The latest schools and education news including coverage of the Hawaii Department of Education, the University of Hawaii system, national news and more.
A new inventory of fire alarms at all 258 of Hawaii’s regular public schools plus six public charter schools has found 15 schools’ fire alarm systems to be inoperable, and replacements for most will take three to 10 months, according to state Department of Education officials. Read more
Kindergarteners at Ka‘ala Elementary School in Wahiawa got to ride 24 new bikes Thursday in a national learn-to-ride program, thanks to a donation from the engineering firm HDR. Read more
A proposal to remove the $250,000 salary cap for the state superintendent of Hawaii’s public schools and allow the amount to be set by the state Board of Education passed out of a divided state House Education Committee on Monday, despite opposition via dozens of pieces of testimony and “no” votes by two former teachers on the committee. Read more
The Education Department says it sent a first batch of student records to a few dozen universities on Sunday and is making final updates before expanding to more universities. Read more
The settlement clarifies what is allowed in Florida classrooms following passage two years ago of the law prohibiting instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. Read more
Belated awareness of the severe disrepair of some student housing was among the key issues that led state senators to reject Alapaki Nahale-a for a second five-year term as a University of Hawaii regent. Read more
The learning loss that Hawaii students suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to lower their lifetime earnings by an average of 3.7%, spurring a 1.2% loss in Hawaii’s gross domestic product, or $31.3 billion in present value, according to a new report by the Hoover Institution of Stanford University released Thursday. Read more
A deeply divided state Senate voted 13-12 on Tuesday to deny University of Hawaii Board of Regents Interim Chair Alapaki Nahale-a a second five-year term. Read more
The school has five business days to file an objection to the NLRB and could also take the matter to federal court. Read more
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Hawaii’s building regulations drive the cost of condominium development up 58%, the highest in the nation, according to a report released Monday by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Read more
Following a flurry of eleventh-hour meetings and negotiations Monday at the state Capitol, state senators are set to vote today on whether to confirm embattled University of Hawaii Board of Regents Chair Alapaki Nahale-a for a second term as a regent. Read more
Two bills intended to help retain Hawaii teachers by providing assistance to reduce their housing costs continue to advance through the Legislature. Read more
About 60 specially raised and tagged papio, the juvenile stage of ulua, also known as giant trevally, were released last week at Maalaea Harbor. Read more
Despite being voted down by a five-member state Senate committee this week, University of Hawaii Board of Regents interim member and Chair Alapaki Nahale-a said Thursday that he has decided to continue seeking confirmation for a second term as a regent. Read more
Nahale-a said an outpouring of supportive calls, emails and comments from supporters and the public sparked his decision to push on. Read more
A new online dashboard has been launched by the state Department of Education to help the public and community leaders follow progress on a six-year strategic plan for improvement of Hawaii public schools. Read more
Moanalua Middle School social studies teacher Kimberly Kim received the 2024 state Teacher of Promise award from the Milken Educators of Hawai‘i organization in a surprise ceremony Wednesday. Read more
The gift means that four-year students immediately go tuition-free, while everyone else will benefit in the fall. Read more
A state Senate committee Tuesday voted against recommending confirmation of University of Hawaii Board of Regents interim member and Chair Alapaki Nahale-a for a second term as a regent. Read more
“The juvenile’s parents were notified and informed of the circumstances regarding this incident,” according to a statement. Read more
Federal and state officials want the students to understand how hate speech can lead to criminal behavior or civil penalties. Read more
