UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Ms. Deanne Goya

Pre-K Grant Manager

Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission 'Aha

Kula Ho'amana

1111Bishop Street, Suite 516

Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear

Ms. Goya,

This letter isin response to Hawaii's request to amend its approved Preschool Development Grant - (PDG - D). The

U.S.Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the Departments) approved

Hawaii's grant projects and scope of work on August 10,2015. On February 16, 2016, the Hawaii State Public Charter

School Commission ("SPCSC")submitted an amendment request proposing to make an amendment to Hawaii's

approved Preschool Development Grantapplication.

As you are aware, the Departments have the authority to approve amendments provided that such a change does not

alter the scope or objectives of the approved proposal. On September 14, 2015, the Departments sent a document to

Project Directors describing the process by which amendments would be reviewed and approved or denied. To

determine whether approval could be granted, the Departments have applied the conditions noted in that document and

compared it with PDG program requirements

and conditions.

The SPCSC has made a request to make an amendment to the State's Preschool Development Grant application. This

amendment involves a budget revision of more than $500,000 across categories, projects or years; eliminates or makes

major changes to activities or deliverables, but proposal still demonstrates that grantee is conducting meaningful

activities, staying within scope of application, and is able to meet goals on performance measures and outcomes.

The SPCSC specified that the Subgrantee, the University of Hawaii, Hawaii P-20 Partnerships in Education ("Hawaii P20) will now serve in a consultative role, instead of having a direct-service role to the Preschool Development Grant.

This amendment is being requested to improve communication and coordination directly between SPCSC and the PDG

preschool sites. Hawaii P-20 will continue to work on the early childhood data governance portion of the grant for the

state to include the Hawaii State Public Charter School prekindergarten program into the state longitudinal data system.

The remaining areas of responsibility that were formerly the charge of Hawaii P-20 will become the responsibility of

SPCSC. This will require SPCSC to hire additional staff to take on the extra responsibilities and will possibly contract

some of the coaching support services for the neighbor islands.
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We understand that this amendment request will shift previously approved activities and the funds associated with

implementing those activities from the Subgrantee (Hawaii P-20) to the grantee SPCSC; and will not impact Hawaii's

overall PDG-D goals. The MOA contract with UH Hawaii P-20 was not executed until July 1,2015 therefore they have

agreed to continue to fulfil the original Year One contract tasks for the remainder of the school year ending May 2016.

This will also give the SPCSC additional time to hire the staff necessary to take on the extra responsibilities.

Please note that this letter will be posted on the Department of Education's website as a record of the amendment request

and our approval. Any budget changes are recorded in the GRADS 360 system and the detailed budget request is saved

in the official grant file.

We are confident that Hawaii will continue its comprehensive efforts towards building successful state systems of early

learning. If you need any assistance regarding PDG-D, please do not hesitate to contact your Project Officers, Becky

Marek , at (202) 260-0968 or Rebecca.Marek@ed.gov or Kimberly

Mitchell at(202) 245-7453 or Kimberly.Mitchell@ed.gov

 /s/ /s/

Libby Doggett

DeputyAssistant Secretary

Office of Early Learning

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

U.S.Department of Education

Linda K.Smith

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood

Development

Administration for Children and Families

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services