[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 158 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 158

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

                            January 4, 2005

    Ms. Millender-McDonald 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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. STUDY AND REPORT REGARDING THE DROP OUT RATE OF NATIVE 
              AMERICANS AND STUDENTS 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 Education shall complete a 
study of the following:
            (1) The number of Native Americans and students 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 October of each year for the period of time that 
        the study examines.
            (2) The number of Native Americans and students 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 period 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 Americans 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 American Samoa, the 
        Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam who graduate from secondary 
        school.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 30 days after completion of the study 
required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a 
report containing the following:
            (1) The results of the study.
            (2) A demographic breakdown of the results of the study.
            (3) Recommendations for actions likely to increase the 
        number of Native Americans and students who reside in American 
        Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam who graduate from 
        secondary school.

SEC. 2. REPORT REGARDING PROGRAMS TO REDUCE THE DROP OUT RATE.

     Not later than three years after the date of the enactment 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 before 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 village or regional 
                corporation as defined in or established 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 section 12(3) 
                of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act (42 
                U.S.C. 11711)).
            (2) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary 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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