LIHUE — Free state-funded pre-kindergarten classes may be coming soon to two Westside schools, according to a plan released by the Executive Office on Early Learning and the state Department of Education. “Our future plans for Hawaii’s comprehensive early learning
LIHUE — Free state-funded pre-kindergarten classes may be coming soon to two Westside schools, according to a plan released by the Executive Office on Early Learning and the state Department of Education.
“Our future plans for Hawaii’s comprehensive early learning system involve both public and private preschools,” Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. “We have been waiting for this opportunity. This prekindergarten program, across DOE schools statewide, is part of the public portion of the early learning system.”
The proposed $4.5 million plan, contingent upon funding from the Legislature, would operate through 32 classrooms on 30 elementary school campuses across the state, including Eleele and Kekaha elementary schools.
The classrooms, according to the plan, were selected based several factors, including Title I status; limitations of preschools in the community; available space; currently operating DOE prekindergarten classrooms with federal money that is about to end; and the interest and willingness of principals to work with EOEL.
Half of the classrooms, according to the proposal, will be located on the neighbor islands.
In all, the program is intended to serve 640 children who qualify based on income and age requirements.
This would, according to the Office of the Governor, place 20 children in each class, which will be staffed by DOE teachers and educational assistants.
Children must be 4 years old by July 31, which follows the new kindergarten age requirement, beginning in the 2014-2015 school year.
The proposed DOE-EOEL prekindergarten program is modeled after the prekindergarten classrooms established with Race to the Top funds in the Kau-Keaau-Pahoa complex on the Big Island.
“In order for children to do well in kindergarten, they must be prepared,” Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said in a prepared statement. “This initiative by the Governor is allowing public and private entities to come together in providing a quality early learning experience for our children.”
