(Last Updated August 23, 2017)

Private Schools

Accreditation, Registration, Licensing, and Approval

• Accreditation: no requirements
• Registration: no requirements
• Licensing: no requirements
• Approval: required
  • A private school must annually receive a certificate of authorization from the American Samoa Department of Education. A certificate is awarded upon the successful completion of an inspection of the school. To receive a certificate, the school must prove to have satisfactory standards of instruction, curriculum, and buildings. American Samoa Code Annotated (A.S.C.A.) §16.0701.
  • To apply for authorization for the first time, a private school must submit to the Samoa director of education (1) a statement of its purposes and aims; (2) the names and addresses of its sponsors and supporters; (3) the age, grade, and sex of each child who will attend; (4) the cost of tuition; and (5) the curriculum to be taught. A.S.C.A. §16.0701.

Teacher Certification

• No territory policy currently exists.

Length of School Year and Days

• Private schools must operate the same number of days as public schools. A.S.C.A. §16.0702.

Curriculum

• The American Samoa director of education may require private school officials to include material in their schools’ curricula that is in the interest of fostering good citizenship. A.S.C.A. §16.0704.
• Material used to teach about Samoan custom, culture, and traditions must be approved by the Secretary of Samoan Affairs before being used in a private school class. A.S.C.A. §16.0304.

Recordkeeping and Reports

• Private schools must submit monthly enrollment reports. A.S.C.A. §16.0706.
• Annually, a private school must submit (1) a school year calendar, (2) a list of its teachers’ names, ages, levels of experience, and professional qualifications, (3) a certificate of health for each teacher, (4) a list of curriculum and books for each grade, and (5) a schedule of classes. A.S.C.A. §16.0706.
• Private schools must maintain permanent report cards for each enrolled student. A.S.C.A. §16.0706.

Health and Safety Requirements

• Prior to initial enrollment, any student attending school in American Samoa must have a certificate submitted on his or her behalf to the superintendent or head of the school stating that the student is immunized against red measles, rubella, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus, and has received the tine test for tuberculosis. Alternatively, a physician’s note stating that immunization would endanger the child’s life or health, or a parent’s or guardian’s statement that immunization goes against the teachings of the child’s religion, may be submitted. A.S.C.A. §16.0309.

Transportation

• No territory policy currently exists.

Textbooks

• The secretary of Samoan affairs must approve subject matter related to Samoan custom, culture, and traditions in order for it to be taught in an American Samoan school. A.S.C.A. §16.0304.

Testing

• No territory policy currently exists.

Special Education

• No territory policy currently exists.

Nursing and Health

• No territory policy currently exists.

Technology

• No territory policy currently exists.

Professional Development

• No territory policy currently exists.

Reimbursement for Performing State and Local Functions

• No territory policy currently exists.

Tax Exemption

• No territory policy currently exists.

Public Aid for Private Education

• Constitutional Provisions: No constitutional articles exist.
• Programs for Financial Assistance for Attendance at Private Schools: No territory programs currently exists.

Nonpublic School Advisory Committee

• No territory policy currently exists.

Home Schools

Home Education Programs

• A home school “carrying on regular educational work equivalent to the public school curriculum and receiving no government financial support” with authorization from the American Samoa Department of Education is considered a private school. A.S.C.A. §16.0701.

Initial and Renewal Applications

• To apply for authorization for the first time, a home school must submit to the American Samoa Department of Education (1) a statement of its purposes and aims; (2) the names and addresses of its sponsors and supporters; (3) the age, grade, and sex of each student who will attend; (4) the cost of tuition; and (5) the curriculum to be taught. A.S.C.A. §16.0701.

Curriculum and Instruction

• The American Samoa director of education may require private school officials to include material in their schools’ curricula that is in the interest of fostering good citizenship. A.S.C.A. §16.0704.
• The secretary of Samoan affairs must approve subject matter related to Samoan custom, culture, and traditions in order for it to be taught in an American Samoan school. A.S.C.A. §16.0304.

Assessment and Diplomas

• No territory policy currently exists.

Special Education

• No territory policy currently exists.

Public School Access

• No territory policy currently exists.

 

Source: U.S. Department of Education, State Regulation of Private and Home Schools, American Samoa