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. ABER-
CROMBIE, 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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. STUDY AND REPORT REGARDING THE DROP 
OUT RATE OF NATIVE AMERICANS AND STU-
DENTS WHO RESIDE IN AMERICAN SAMOA, 
THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, AND 
GUAM. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than three years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Edu-
cation shall complete a study of the following: 
(1) The number of Native Americans and stu-
dents who reside in American Samoa, the Northern 
Mariana Islands, and Guam enrolled in a secondary 
school in the United States on the first day of Octo-
ber of each year for the period of time that the 
study examines. 
(2) The number of Native Americans and stu-
dents who reside in American Samoa, the Northern 
Mariana Islands, and Guam who were enrolled in a 
secondary school in the United States at some time 
during the previous year, but who are not enrolled 
on the first day of October of each year for the pe-
riod of time that the study examines. 
(3) Of the number described in paragraph (2), 
the number who are not enrolled—
(A) because they are enrolled in another 
public or private school;
(B) because they are being taught in home 
schools; 
(C) because they have completed a General 
Equivalency Diploma; or 
(D) for other permissible reasons, such as 
illness, suspension, or death. 
(4) Factors that contribute to Native Ameri-
cans and students who reside in American Samoa, 
the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam ceasing 
attendance at secondary schools before they have 
graduated. 
(5) Potential actions to increase the number of 
Native Americans and students who reside in Amer-
ican Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and 
Guam who graduate from secondary school. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after comple-
tion of the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall transmit to Congress a report containing the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The results of the study. 
(2) A demographic breakdown of the results of 
the study. 
(3) Recommendations for actions likely to in-
crease the number of Native Americans and students 
who reside in American Samoa, the Northern Mar-
iana Islands, and Guam who graduate from sec-
ondary school. 
SEC. 2. REPORT REGARDING PROGRAMS TO REDUCE THE 
DROP OUT RATE. 
Not later than three years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall transmit 
to Congress a report describing Federal programs funded 
during the three-year period immediately preceding the 
date that the report is completed which were designed to 
decrease or otherwise address the rate at which students 
cease attending secondary schools in the United States be-
fore they have graduated. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions 
apply: 
(1) NATIVE
AMERICAN.—The term ‘‘Native 
American’’ means a person who is—
(A) an enrolled member of an Indian tribe, 
band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group 
or community, including any Alaska Native vil-
lage or regional corporation as defined in or es-
tablished pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act, which is recognized as eligible 
for the special programs and services provided
by the United States to Indians because of their 
status as Indians; or 
(B) a Native Hawaiian (as defined in sec-
tion 12(3) of the Native Hawaiian Health Care 
Improvement Act (42 U.S.C. 11711)). 
(2) SECONDARY
SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘sec-
ondary school’’ has the meaning given such term in 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).
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