Outstanding AP exam balance raises concerns for Guam public, private schools

An outstanding balance with the College Board for Advanced Placement exams administered during the 2025-26 school year has caused concern in the community, with the overdue bill affecting public and private schools in Guam.

Guam Department of Education Superintendent Judith Won Pat also serves as the island’s state chief education officer, representing Guam before the U.S. Department of Education. GDOE purchases AP exams for several island high schools using federal funds. The department said it only recently became aware of the outstanding balance.

“In October 2026, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) was made aware of an outstanding balance with the College Board for Advanced Placement (AP) exams administered in SY 25-26. The GDOE Internal Audit Office (IAO) and the Superintendent acted to ensure that proper procedures were followed in accordance with federal guidelines,” GDOE said in a statement issued late Monday afternoon in response to an inquiry from Guam News Network.

A financial breakdown of AP exam costs for GDOE, dated June 2, 2026, lists invoice totals for exams ordered and administered at 10 Guam high schools. The amounts due were:

- Academy of Our Lady of Guam: $14,510

- Father Duenas Memorial High School: $16,380

- Notre Dame High School: $9,000

- St. John's School: $11,010

- George Washington High School: $8,428

- John F. Kennedy High School: $23,170

- Okkodo High School: $8,640

- Simon Sanchez High School: $8,802

- Southern High School: $1,350

- Tiyan High School: $12,213

The total amount due to the College Board as of June 2 was $113,503.

GDOE's accounts payable and accruals report lists six entries under the College Board with the notation, “No purchase order available, End-Division looking into it.” The report does not identify the funding source, although the accounts are associated with six GDOE high schools listed in the AP exam cost breakdown.

According to GDOE, “Superintendent Won Pat has instructed the Procurement Office to process the purchase order for SY 26-27. The purchase order will be released by end of day Tuesday, November 10, to meet the College Board’s November 13 deadline to order exam materials.”

Guam News Network spoke with Academy of Our Lady of Guam Principal Kristina Sayama before GDOE issued its statement. Sayama said the situation had been resolved on the school's end.

She confirmed that the school had paid the cost out of pocket, describing it as “the cost of doing business.”

“We've made a commitment to the parent. We will resolve it even if we are the ones that are going to pay it out. That's the cost of doing business,” Sayama said in response to a GNN question about the possibility of reimbursement.

Won Pat, however, said she was “not sure” whether reimbursement would be possible for the AP exam.

“Will need to check with our chief auditor because payment is from federal funds,” Won Pat said.

Sen. Chris Barnett, who has criticized Won Pat over previous incidents involving outstanding vendor payments that led to interruptions in services, including TinyEye services for students with special needs and the brief termination of accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges at several GDOE schools, said he sees a pattern.

“Somebody or somebodies on the GDOE management team dropped the ball yet again,” Barnett told Guam News Network.

“I just asked GDOE leadership to go down the line and look for any other possible things that may pop up that will negatively impact our students and our schools. I wrote a letter to the superintendent about this kind of thing, lack of communication, lack of strategic planning, and it's unfortunate that not only did I not get a response from Superintendent Won Pat, but these patterns continue to be displayed under her leadership at GDOE,” Barnett said.

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