17 GCA EDUCATION CH. 8 CHAMORRO LANGUAGE & CULTURE CHAMORRO LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL EDUCATION CHAPTER 8 COMMENT: References to “Department of Education,” “Department” or DOE changed to “Guam Public School System” or “GPSS” where appropriate pursuant to P.L. 28-045:10 (June 6, 2005)

§ 8101

§ 8102

§ 8103

§ 8103.1. The Guam Hymn

§ 8104

§ 8105

§ 8106

§ 8106

§ 8107

Statement of Findings

Authorization

Chamorro Language and Culture Courses Mandatory

Incorporation of Personnel

Receipt of Federal Funds

Staff Development

Staff Development

Chamorro Language and Culture Classroom(s) Required

§ 8101. Statement of Findings

The Legislature finds and declares the following: (1) Traditionally, basic language differences in Guamanian schools have been overlooked to the extent that there exists a need for an education program to revive and maintain the language and culture of the people of the Marianas

(2) At the present time the Department of Education has an experimental bilingual-bicultural education program funded under ESEA Titles III and VII and two Guamanian schools with approximately two hundred fifty (250) children are participating

(3) A bilingual-bicultural education program tends to impart to students a knowledge of the history and culture associated with their respective dominant language, improves the potential of children of limited English-speaking ability, and if properly structured, turns dropouts or potential dropouts into responsible citizens

(4) There is a definite need for students to learn and preserve that which is unique, beautiful and viable within the Chamorro culture, while at the same time acquiring those attitudes and skills which are necessary for successful competition in the mainstream of American life

SOURCE: GC § 11680, as added by P.L. 12-31

COL07112011 1 17 GCA EDUCATION CH. 8 CHAMORRO LANGUAGE & CULTURE § 8102. Authorization

The Department of Education is hereby authorized to initiate and develop a bilingual-bicultural education program emphasizing the language and culture of the Chamorro people

SOURCE: GC § 11681, as added by P.L. 12-31

§ 8103. Chamorro Language and Culture Courses Mandatory

(a) The Department shall develop a comprehensive curriculum plan for instruction of the Chamorro language to be offered in all public elementary and secondary schools within Guam, in the following three (3) categories: Beginning Chamorro (Introduction to Chamorro Language); Intermediate Chamorro (Basic Usage and Application of the Chamorro Language); and Advanced Chamorro (Conversational Chamorro)

The Department shall establish a program and require six (6) years mandatory course work in the Chamorro language and culture in the public elementary schools; mandatory course work in the Chamorro language and culture in the sixth (6th) grade in the middle schools, with the seventh (7th) grade to be included by School Year 2013-2014, and the eighth (8th) grade to be included to the program by School Year 2014-2015; and mandatory course work in the Chamorro language and culture in the ninth (9th) grade in the high schools, with the tenth (10th) grade to be included to the program by School Year 2014-2015. The Board may accelerate the timeline of the program at the recommendation of the Department. An articulated curriculum shall be developed and implemented Guam-wide for grades kindergarten through fifth (5th), for middle school courses, and for high school courses

The Board shall review and adopt the curriculum and graduation requirements. The Department shall also ensure that all secondary public schools of Guam establish and maintain a Chamorro Language Department and Department Chair for each mandated Chamorro program. The method of selection for Department Chairpersons and the number of preparation periods for such Chairpersons shall be consistent with other departments in each school. Further, each Principal within each school shall work in collaboration with the Department Chair in perpetuating and advancing the Chamorro language within each respective school

(b) The Legislature finds that it is necessary for the people of Guam to preserve, protect and promote the survival of the culture and heritage of the COL07112011 2 17 GCA EDUCATION CH. 8 CHAMORRO LANGUAGE & CULTURE Chamorro people in Guam. The Department of Education and the Director of Education, therefore, shall establish a mandatory course in all public middle schools and high schools on the History of Guam, inclusive of the Organic Act or the Constitution of Guam, as the case may be, and Guam’s quest for political status, including the Commonwealth Act. The course may be taken at either the middle school level or during high school; provided, that no student who completes his or her senior year on Guam will be allowed to graduate from high school without having completed a full school year course on the History of Guam, inclusive of the Organic Act or Guam’s Constitution, as the case may be, and Guam’s quest for political status, including the Commonwealth Act. This § 8103 shall apply to the Guam Community College. The Director of Education, if special circumstances warrant, may waive for particular students the provisions of this § 8103

SOURCE: GC § 11682, as added by P.L. 14-53; amended by P.L. 15-9. Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 21-34:1. Subsection (a) amended by P.L. 26-150:1; P.L. 31-045:2 (May 23, 2011)

§ 8103.1. The Guam Hymn

The Department of Education shall require the singing of the Guam Hymn in Chamorro at appropriate times during school hours, such singing of the Territorial Anthem to be in addition to doing so in Chamorro language classes

The official Chamorro version of the Guam Hymn is as follows: FANOHGE CHAMORRO Fanohge Chamorro put i tano’-ta Kanta i ma tuna-na gi todu i lugat Para i onra para i gloria Abiba i isla senparat Para i onra para i gloria Abiba i isla senparat Todu i tiempo i pas para hita Yan ginen i langet na bendesion Kontra i piligru na’fansafo’ ham Yu’os prutehi i Islan Guam Kontra i piligru na’fansafo’ ham Yu’os prutehi i Islan Guam

COL07112011 3 17 GCA EDUCATION CH. 8 CHAMORRO LANGUAGE & CULTURE SOURCE: Added by P.L. 21-70:1

CROSS-REFERENCES: See 1 GCA § 1034 for the full “Guam Hymn” and the law officially adopting it

§ 8104. Incorporation of Personnel

All personnel recruited by the Department for the current Chamorro Language and Culture Program are hereby designated as regular employees of the Department of Education. Persons employed in a teaching capacity under the Chamorro Language and Culture Program shall be required to comply with the certification requirements of § 5101 of this Title

SOURCE: GC § 11683, as added by P.L. 14-53. Amended by P.L. 24-311:2

§ 8105. Receipt of Federal Funds

The Department is hereby authorized to continue receiving federal funds for a Chamorro Language and Culture Program as long as the Department of Health, Education and Welfare permits. Appropriation of local funds is hereby authorized at any time that the federal assistance terminates provided the Department of Education develops a cost estimate for continuation of the program and presents it to the Legislature for approval ninety (90) days prior to termination of federal funds

SOURCE: GC § 11684, as added by P.L. 14-53

§ 8106. Staff Development

A staff development program shall be established to include pre- service and in-service training of employees and the expansion of undergraduate and graduate courses in Chamorro language and culture at the University. This program shall be funded by either federal or local grants, or both, as identified by the Department with the advice of the Project Director for the Chamorro Language and Culture Program

SOURCE: GC § 11685, as added by P.L. 14-53

§ 8107. Chamorro Language and Culture Classroom(s) Required

The Board shall require that every existing or new public school where new classrooms are constructed must provide sufficient classroom(s) for the exclusive purpose of Chamorro Language and Culture instruction, with a minimum of one (1) classroom designated for such use per school. For all other existing public schools, the Board shall immediately implement a study to determine the most feasible methods to provide sufficient classroom(s) for the exclusive purpose of Chamorro Language and Culture COL07112011 4 17 GCA EDUCATION CH. 8 CHAMORRO LANGUAGE & CULTURE instruction, with a minimum of one (1) classroom designated for such use per school

SOURCE: Added by P.L. 24-107:3

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