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Hawaii retains
$75 million Race to the Top grant
  STEM carts to boost Hawaii's Race to the Top initiatives
   High-tech donation to support DOE's teacher evaluation program   Hawaii celebrates gains in grade 8 science
ANNOUNCEMENTS                      OTHER NEWS

Hawaii Retains $75 Million Race to the Top Grant
The U.S. Department of Education (U.S. DOE) reported today that Hawaii has retained its Race to the Top grant, following an on-site visit by the federal review team in March. During the visit, Hawaii presented evidence of progress on its Race to the Top plan implementation. Along with the positive news that Hawaii is maintaining its Race to the Top grant, fiscal sanctions imposed last year will be lifted as of June 1. This action allows Hawaii to spend Race to the Top grant money to achieve its approved plan with more freedom and efficiency. Read the news release on the DOE website.

High-tech donation to support DOE's teacher evaluation pilot program
The Hawaii State Department of Education is receiving a high-tech boost from Hawaii Business Roundtable (HBR) to support its teacher evaluation pilot program for the 2012-13 school year. HBR has committed to purchasing Apple iPads for the 63 schools that are voluntarily joining the pilot program. Each school will receive a total of three iPads, totaling 189 iPads ($115,000 approximate amount). Read the news release on the DOE website.

DOE receives STEM carts through public private partnership to boost Hawaii’s Race to the Top initiatives
Governor Neil Abercrombie and Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi announced on April 20 that the state has accepted a $50,000 donation to boost student achievement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The Hawaii 3R’s program secured the donation from AT&T to purchase two STEM carts, which are the first of its kind in Hawaii. The carts are being dispatched to two Big Island schools: Kau High & Pahala Elementary, and Pahoa High & Intermediate. Read a news release on the DOE website.

Hawaii celebrates major breakthrough on educator evaluations
The Hawaii State Board of Education (BOE) has unanimously approved three policies related to performance evaluation systems for teachers and principals. The policies, approved at the BOE's April 17 General Business Meeting, support systems that emphasize educator effectiveness through professional development and compensation tied to job performance. Read more on the DOE website.

DOE expands teacher evaluation pilot program
The DOE is currently piloting the program in 18 schools in the Zones of School Innovation (Nanakuli-Waianae and Kau-Keaau-Pahoa complex areas). The DOE is adding 64 schools that volunteered to join the pilot program, bringing the total number of schools to 82 in the 2012-13 school year. Visit the DOE website for a news release and the list of schools participating in the teacher evaluation pilot program.

Commentary: Hawaii resolved to go all the way in Race to the Top
Members of Hawaii's congressional delegation highlight a host of accomplishments by the state's public schools and progress in Race to the Top reform efforts in a commentary published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Read the article here.

Superintendent Matayoshi's statement on U.S. DOE on-site visit
“We are excited to have the U.S. Department of Education here in Hawaii to conduct their on-site visit. We have clear and compelling evidence to show the federal review team,” said Superintendent Matayoshi. Read the full statement on the DOE website.

Superintendent Matayoshi's statement on Center for American Progress report
"What is clear is that over the past nine months, Hawaii has demonstrated increased trajectory and considerable progress in all Race to the Top project areas," Superintendent Matayoshi says in response to the report, which evaluates progress made by eleven states and the District of Columbia on their federal school reform grants. Read more on the DOE website.

Q&A with DOE Assistant Superintendent Schatz
Stephen Schatz, assistant superintendent in the DOE's Office of Strategic Reform, discusses Hawaii's Race to the Top plan with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Click here to read the article.

Superintendent Matayoshi among PBN's '10 to Watch'
In an interview with Pacific Business News, Hawaii State Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi outlines the DOE's goals to improve the state's public school system. Click here to read the PBN story.

USDOE On-Site Visit
The U.S. Department of Education will review Hawaii’s Race to the Top (RTTT) progress during its on-site visit scheduled for March 27-30. Federal officials will look at the five RTTT specific assurance areas to determine whether the State is meeting deliverables outlined in its scope of work. In addition, the U.S. DOE will conduct a fiscal review and reassess Hawaii’s “high-risk” status.

USDOE approves Hawaii's Race to the Top amendments
The U.S. Department of Education has approved amendments to Hawaii's Race to the Top plan. “The approved amendments are a vote of confidence in Hawaii’s efforts to dramatically reshape the way the State supports new teachers and principals,” said Office of Strategic Reform Assistant Superintendent Stephen Schatz. Read more on the DOE website.

Teachers ratify agreement on Extended Learning Time
The Hawaii State Board and Department of Education and the Hawaii State Teachers Association today announced that teachers in the Zones of School Innovation (Nanakuli-Waianae and Kau-Keaau-Pahoa complexes) and at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind voted to ratify an agreement for extended learning time and additional professional development days. You can read a statement from Deputy Superintendent Ronn Nozoe on the DOE website.

Updated Race to the Top Great Teachers and Leaders Page
As Hawaii implements focused and meaningful systems of support for teachers and leaders, the DOE Reform site will provide updates about the collaborative work being done to help educators and administrators improve so that all students succeed. Visit our Great Teachers and Leaders page for more information.  

USDOE places Hawaii's RTTT grant on high-risk status
In a letter from U.S. DOE Policy Director Ann Whalen to Governor Neil Abercrombie, the U.S. Department of Education placed Hawaii's Race to the Top grant on high-risk status. Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said the Hawaii State Department of Education has made significant gains and is committed to raising Hawaii's status level with the U.S. DOE. Read more on the DOE website. The U.S. DOE letter is available here.

NAEP 2011: Hawaii’s Public School Students Shine
Hawaii public schools increased reading and math scores in the spring 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as "The Nation's Report Card." Read more...


RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

Student Online Achievement Resources (SOAR Hawaii)  
Free SAT/ACT online test preparation program

DOE Volunteers and Partners Program
Find opportunities to help Hawaii's public schools

Aloha United Way 2-1-1
Informational and referral hotline for those in need of immediate assistance

National Parent Teacher Association
The nation's largest volunteer child advocacy organization

Joint Venture Education Forum
A cooperative effort between the U.S Pacific Command military community and the DOE to improve educational quality in the public schools

                            

Hawaii's top high school and middle school principals recognized

Hawaii principal, vice principal recognized for outstanding achievement

Ewa Makai Middle and Hawaii Preparatory Academy earn U.S. DOE Green Ribbon honor
 

Read more May 2012 articles


VIDEOS

View the Video Gallery

Hawaii DOE
Leadership Team

 
REPORTS

Jan. 2012 U.S. DOE Year One Report
September 2011 RTTT Update
June 2011 RTTT Update

March 2011 RTTT Update
January 2011 RTTT Update
Hawaii's RTTT Scope of Work
Hawaii's RTTT Application

 

5 POINT PLAN

Standards and Assessments
Data Systems
Great Teachers & Leaders
Zones of School Innovation
Shared Vision