Chamorro Language and Culture Courses Mandatory

(a)[No text]

(1)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); CH. 8 CHAMORRO LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL EDUCATION Intermediate Chamorro (Basic Usage and Application of the Chamorro Language); and Advanced Chamorro (Conversational Chamorro).

(2)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.

(3)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)I Liheslatura finds that it is necessary for the people of Guam to preserve, protect and promote the survival of the culture and heritage of the Chamorro people in Guam. The Department of Education and the Superintendent 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 Superintendent of Education, if special circumstances warrant, may waive for particular students the provisions of this § 8103.