Guam § 13101 - Legislative Findings and Intent.

§ 13101. Legislative Findings and Intent.

I Liheslaturan Guåhan finds that creating the best public school

education is the responsibility of the entire community. This means not only

parents and educators, but also businesses, community groups, associations,

philanthropists and citizens. Currently, the Department of Education is

authorized to receive monetary donations, which are promptly deposited

into the Every Child is Entitled to an Adequate Education Fund (Fund).

The provisions of the existing Fund are too restrictive in regards to how

private contributions to the Department of Education can be utilized,

therefore a mechanism needs to be put in place to more efficiently handle

such contributions. In many communities, public education foundations

serve as a conduit between schools and communities, often funding projects

that fall outside the scope of the schools’ operating budgets. The missions

of these public education foundations are to mobilize regional and

community resources to support and impact public education through

initiatives, programs, and practices designed to improve student

performance and advance quality educational opportunities for all children.

It is, therefore, the intent of I Liheslaturan Guåhan, that a separate

mechanism, one that would promote the improvement of the general

welfare of public education on Guam inclusive of philanthropic and

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community service endeavors, must be established. This can be

accomplished with the creation of a “Foundation for Public Education”.