I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1486

To direct the Secretary of Education to conduct a study of the rate at 

which Native Americans and students who reside in American Samoa, 

the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam drop out of secondary schools 

in the United States, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 27, 2003

Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD (for herself, Mr. CASE, Ms. WATSON, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. FROST, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. NORTON, and Mr. 

FALEOMAVAEGA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Education and the Workforce 

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Education to conduct a study 

of the rate at which Native Americans and students 

who reside in American Samoa, the Northern Mariana 

Islands, and Guam drop out of secondary schools in 

the United States, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. STUDY AND REPORT REGARDING THE DROP 

2 OUT RATE OF NATIVE AMERICANS AND STU3 DENTS WHO RESIDE IN AMERICAN SAMOA, 

4 THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, AND 

5 GUAM. 

6 (a) STUDY.—Not later than three years after the 

7 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Edu8 cation shall complete a study of the following: 

9 (1) The number of Native Americans and stu10 dents who reside in American Samoa, the Northern 

11 Mariana Islands, and Guam enrolled in a secondary 

12 school in the United States on the first day of Octo13 ber of each year for the period of time that the 

14 study examines. 

15 (2) The number of Native Americans and stu16 dents who reside in American Samoa, the Northern 

17 Mariana Islands, and Guam who were enrolled in a 

18 secondary school in the United States at some time 

19 during the previous year, but who are not enrolled 

20 on the first day of October of each year for the pe21 riod of time that the study examines. 

22 (3) Of the number described in paragraph (2), 

23 the number who are not enrolled—

24 (A) because they are enrolled in another 

25 public or private school; 
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1 (B) because they are being taught in home 

2 schools; 

3 (C) because they have completed a General 

4 Equivalency Diploma; or 

5 (D) for other permissible reasons, such as 

6 illness, suspension, or death. 

7 (4) Factors that contribute to Native Ameri8 cans and students who reside in American Samoa, 

9 the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam ceasing 

10 attendance at secondary schools before they have 

11 graduated. 

12 (5) Potential actions to increase the number of 

13 Native Americans and students who reside in Amer14 ican Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and 

15 Guam who graduate from secondary school. 

16 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after comple17 tion of the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary 

18 shall transmit to Congress a report containing the fol19 lowing: 

20 (1) The results of the study. 

21 (2) A demographic breakdown of the results of 

22 the study. 

23 (3) Recommendations for actions likely to in24 crease the number of Native Americans and students 

25 who reside in American Samoa, the Northern Mar-
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1 iana Islands, and Guam who graduate from sec2 ondary school. 

3 SEC. 2. REPORT REGARDING PROGRAMS TO REDUCE THE 

4 DROP OUT RATE. 

5 Not later than three years after the date of the enact6 ment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall transmit 

7 to Congress a report describing Federal programs funded 

8 during the three-year period immediately preceding the 

9 date that the report is completed which were designed to 

10 decrease or otherwise address the rate at which students 

11 cease attending secondary schools in the United States be12 fore they have graduated. 

13 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

14 For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions 

15 apply: 

16 (1) NATIVE AMERICAN.—The term ‘‘Native 

17 American’’ means a person who is—

18 (A) an enrolled member of an Indian tribe, 

19 band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group 

20 or community, including any Alaska Native vil21 lage or regional corporation as defined in or es22 tablished pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims 

23 Settlement Act, which is recognized as eligible 

24 for the special programs and services provided 
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1 by the United States to Indians because of their 

2 status as Indians; or 

3 (B) a Native Hawaiian (as defined in sec4 tion 12(3) of the Native Hawaiian Health Care 

5 Improvement Act (42 U.S.C. 11711)). 

6 (2) SECONDARY SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘sec7 ondary school’’ has the meaning given such term in 

8 the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 

9 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).

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