---
type: "LegalText"
title: "20 U.S.C. § 1704"
description: "Balance not required"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 20
title_name: "EDUCATION"
chapter_number: "39"
chapter_name: "EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS"
section: "1704"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1704"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc20@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t20/s1704"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-20/usc20.xml"
source_hash: "1378586442579ed9b4a67f35bbdbf5f34c9c2ef6e5cadf45bf77eb12499deb73"
raw_snapshot_hash: "6022872c5d6a3398d1728f82f8cefcb58db9f5ff548e2a636450be1e4a8bb052"
text_hash: "d00beeee1909f3810b58b21b4ee9c37e7a252926045dcc61761b49b470b2e3a9"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 20 U.S.C. § 1704 - Balance not required

## Text

The failure of an educational agency to attain a balance, on the basis of race, color, sex, or national origin, of students among its schools shall not constitute a denial of equal educational opportunity, or equal protection of the laws.

(Pub. L. 93–380, title II, § 205, Aug. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 515.)

## Notes

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective DateSection 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.