Question: What a wonderful story about Kalani High School (808ne.ws/1UkkagO)! It got me thinking about that educational task force the governor started a few months ago. What’s going on with that? Will it be looking at schools like Kalani for ideas?
Answer: The group that Gov. David Ige formed to help Hawaii’s public schools capitalize on an overhaul of a powerful U.S. education law is organizing a free summit to which the public is invited. And yes, the Every Student Succeed Act (ESSA) team is looking to Kalani and other schools for ideas to help transform Hawaii’s statewide public school system into one that meets the diverse needs of individual schools, said Darrel Galera, the former principal of Moanalua High School who is chairman of the governor’s team.
“We’re definitely learning from schools like Kalani High School … and other excellent schools,” said Ga-lera. “Gov. Ige has been a very strong proponent to empower schools and communities to decide what they need. … The change in federal law accelerates this movement” away from a one-size-fits-all approach.
The 2016 Hawaii Education Summit is scheduled for July 9 (a Saturday) from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Admission is free. Lunch will be provided. Preregistration is required and filling quickly, he said.
Register online at 808ne.ws/24xBYL4, a webpage that also includes event details. If you have questions, email hawaiiedsummit.essa@gmail.com or call 542-3185 and leave a message.
Summit attendees will learn about opportunities available under ESSA, which is far less prescriptive than its predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act. (Both ESSA and NCLB were reauthorizations of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which guides U.S. educational policy.)
Many school districts grew to revile NCLB as an overreach by the federal government that overemphasized high-stakes testing in a few subjects and pigeonholed schools in a rigid accountability system. Critics said NCLB drained resources away from anything that wasn’t tested, and failed to recognize technological advancements that spur personalized learning; it was scrapped in a bipartisan congressional effort.
The journal Education Week describes ESSA, which takes effect in the 2016-17 school year, as a “U-turn” that gives state and local districts broad leeway to implement the remaining mandates (which include annual standardized testing in certain grades).
Galera has long been a proponent of local control, which he calls school empowerment, because not every school is alike — even within a single statewide district like Hawaii’s — and each should pursue what’s best for its students. You can find out more at governor.hawaii.gov/ essa-team.
Providing the opportunities that students want and need is how Kalani has thrived, which is what Honolulu Star-Advertiser education reporter Nanea Kalani wrote about in the story you cited in your question. Among the school’s offerings is a full slate of Advanced Placement classes, music and other electives. You can read more about students’ achievements in the parent bulletin, at 808ne.ws/1WE6fbT.
Principal Mitchell Otani said he plans to attend July’s summit but stressed that he is “just one of many” principals committed to helping Hawaii students succeed. “It’s about knowing your students,” he said. “I am a Kalani grad myself, and high school was some of the best years of my life.”
Mahalo
A huge mahalo to Honolulu Police Department Waikiki substation officers Cpl. Leonard Kupihea, Officer Anthony Pickard, Lt. Paul Loudermilk and Sgt. Antonio Perry for going above and beyond the call of duty May 22. Returning to the beach after surfing, we discovered our car key had been lost. With no keys, phone or money, we were really stuck. We went to the station asking to use their phone. When told of our situation, Cpl. Kupihea offered to place our two surfboards inside the building, help open the car and, if that didn’t work, bring us to our house to get the keys. Officer Pickard helped us get into our house and then drove us back to our car. … Mahalo for saving our Sunday and revitalizing our belief in the spirit of aloha. We have a deep pride and respect for the men and women in blue who serve our community so well. We love you guys. — Francis Decosta and Cathy Brennan
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
