HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Parents of young children are getting more opportunities to enroll them in a public preschool class, all thanks to the state’s Ready Keiki initiative.
Over the next two years, the state will open 50 more public pre-school classrooms, increasing early education opportunities for more than 2,700 kids statewide.
One of the Hawaii State Department of Education campuses transforming a class into a space for preschoolers is Kalihi Elementary.
The lieutenant governor, alongside other dignitaries, were there Tuesday praising the collaborative efforts of state lawmakers and educators to make this a reality.
“It goes without saying that every child is so important and just because there’s no preschool by their house or where their parents live, or the parents cannot send their kids to preschool, that shouldn’t be a barrier for kids to succeed,” said Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke. “It’s our collective responsibility to ensure that every child succeeds.”
About 90 pre-K classes are already open across the state. Half of the upcoming 50 will open by August of this year, and the remaining half will open by August next year.
The 25 new public pre-K classrooms opening this year are located at:
- Kalaniʻanaʻole Elementary & Intermediate
- Keaʻau Elementary
- Keaukaha Elementary
- Kaumualiʻi Elementary
- Hāna High and Elementary
- Barbers Point Elementary
- Hāhaʻione Elementary
- Hauʻula Elementary
- Heʻeia Elementary
- Helemano Elementary
- Kaʻala Elementary
- Kāhala Elementary
- Kaʻiulani Elementary
- Kalihi Elementary
- Linapuni Elementary
- Lehua Elementary
- Lunalilo Elementary
- Maʻili Elementary
- Mākaha Elementary
- Maunawili Elementary
- Royal Elementary
- Solomon Elementary
Two of them — one at Maui’s Hana High and Intermediate, and the other at Hauula Elementary — will be Hawaiian language locations. Kapolei will also open their first pre-K class at Barber’s Point Elementary.
“Each new classroom represents more than just a space. It represents a brighter future for keiki, and a stronger foundation for Hawaii. We are building a system that supports our children,” said Yuuko Arikawa-Cross, director of the Executive Office on Early Learning.
The state says renovations for each of the class sites averaged between $291,000 and $320,000, under the $1 million budget that was set aside. For many, it’s a worthwhile investment in education
“The legislature initially committed about $200 million to build many of the classrooms that we see here. This past year, the legislature generously put in another $20 million to build more preschools,” Luke said.
They are also working to recruit more staff, especially educational assistants, to be a part of the pre-K program.
“Interestingly, we were very, very focused on teacher shortage last year and we were pushing really hard on the teacher shortage portion,” Arikawa-Cross said. “It actually turned out to not be the area of need for us specifically last year, and it was actually our educational assistants.”
For more information or to enroll your child, click here. Parents can also call (808) 784-5350.
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