(B), 
(C), is Pub. L. 92-318, June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 235, as amended. Title 
IX of the Act is classified principally to chapter 38 (Sec. 1681 et 
seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the 
Code, see Short Title of 1972 Amendment note set out under section 1001 
of this title and Tables.
    Part C of title IX of this Act (as such part was in effect on 
October 1, 1988), referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is part C of title IX 
of Pub. L. 89-10, as added by Pub. L. 95-561, title VIII, Sec. 802, Nov. 
1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2298, as amended, known as the Women's Educational 
Equity Act of 1978, which was classified generally to part C (Sec. 3341 
et seq.) of subchapter IX of chapter 47 of this title, prior to the 
general revision of Pub. L. 89-10 by Pub. L. 100-297, title I, 
Sec. 1001, Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 140.
