GRANTEE ABSTRACT 

Hawaii
 

Overview 

In recent years, Hawaii has made great strides 

in creating an early childhood system, including 

establishing in statute the Executive Office on 

Early Learning (EOEL) and its advisory board, 

the Early Learning Advisory Board (ELAB). 

During the 2014 State legislative session, 

$3,000,000 in general funds were allocated to 

create Hawaii’s first state-funded 

prekindergarten program. However, public 

charter schools were not included in the first 

round of state funding. 

This Developmental Preschool Grant 

application is requesting $14,881,368 in funds 

to create 18 new preschool classrooms in 

charter schools which will serve a total of 920 

children over four years. Hawaii charter schools 

are publicly-funded schools that are operated 

and managed by independent governing boards. 

While all of Hawaii’s charter schools have a 

Hawaiian culture component, many are Native 

Hawaiian culture focused or Native Hawaiian 

language immersion schools committed to 

providing a high quality education program in 

the context of the language, history, and 

practices of the indigenous Hawaiian culture. 

Project Objectives and Activities 

In order to ensure quality, the University of 

Hawaii (UH) will provide individual teacher 

coaching to each of the classrooms, reliable 

and valid program assessments, and 

Lead Agency 

Charter School Administrative Office 

Year 1 Federal Award Amount 

$2,074,059 

Plan Period 

January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2018 

Preschool Development Grants will support
 

states to build, develop, and expand voluntary,
 

high-quality preschool programs for children 

from low- and moderate-income families.
 

There are two types of grants. 

Development Grants are for states that 

currently serve less than 10 percent of fouryear-olds and have not received a Race to 

the Top – Early Learning Challenge (RTTELC) grant. 

Expansion Grants are for states that 

currently serve 10 percent or more of fouryear-olds or have received an RTT-ELC 

grant. 

professional development opportunities on a 

variety of topics, including Hawaii Early 

Learning and Development Standards, 

formative assessments, and developmental 

screenings. All charter school preschool 

classrooms will be expected to: 

•	 have a highly qualified teacher and an 

educational assistant to support the 

student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1; 

•	 have class sizes that do not exceed 20 

students; 

•	 implement family engagement activities; 

•	 provide supports for children with 

disabilities; and 

This abstract was submitted as part of Hawaii’s Preschool Development Grant Application. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DEVELOPMENT GRANTEE: HAWAII
 

•	 use child level data, including 

developmental screenings and formative 

assessments, to make curricula 

decisions. 

•	 All of these activities will help ensure 

that more children are ready to enter 

kindergarten. 

This application is submitted with the support of 

a broad group of stakeholders, including ELAB, 

Hawaii State Departments, the Hawaii State 

Teachers Association (HSTA), the business 

community, and early childhood providers and 

philanthropists. 

High Need Communities to be Served under Hawaii’s Plan 

Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science Kihei Charter School, Maui Kihei 

Public Charter School, Hawaii Pahoa Kona Pacific Public Charter School, Hawaii 

Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo, Hawaii Hilo Kealakekua 

Kaʻu Learning Academy	 Kua O Ka La New Century Public 

Charter School, Hawaii Pahoa Kamaile Academy, Public Charter School, 

Oahu Waianae Kualapu'u School: A Public Conversion Charter, 

Molokai Kualapuu Kanu O Ka`Aina New Century Public
 

Charter School, Hawaii Kamuela Kula Aupuni Niihau A Kahelelani Aloha (KANAKA)
 

Kanuikapono Public Charter School, Kauai Laupahoehoe Community Public
 

Anahola Charter School, Hawaii Laupahoehoe
 

Ke Kula ‘O Nāwahīokalani'ōpu'u Iki, Malama Honua Learning Center, Oahu Waimanalo
 

Laboratory Public Charter School, Hawaii
 Na Wai Ola Public Charter School, Keaau Hawaii Mountain View 

Ke Kula ‘O Niihau O Kekaha Learning Volcano School of Arts & Sciences, Center, Kauai Kekaha Hawaii Volcano 

Ke Kula ‘O Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory 

Public Charter School, Oahu Kaneohe 

This abstract was submitted as part of Hawaii’s Preschool Development Grant Application. 2