April 20, 2021 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PATH MiFi Device Distribution Schedule for April 19, 2021 to April 24, 2021

PTI Pacifica dba IT&E will continue their distribution of the MiFi device for the week of April 19, 2021.  IT&E is the winning vendor for the Providing Access To Homes (PATH) program which affords qualifying families the opportunity to receive 100% federally funded mobile wireless devices that provide 50GB of data per month to support distance learning.

Currently, 1300 mobile wireless devices have been distributed to families who qualified for the program.

The Guam Department of Education is grateful for the support of the vendor and the island mayors for establishing distribution sites throughout the island.  The GDOE would also like to express its appreciation to the school administrators who volunteered their school campuses as distribution sites for the PATH program.

Parents/Guardians and students with an authorization letter can pick up their mobile hotspot devices at the following locations:

For parents/guardians who are interested in applying for the PATH program:

• Parents/guardians apply through their child’s school.  The completed PATH program application is returned to the school. Printed copies of the application are available at the school and printable PDF is available on the GDOE website.
• Once parents/guardians receive approval from the school, the school will contact parents to pick up the authorization letter with the PATH ID.
• Parents/guardians the authorization letter and an ID to one of the distribution sites to pick up their mobile hotspot device.
• Tech Support will be on-site to assist parents/guardians who would like assistance in using the device or connecting it to a GDOE-issued device.

For more information on the PATH program, parents are encouraged to contact their child’s school. For technical support, parents or students can call IT&E tech support at 922-4483 or visit their helpdesk website at https://iteintranet.com/support-gdoe/.

This program is made possible through funding administered by the US Department of Education CARES ACT through a sub-award to the Guam Department of Education under the Education Stabilization Fund - Governors Grant Program.

For those who have received their PATH Authorization letter and would like to pick up their MiFi device, IT&E will have their distribution site set up at Luis P. Untalan Middle School today, Monday, April 19, 2021.

The distribution site will operate from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

We kindly ask that all parents/guardians have their authorization letter.

If you are a parent/guardian who is interested in registering your child for a MiFi device, you may contact your child's school for more information on the PATH application process.  You may also download the PATH application on our GDOE website by clicking here.  

GDOE and DPHSS Host the Second COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic for Okkodo High School and Simon Sanchez High School Students

The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) and Public Health’s Immunization program are hosting another COVID-19 vaccination clinic for eligible and interested students from Okkodo High School and Simon Sanchez High School.  The clinic will be hosted in the Okkodo High School cafeteria on Monday, April 19, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be administered to interested students who are 16 years of age or older.  Students who are under the age of 18 must be accompanied by one parent or, by a legal guardian while receiving the vaccine.  

Before receiving the vaccine, all participants must submit a consent form. Printed copies of the consent form will be available at Okkodo High School.  A fillable PDF is also available online: https://tinyurl.com/3xvaw4b3. Students are requested to bring their shot records with them to the vaccination clinic. Parents and students must present a valid Guam identification for proof of age and identity. Students may also use a school identification card.

Accompanying parents/guardians can receive the Pfizer vaccine as well.

Participants can schedule appointments online at https://tinyurl.com/efwuavr3.  Those who scheduled online appointments are asked to either show their receipt/ticket on their phones or provide a printout of their receipt/ticket to the staff members when entering the sign-in area. 

Walk-in participants are encouraged and welcomed.  

Participants will be instructed to enter through the A-wing and directed to exit through the gymnasium after they complete their observation period.  To preserve the gymnasium court, participants are asked to refrain from wearing stilettos or high heels.

Participants are to follow the COVID-19 Mitigation Guidelines:

·      Undergo a temperature check before entering campus;

·      Wear a mask at all times;

·      Maintain a physical distance of at least 6ft.;

·      Wash hands or use hand sanitizer often;

·      Arrive fifteen (15) minutes before their scheduled appointment; and

·      Remain in their vehicles until instructed to enter the gymnasium.

Please be advised that vaccinations are given upon availability.

For more information, please contact Kathleen Estremadura, the OHS School Health Counselor at (671) 300-1870. Participants may also call Ron Espina, the SSHS School Health Counselor at (671) 653-2313. You may also e-mail Michelle Franquez at matfranquez@gdoe.net.

GDOE INVITES STUDENTS TO ENROLL FOR SUMMER SCHOOL

The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) invites elementary, middle, and high school students to enroll for summer school SY 2020-2021. Registration is currently on-going and application forms are available for pick-up at your child’s respective school.  You may also download the fillable PDF at:  https://tinyurl.com/4hyrezwm.  Application forms must be submitted to your child’s school no later than Friday, May 7, 2021.

Elementary and middle school summer programs are designed to supplement instruction during the regular school year. These programs provide additional support to students who need or would like to spend additional time working on specific skills. Elementary and middle school summer school programs will run from June 7, 2021 through July 16, 2021. 

The high school summer program is designed for credit recovery for students lacking 0.5 or more credits to graduate or be on track to graduate. The program will run from June 7, 2021 through July 22, 2021, and will be divided into four sessions.  Students may earn a maximum of 2.0 credits (0.5 credit for each session).

For elementary, middle, and high school programs:

• The face-to-face and online models of learning will be offered.
• Breakfast and lunch will be served.
• Transportation will be provided by the Department of Public Works (schedule forthcoming).

For inquiries and information, please contact your child’s school.  You may also contact Mr. Joshua Blas or Ms. Kelly Escuadra from the Division of Curriculum & Instruction at 300-1635/1254.

