Race to the Top maybe not a sprint but Hawaii resolved to go all the way

Just over a week ago, the 55th Annual Hawaii State Science & Engineering Fair showcased more than 450 projects developed by nearly 600 middle and high school students representing all of the major islands.

Returning home from the combative environment of Capitol Hill to meet and read about outstanding young scientists, budding engineers and math wizards was both heartwarming and hopeful.

The Hawaii Academy of Sciences also gave out awards to schools, public and private, which placed a high priority on excelling in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.

The top state middle school winner — Highlands Intermediate; the top state high school — Mililani High. Congratulations to all and keep up the good work.

Further, as we prepared to leave Washington, three Leilehua High School students won the Top Service award, over more than 1,000 other teams, in the CyberPatriot National High School Competition.

And, at last month’s FIRST Hawaii Regional Robotics competition, six high schools advanced to represent Hawaii in the national competition: Baldwin, Island Pacific Academy, Kealakehe, Kohala and Waialua.

Unfortunately, these accomplishments did not garner the "ink" and air time they deserve. Negative stories about failing schools, union strife, and the progress of the Race to the Top grant continue to dominate the headlines.

The reforms proposed and transformation promised in Hawaii’s Race to the Top application need to occur for the sake of our children, whether or not we won the grant. Change is never easy; nothing worth fighting for ever is.

Remember, our application was submitted on the heels of the resolution of "Furlough Fridays."

There were those in our own community who were surprised, even shocked, that Hawaii could have bested traditional educational powerhouses like California and Connecticut. More often than we’d like to admit it, we sell ourselves short, and take our humility one step too far.

Being one of only 12 winners has put a national spotlight on Hawaii to succeed.

Getting qualified professionals in place and the necessary authorities to proceed have taken time.

Moving from an elected state Board of Education to an appointed board was another important alignment.

The U.S. Department of Education team spent a full week in Hawaii recently reviewing our Race to the Top progress. We thank them for their dedication and dutiful examination.

Staff from both sides of the table poured diligently over stacks of materials. Questions were asked and answered. We have made tremendous progress.

The state completed an amended work plan and, as of February, has achieved an 89 percent completion rate for scheduled deliverables.

Our Hawaii Department of Education, together with the teachers in the 18 schools in the Zones of School Innovation on the leeward coast of Oahu and the southern districts of the Big Island, agreed to institute a pilot teacher evaluation program.

Another 63 schools and their teachers voluntarily agreed to join the pilot evaluation program next year.

This achievement along with new Board of Education policies and a willingness to bargain collectively, demonstrates that Hawaii is making significant progress in this area.

Federal officials visited one school, Lanakila Elementary, as an example of the sustaining achievement for which we are capable.

Nearly 10 years ago, Lanakila with 70 percent of its students qualifying for the free lunch program and 25 percent with limited English skills, was a "failing" school on the verge of "restructuring."

The school’s team drew the line, and committed that all students would reach their potential. Teachers extended teaching time, including after school and on Saturdays. Systematic testing was implemented to analyze student progress and to adjust teaching approaches to maximize learning.

Today, Lanakila students are testing at 82 percent and 86 percent for reading and math, respectively. They are one of the top-ranked schools, with a lengthy wait list for non-district students.

We are capable of greatness. The first step is to believe it. The second step is to act upon it. Let us not be apologetic, but rather aggressive about our achievements.

We will complete our race to the top. It may not be the sprint some envisioned, and will likely be a longer distance relay race because of our many partners. But we will get to the top.

As the old adage goes: "It takes a village to raise a child." It will take that same village to educate our children.

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The co-authors comprise Hawaii’s congressional delegation.