Hawaii – once in danger of losing our “Race to the Top” federal education reform grant – is now considered a “rising star” among states. While visiting local schools last month, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan shared this
Hawaii – once in danger of losing our “Race to the Top” federal education reform grant – is now considered a “rising star” among states.
While visiting local schools last month, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan shared this praise for Hawaii’s significant progress in transforming the state’s public education system – further calling the state a model for rest of the nation. He acknowledged that Hawaii is one of the fastest improving states in the nation.
This is extraordinary improvement in just three years.
The U.S. Department of Education in its Year 3 Race to the Top report highlighted Hawaii’s accomplishments achieved between September 2012 and September 2013:
n Improved scores on national benchmarks and access to more rigorous course work and resources like AP classes. (Specifically, “The Nation’s 2013 Report Card” by the National Assessment for Educational Progress showed that Hawaii’s fourth- and eighth-graders were among the nation’s leaders when it comes to improved progress in mathematics and reading achievement. Last year also marked the first time Hawaii’s fourth-graders surpassed the national average in mathematics.)
n Progress in initiatives related to supporting teachers in leaders in Year 3, primarily due to the ratified contract with the Hawaii State Teachers Association in April 2013, allowing the implementation of the Educator Effectiveness System design and implementation.
n Continued support and training for educators statewide as we transitioned to new college- and career-readiness standards, Hawaii’s Common Core.
n Extensive supports the Hawaii Department of Education (Hawaii DOE) has put in place to turn around low-achieving schools, particularly those in the Zones of School Innovation, where community partners have played a key role in ensuring success. They include the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Kamehameha Schools, AT&T, Hawaii 3R’s, Hawaiian Electric Industries and the Hawaii Business Roundtable.
I am proud of the hard work and dedication of our principals, teachers, staff and students. With the leadership of our state’s appointed Board of Education, we have proven that no matter how great the challenge, we can pull together to make sure Hawaii’s keiki have the opportunities they need to succeed.
I also thank the state Legislature for included funding for early learning in their respective drafts of the state budget. This shows a real commitment to continuing my administration’s ongoing work on giving Hawaii’s youngest students a head start by helping more children access prekindergarten opportunities. As a result, Hawaii will be well-positioned to compete for federal funding.
We know that the early years of a child’s development are crucial in setting the foundation for a child’s behavior and lifelong learning. Investing in our children’s early years will pay dividends not only in school but also down the road in the form of healthy and contributing adults, reduced crime and incarceration, and less dependency on social services.
We are on the right track and need to stay the course. I urge legislators to further support the Hawaii DOE in its supplemental budget requests to continue our momentum in transforming education.
Hawaii public schools are rising, and we are making sure they are going to keep on rising.
