Despite tough economic times, Kamehameha Schools increased spending on educational outreach in the fiscal year that ended June 30 by $4 million — to $106 million — continuing its pledge to extend services to more Native Hawaiian children.

The money went to scholarships and outreach programs that served 46,900 children and their caregivers, according to data to be included in Kamehameha Schools’ annual report for fiscal year 2011. In the 2010 fiscal year, outreach spending reached 45,000 children and caregivers, the trust has reported.

"We actually are honored and privileged … (that) we can continue our level of spending and even increase it during such times," said Kamehameha Schools Chief Executive Officer Dee Jay Mailer. "We’re committed to not retract" spending.

About 30 percent of outreach spending — or $32 million — went to a variety of public school programs in communities with large populations of Native Hawaiians.

Highlights of the outreach spending include:

» $15 million for 2,745 preschool and kindergarten scholarships. That’s up from $13 million in fiscal year 2010.

» $14.6 million for college and post-secondary scholarships, from $12.6 million.

» $10.6 million (from $9.1 million the year before) for 17 Hawaiian-focused public charter schools. The charter schools together serve more than 4,000 students.

» $7.2 million for literacy instruction and support in public schools. The program, offered in school and after school, serves more than 3,700 students. Last fiscal year, the program expanded to serve students in intermediate grades.

Kamehameha Schools pledged to increase its outreach spending in 2005, in response to criticism that the trust wasn’t doing enough to support the education of all Native Hawaiian children. Since then, outreach spending has nearly doubled.

Mailer said she expects a "modest" increase in outreach spending this fiscal year.

She added that the spending is translating into student performance gains.

"We see literacy rates getting better," she said. "Absentee rates have dropped."

The $106 million spent for educational outreach programs last fiscal year compares to about $209 million (from $129 million the year before) spent for programs at the three Kamehameha Schools campuses on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island. The increase is largely due to new construction, including a new middle-school wing, athletic facilities and other upgrades at the Kapalama campus.