Summer School is administered by the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) - Federal Programs Division/ Grants Office and funded by the U.S. Department of Education - Consolidated Grant to the Outlying Areas.

Guam Department of Education Receives American Rescue Plan Award of $287 Million

On April 7, 2021, U.S. Department of Education (USEd) Acting Assistant Secretary Ian Rosenblum notified Guam Department of Education (GDOE) Superintendent Jon Fernandez that Guam will be receiving $286,940,627 as part of critical aid provided in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. The ARP, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, contained $850,000,000 set aside for the Outlying Areas, to include American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Guam’s share was calculated based on the proportion of funds received in the most recent fiscal year under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  

“The funding from the American Rescue Plan is significant and will help ensure that GDOE has the resources needed to re-open schools and address the needs of our students,” said Fernandez. “We are appreciative of this federal support, which allows us to focus our efforts on the safe return of more students to the classroom this coming school year.” 

Based on the grant conditions, ARP funds are to focus on helping to return students safely to in-person instruction, maximize instructional time, and address learning loss. Also, equitable services will continue to be provided not just to GDOE schools but to charter and private non-profit schools as well.  Finally, Guam will need to demonstrate maintenance of effort as a condition of receiving federal funds.  The maintenance of effort defines a minimum level of local funding that must be provided to support elementary, secondary and postsecondary education.

“It is important that the funds be prioritized for the purposes set forth by the President and USEd, so we can get our kids back in school and begin the hard work of getting them back on track after more than a year of dealing with COVID-19,” said Fernandez. “We look forward to working with the Governor and Legislature to ensure that Guam meets our maintenance of effort requirement and to ensure that we can utilize the federal funds to make critical long-term investments in our school system.” 

GDOE Prioritizes $110 Million in ESF 2 Funding to Provide Safe Learning Environments for Students

In 2020, GDOE received $41.5 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act which established the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) to help address the immediate safety needs of students and employees and support a shift to distance learning.  Earlier this year, a second wave of ESF funding provided $110 million to GDOE to ensure the continued safety of students and employees and to help with the transition back to in-person instruction next school year.  

Earlier this month, GDOE finalized and submitted its budget to USEd for the $110 million in ESF funding which will provide support to GDOE public schools, charter schools, and private schools.  The share for GDOE public schools was approximately $86 million with the following priorities funded:

• Preparing Schools to Reopen -- $44.4 million
• Meeting Academic, Social and Emotional Needs of Students -- $22.2 million
• Expanding the Use of Technology -- $19.6 million

A copy of the Education Stabilization Fund II budget can be found on the federal programs web page located at https://www.gdoe.net/District/Department/28-Federal-Programs-Division.  

A more detailed GDOE budget follows below:

For more information, please contact Acting Public Information Officer Michelle Franquez at matfranquez@gdoe.net.

The Guam Department of Education and the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services Host COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic for Tiyan High School Students 

In conjunction with the Department of Public Health’s Immunization program, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) is hosting a free clinic for Tiyan High School students who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The clinic will take place in the Tiyan High School gymnasium on Monday, April 12, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be administered to interested students who are 16 years of age or older.  Students who are under the age of 18 must be accompanied by one parent or, by a legal guardian while receiving the vaccine.  

Before receiving the vaccine, all participants must submit a consent form. Printed copies of the consent form are available at Tiyan High School.  A fillable PDF is also available online: https://tinyurl.com/3xvaw4b3. Students are requested to bring their shot records with them to the vaccination clinic. Students must present a valid Guam identification for proof of age.

Parents and students can schedule appointments online at https://tinyurl.com/2t8vv3k.  We ask participants who schedule an online appointment to either show their receipt/ticket on their phones or provide a printout of their receipt/ticket to the staff members when entering the gymnasium. 

Walk-in participants are welcomed.  

Participants are to follow the COVID-19 Mitigation Guidelines:

·      Undergo a temperature check before entering campus;

·      Wear a mask at all times;

·      Maintain a physical distance of at least 6ft.;

·      Wash hands or use hand sanitizer often;

·      Arrive fifteen (15) minutes before their scheduled appointment; and

·      Remain in their vehicles until instructed to enter the gymnasium.

Please be advised that vaccinations are given upon availability.

For more information, please contact Shane Garrido, the THS School Health Counselor at 300-5570. 

Today begins the distribution for the MiFi devices that are made possible through the PATH program and through our vendor, IT&E.  The GDOE would like to extend its appreciation to the island mayors for working with IT&E to establish distribution sites for the devices at designated village locations.  Interested parents may still apply for the PATH program at their child's school.  Please contact your child's school for more information.

For those who already received their authorization letters, parents and students with a PATH ID can pick up mobile hotspot devices at the following locations and times:

The Guam Department of Education would like to recognize two of our own, Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Administrative Services Dr. Zenaida Asuncion and Auditor III Joy Bulatao, as Certified Government Financial Managers (CGFM). 

Certified Government Financial Manager is a professional certification awarded by the Association of Government Accountants, demonstrating competency in governmental accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal controls and budgeting.       

Congratulations Dr. Zeny and Joy!

March 22, 2021

Weekly GDOE COVID-19 Dashboard 

The School Readiness Dashboard tracks CDC indicators for risk of introduction & transmission of COVID-19 in schools. Based on this week’s data, Guam is in the LOWER risk category relative to 14-day cases & the LOWEST risk category relative to 14-day positivity rate.

You can also view the Dashboard updates on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

You may also download this week's update here:  https://tinyurl.com/hd3sxa5k