State of Preschool
Access Rankings
4-year-Olds
N/A
3-year-Olds
N/A
Resource Rankings
State spending
N/A
All reported spending
N/A
Total Benchmarks Met
Of 10 benchmarks possible
6
Overview
During the 2021-2022 school year, Guam preschool enrolled 57 children, an increase of seven from the prior year, as the program began to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. State spending totaled $287,425, a decrease of $129,309 (31%), adjusted for inflation since last year. State spending per child equaled $5,043 in 2021-2022, down $382 from 2020-2021, adjusted for inflation. Guam met 6 of 10 quality standards benchmarks.
What's New
In December 2022 Guam was awarded a federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B–5) renewal grant for $2.8 million. Funds are planned to be used for island-wide systemic improvements, parent engagement activities, and school readiness activities.
Background
The Guam Department of Education’s publicly funded Pilot Prekindergarten Program is available in all four regions of the territory’s single school district. Each region has one Prekindergarten Program classroom located within a public school. All age-eligible children may enroll in the program, which has no income limit for eligibility. Guam’s Prekindergarten Program operates six hours a day, five days a week, following the school year or academic calendar, and providing 978 hours of services per year. Both lunch and breakfast are served to children attending the program.
The program’s maximum class size is 18 children, with a teacher-to-student ratio of 1 to 9. Lead teachers are required to have an associate degree with early childhood education specialization and either pre-K or pre-K to 2nd grade certification. Lead teachers also are required to participate in 30 clock hours of in-service professional development annually. Assistant teachers are required to hold a high school diploma, but are not required to participate in any professional development.
A formal evaluation of the program was conducted by the Guam Department of Education’s Administrator for Research, Planning & Evaluation in 2018 and is currently under review by the Guam Education Board.
Guam Department of Education Prekindergarten Program
Access
|
|
| Some Head Start children may also be counted in state pre-K. Estimates children in special education not also enrolled in state pre-K or Head Start. | |
| Total state pre-K enrollment | 57 |
| School districts that offer state program | 100% |
| Income requirement | No income requirement |
| Minimum hours of operation | 6 hours/day; 5 days/week |
| Operating schedule | School or academic year |
| Special education enrollment, ages 3 and 4 | 83 |
| Federally funded Head Start enrollment, ages 3 and 4 | 534 |
| State-funded Head Start enrollment, ages 3 and 4 | 0 |
Resources
| Total state pre-K spending | $287,425 |
| Local match required? | No |
| State Head Start spending | $829,376 |
| State spending per child enrolled | $5,043 |
| All reported spending per child enrolled* | $5,043 |
Pre-K programs may receive additional funds from federal or local sources that are not included in this figure. K–12 expenditures include capital spending as well as current operating expenditures. Head Start per-child spending includes funding only for 3- and 4-year-olds.
Guam Quality Standards Checklist
| Policy | Requirement | Benchmark | Meets Benchmark? |
|---|---|---|---|
For more information about the benchmarks, see the Executive Summary and the Roadmap to State pages. | 6benchmarks met | ||
| Early Learning & Development Standards Benchmark | Comprehensive, aligned, supported, culturally sensitive | Comprehensive, aligned, supported, culturally sensitive | |
| Curriculum Supports Benchmark | Approval process & supports | Approval process & supports | |
| Teacher Degree Benchmark | AA | BA | |
| Teacher Specialized Training Benchmark | ECE | Specializing in pre-K | |
| Assistant Teacher Degree Benchmark | HSD | CDA or equivalent | |
| Staff Professional Development Benchmark | 30 hours/year (teachers only); PD plans (teachers only); Coaching | For teachers & assistants: At least 15 hours/year; individual PD plans; coaching | |
| Maximum Class Size Benchmark | 18 (4-year-olds) | 20 or lower | |
| Staff to Child Ratio Benchmark | 1:9 (4-year-olds) | 1:10 or better | |
| Screening & Referral Benchmark | Vision, hearing, health & more | Vision, hearing & health screenings; & referral | |
| Continuous Quality Improvement System Benchmark | None | Structured classroom observations; data used for program improvement | |