It's time for another school year, so with that in mind it's time to refresh our minds on what the law is on Guam for homeschoolers. Guam has one of the easiest home school laws. It is known as an "equivalency" law, because you, as the teacher, are supposed to teach your children the "equivalent" of what is learned in the public schools. Theoretically.
Here is what the law says:
The Guam Law
17 GCA Chapter 6, Section 6109
"Children not attending a private full-time school and who are being instructed in study and recitation for at least (3) hours a day for one hundred seventy (170) days each calendar year by a private tutor or other person, in the several branches of study required to be taught in the public schools of this Territory and in the English language, shall be exempted from attending the public school."
So what does this mean in simple English? Basically it is saying that you should do at least 3 hours of school each "school" day and that you should be teaching your children for 170 days per year. With 365 days in a school year that gives you over half the year off!
And what should you be teaching? The several branches of study required to be taught in the public schools of Guam. Broken down, that would include Math, Language Arts (this covers reading, writing, spelling, grammar), Social Studies (History and Geography), and Science (Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics). In high school you are also required to teach Guam History and Chamorro Language.
However, there is no reporting to any local agency, nor is there any testing required. The Guam Home School Association - a support group for local homeschoolers - encourages parents to take part in yearly testing at local private schools that offer this service, but it is not mandatory.
Some notes of concern for high school. If you decide to homeschool your high school student you will not be allowed to return him/her to the public system if you decide that homeschooling isn't working for you. At least not without a hassle. It is current Guam School System's policy that no credit for any high school courses completed at home will be granted any credit by GSS This would mean, for example, that if your child completes ninth grade at home, they can not enroll in a GSS public high school as a 10th grader but will still be considered 9th grade. It is also GSS policy that homeschoolers are not entitled to any benefits or services, including sports teams, provided by GSS. So to homeschool through high school on Guam takes prayer and commitment!
The Guam Home School Association has so many wonderful activities to keep your children occupied during the school year. Field trips. special events, annual picnic, clubs, classes, etc. that there is no issue with socialization! If you homeschool on Guam it is highly recommended that you plug into this great resource. Contact Liz Perez at jalperez@guam.net for more information. |
