Since 1921, American Education Week has been observed annually in November to inform the public about the accomplishments and needs of the public schools, and to engage the public’s support in meeting those needs. This year’s week is Nov. 16-20, with the theme, "Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility." To address this theme, and to get a sense of how Hawaii’s public schools system is evolving, here are three commentaries from several of Hawaii’s educational leaders: schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi; Board of Education member Patricia Halagao; and the Education Institute of Hawaii’s Darrel Galera, Roberta Mayor and Randall Roth.