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In the decade preceding 2000, the growth rate of the Pacific Islander population increased more rapidly than that of any other racial or ethnic group in the United States—from 9% to 140%, compared to the 13% growth in the U.S. total population. Within the diverse U.S. Pacific Islander population is the heterogeneous population of Micronesians from the Western Pacific insular entities, including the U.S. citizens of the Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI); along with the U.S.-affiliated Freely Associated States of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and the Republic of Palau (RP). The United States is associated with the latter four entities because the United Nations assigned them to the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands at the end of World War II. They eventually negotiated their respective Commonwealth and Compacts of Free Association status. Individuals from all five of these Pacific Island entities may rightfully and freely travel, work, and attend schools in any part of the 50 U.S. states.

Educators in the United States may lack knowledge of the cultural, linguistic, political, and geographic features of these groups that is needed to effectively deliver best practice instruction to them. This entry provides an overview of salient educational issues associated with Micronesians in the United States.

Contemporary Micronesian Migration to and within the United States

Scholar Father Francis X. Hezel estimates that 60,000 citizens of FSM, RP, and RMI have migrated to Guam, CNMI, Hawaii, and the U.S. mainland. In addition to the large Guam and Hawaii Micronesian populations, Micronesian communities have been established in California, Oregon, Nevada, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Minnesota, and Florida. Newcomers often join supportive family members who have already become established or migrate because they learn of job opportunities for caregivers in nursing homes or laborers in poultry plants, mushroom farms, or slaughter houses. Many migrate primarily to find a good education for their children.

Educational and Economic Challenges

Micronesians face economic and educational challenges in their new U.S. homes. Gender is an issue as well as their earlier educational background and ethnic/linguistic differences. U.S. census data show that when Micronesians in the United States are compared to the U.S. general population, they have lower high school graduation rates and less postsecondary education experience (U.S.: female = 80.7%, male = 80.1%; Micronesian: female = 78.6, male = 76.6); lower baccalaureate graduation rates (U.S.: female = 22.8%, male = 26.1%; Micronesian: female = 13.4%, male = 14.05); and lower earnings (U.S.: female = $33,029, male = $49,250; Micronesian: female = $29,398, male = $35,688).

Predetermining Home Island Influences

Mary Spencer's studies of literacy in FSM, RMI, and RP reveal that English literacy levels remain at the lower elementary levels for both male and female students by the end of the seventh grade. Literacy in the indigenous languages, though typically underdeveloped, forms a viable foundation for academic growth. Dropout estimates for Guam and CNMI school systems are near 50%. Nevertheless, enrollments of Micronesian students are growing at the University of Guam and at FSM's College of Micronesia campuses, with women in a slight majority.

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