Charter Schools in Hawaii

Law:   Passed in 1994

Rank:   8th weakest of the nation's 40 charter laws

CER Grade:   C

Schools:   25

Students:   3,301

STATE OF THE STATES: Many Governors, especially the new ones, have featured education reform prominently in their state of the state addresses. Hawaii's new Governor, Linda Lingle, promised to advance schooling options for parents, such as charter schools. Education Week offers a glimpse into state addresses. From CER Newswire, January 28, 2003.
FEDERAL FUNDING: The feds announced the delivery of new federal funds under the public charter school grant program. The program provides up to $198 million for individual charter schools, research grants and best practices dissemination. One curious allocation: Hawaii's anemic law got $4.3 million even though it limits charters and the state is fighting for control over two highly successful charters there. From CER Newswire October 8, 2002. For a complete list of the grants, go to http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/10-2002/10072002.html.

UNAPPEALING: Hawaii, despite creating an appeals process in 2001, will probably not see any schools created on appeal. A Charter School Review Panel has replaced the State Board as the sole chartering authority. Many of the members on the review panel are on the State Board of Education, the entity that will handle applications on appeal. Why would the same members who rejected the first application decide to approve the same application on appeal? From CER's State-By-State Charter Law Ranking Report, October 2001.

Links to Hawaii Charter School Websites .

Hawaii Association of Charter Schools 2515 Manoa Rd. Honolulu, HI 96822	Contact: Libby Oshiyama Telephone: (808) 947-1058 Fax: (808) 947-1058 Website: www.k12.hi.us/~bwoerner/hacs/ Email: hawaiicharter@juno.com
Non-profit organization created represent and support Hawaii's charter schools. HACS works with funding sources, provides technical support and professional development, creates community partnerships, and conducts research.

South Maui Learning Ohana Inc. PO Box 2053 Kihei Maui, HI 96753	Contact: Tom Helm , Director Email: gzsmlo@mauigateway.com

University of Hawaii Charter School Resource Center 200 W. Kawili St. Hilo, HI 96720-4091	Contact: Nina Buchanan Telephone: (808) 974-7583 Fax: (808) 974-7752 Email: ninab@hawaii.edu