The Federal Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge

The Federal Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge awarded grants to nine states totaling $500 million.  Although Hawai‘i did not win, we applaud State Early Childhood Coordinator Terry Lock and her team for developing an ambitious state plan for Early Childhood Education reform. Kudos also to Governor Abercrombie for his commitment to make early education a top priority in this upcoming legislative session. Click on our state’s score sheet to see the scores and comments respectively from the five panel reviewers. 

The reviewers’ comments sent a strong message that our state must dedicate time and resources to develop a comprehensive plan so all keiki have access to early learning programs.  This will happen when everyone in Hawai‘i sees it as their kuleana to advocate for our young children.  This is why Good Beginnings Alliance is spearheading the public-will campaign, Be My Voice! Hawai‘i, to provide all of Hawai‘i’s citizens a vehicle to voice their concerns for our keiki to our Legislature.

The good news is that Hawai‘i will have another grant opportunity as the federal government will hold a Round II.  Therefore, we must all come together now to strengthen the state plan.  This effort will be the best present we can give the keiki of Hawai’i. 

Preschool Decline Must Be Reversed

We applaud the Star Advertiser for their December 5, 2011 editorial, Preschool Decline Must Be Reversed (click here to read).  Policy makers must reexamine how subsidies are administered to support early education opportunities.  The Editor said it best:  “Children only get one chance to make a good beginning at education.  The starting-line faltering that Hawaii has witnessed during these fiscally difficult times simply can’t be accepted as the new normal.  The commitment to early education must get back on track.”

Hawaii’s Preschool Enrollment Shrinks For Third Straight Year

The 2011 Hawaii State School Readiness Assessment results are posted online at the Department of Education’s website, and the results are an area of concern.  Specifically, preschool attendance rate for our public school kindergarten students has dropped for the third year straight year to 58 percent.  Additionally, the number of low income kindergarten students increased for the third year in a row to the current 52 percent receiving free or reduced school lunch.  Numerous studies have proven the value of children participating in quality early childhood education opportunities prior to entry to kindergarten.  Our state’s continuing drop in students attending preschool will hamper many of them from entering kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life.  See the November 27, 2011 issue of the Star Advertiser for an in-depth article on this issue, or click here to view a PDF version.  Quality early childhood education experiences such as preschool must be a top priority for our state lawmakers and policy makers if we are to ensure that Hawaii will thrive in this 21st Century.