Chamorro & Carolinian Language Requirements. (a) One full year of Chamorro or Carolinian language classes will be required for high school students to graduate, and middle school students to be promoted. The Public School System (PSS) shall offer at least two years of Chamorro and Carolinian language classes for those students who wish to continue instruction after the first year. (b) PSS shall hire individuals who are qualified to teach either language at the level in which they are assigned. In addition to other PSS teacher qualification requirements, in order to be qualified to teach a Chamorro or Carolinian language class at PSS, the individual must hold a Chamorro and/or Carolinian Language and Culture Certificate as provided in 3 CMC § 13102. (c) Chamorro and Carolinian language classes shall be counted as a foreign language credit as a prerequisite for graduation from high school. PSS shall implement Chamorro and Carolinian language classes within their curriculum by School Year 2025-26. Source: PL 24-29 § 3 (Mar. 20, 2026). Commission Comment: PL 24-29 cited this Act as the “Chamorro and Carolinian Language Education Act of 2025.” In addition, the Act contained a findings and purpose and codified this section, stating: Section 2. Findings and Purpose. The Legislature finds that Article 15, Section 1(a) of the CNMI Constitution makes it clear that the educational system shall recognize the distinct and unique cultural heritage and indigenous way of life of the people and shall be committed to providing for the language needs of the people and the preservation of their cultural integrity within a global community. On August 17, 2024, the Nineteenth CNMI Youth Congress adopted Youth Congress Bill No. 19-01, YCD 1, “To require all public schools within the CNMI: elementary, middle and high schools to teach at least one full year of the Chamorro and/or Carolinian languages.” In their findings, the Youth Congress acknowledged that there is a limited number of residents in the CNMI who fluently speak Chamorro and/or Carolinian. Further, the Youth Congress found that “[s]aving these indigenous languages is crucial to ensure the protection of the cultural dignity of our indigenous people, and safeguard our traditional heritage.” The Legislature further recognizes that despite the CNMI Public School System’s (PSS) constitutional mandate to support Chamorro and Carolinian bilingual programs, resources allocated to bilingual teacher compensation, instructional contact hours, and instructional materials remain inequitable. Some bilingual teachers make as little as $19,000 per year and are treated as teaching assistants despite performing the work of a full-time teacher, like planning lessons, developing curriculum, and leading classrooms. Therefore, it is the purpose of this Act to address issues relating to the CNMI Public School System’s
Chamorro & Carolinian language requirements; school personnel; and salary parity for people who hold Chamorro and/or Carolinian bilingual language and culture certificates. In codifying PL 24-29, the Commission omitted drafting marks pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(g).