order to ensure that the students of Guam’s public and private schools receive adequate textbooks according to their varying scholastic abilities, the following curriculum and textbook adoption standards are prescribed:

(a) The Guam Education Policy Board adopt policies on the curricular needs of the school system, taking into account:

(1) The varying scholastic abilities of students;

(2) The varying vocational interests of students upon completing secondary education; and

(3) The changing societal expectations of
education.

The Board shall adopt policies pertaining to the review, adoption and procurement of instructional materials, equipment and supplies including textbooks and related materials for use by all students attending school in Guam.

(b) The Board shall not delegate or negotiate the responsibility conferred in subsection (a) of this Section unless:

(1) The delegation of this duty is for expert or professional work activities leading up to and in preparation for the adoption of a multiple listing of textbooks; or

(2) The delegation of this duty is for expert or professional work activities leading up to curriculum adoption; or

(3) Duties are specified by law to be shared.

(c) The Board shall establish a standing committee of the Board called the Textbook Selection Committee (the Committee), which shall be chaired by a member of the appointed by the chairperson of the Board and shall consist of four (4) additional members, who may or may not be members of the Board appointed by the chairperson of the Committee. The chairperson shall make appointments from both the public and the private school sectors. The Board shall also establish two subcommittees, one of which shall be composed of educators from the public schools and the other of educators from the private schools. Each subcommittee shall examine textbooks and make recommendations thereon to the Committee, which will then make recommendations for adoption or disapproval of the proposals to the Board. Textbooks and other instructional materials adopted for each grade and subject field shall come from a multiple listing to meet the varying ability levels of elementary and secondary students in Guam. The Board shall also establish a textbook adoption calendar setting forth the subjects or courses for each grade level that are to be selected and ordered each year, on a rotation basis, not to exceedseven (7) years of continuous use for any one (1) textbook, and the critical dates to be met each year. In addition, the Board shall establish a similar but separate calendar for the textbook ordering process which will ensure that new and replacement textbooks are available in the classroom for the opening of school each year.

(d) It shall be the duty of the Committee to:

(1) Establish the criteria for the selection of texts for use by students attending public and private schools in Guam and ensure that such criteria are met;

(2) Review the curriculum changes and textbook adoption proposals submitted to it by the subcommittees, and make recommendations to the Board to adopt or disapprove proposals of the subcommittees, and state the reasons therefore;

(3) Review the list of textbooks requested by the public and private schools for the next school year to ensure that the textbooks were selected from the multiple listing of textbooks adopted by the Board;

(4) Recommend to the Board the amount of advance appropriation necessary to purchase the textbooks; and

(5) Ensure that the textbook adoption calendar and the textbook ordering calendar established by the Board are adhered to.

(e) No school official or member of any committee or subcommittee created by the Board shall accept any emolument, money, or other valuable thing, or any inducement to directly or indirectly introduce, recommend, vote for, or otherwise influence the adoption or purchase of any textbooks or other instructional materials. Anyone who violates any of these prohibitions shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be removed from the position occupied.

(f) The Board shall select and adopt a multiple list of textbooks for use by elementary and secondary grades. Thelist of textbooks shall be based on the recommendations of the subcommittees established pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of this Section. The list shall consist of textbooks for each subject matter or course that address the varying scholastic abilities of students in Guam’s schools. The Board shall act on the recommendation of the subcommittees and Committee within thirty (30) days after submission.

(g) It is the policy of the Board that no public funds shall be expended to purchase religious or sectarian books, or books used for religious or sectarian purposes.

SOURCE: GC § 11203, as R/R by P.L. 18-023:1. Amended by P.L. 18-
032:29(e). Amended by P.L. 20-126:1. Amended by P.L. 29-002:VI:47 (May 18, 2007).
2022 NOTE: Reference to “”territory”” replaced with “”Guam”” pursuant to
1 Guam Code Ann. § 420.