Centered in a geographic area of historically low achieving schools, the model P-20 complex fundamentally changes educational delivery from a wide range of isolated schools, programs, and initiatives to an integrated education service continuum supported by public and private partnerships. An articulated system links pre-natal programs, infancy/toddler centers and groups, preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, high school, and post-high/career education within the Nānākuli complex. Educators and administrators are engaged in planning and implementation discussions to ensure a smooth pipeline from infancy to adulthood. Elementary, middle and high school DOE and charter school principals collaboratively develop aligned curriculum, shared expectations and milestones, and successful instructional and outreach strategies. Post-high institutions are at the table, ensuring early opportunities and robust pathways to colleges and careers. Special care goes into supporting critical transition points for children, specifically supporting students as they move into kindergarten, middle school, high school and on to college or careers.

Critical first years

Research shows that the first five years of life are critical to continued development and outcomes across the life span. Services in the complex are envisioned to include prenatal classes for new parents, infant and toddler programs, and quality preschools where parents interactively engage in the growth of their keiki and where keiki develop new skills and behaviors through play and learning. Kamehameha Schools and other community organizations provide a network of programs, including Hi‘ilani, Keiki Steps to Kindergarten, Tūtū and Me, Kamehameha Preschools, and ‘Aha Pūnana Leo Hawaiian language preschools.

Elementary school foundations

The reading, math, and thinking skills that children learn in elementary school lay the foundations for positive educational experiences throughout the K-12 and college years. In addition to quality in-school programming, keiki will benefit from a range of academic support and enrichment programs designed to solidify basic skills and to cultivate new interests, including the Kamehameha Schools Literacy Instructional Services, and other after school, weekend, and intersession services. Public elementary schools include Nānākuli and Nanaikapono Elementary and Ka Waihona o ka Na‘auao charter school.

Middle school success

To foster positive educational and social experiences for students as they enter adolescence, Ka Pua focuses on engaging and preparing children for a changing world by providing highly effective teachers, aligned curriculum with an emphasis on real world applications, and early college/career planning programs. Collaborations to support quality educational opportunities that engage students exist between Nānākuli High and Intermediate School and Ka Waihona o ka Na‘auao charter school, in addition to Kamehameha Schools Extension and Enrichment programs, and integrated after school, weekend, and intersession services.

High schools for the future

To ensure a bright future for every student, middle school students are ushered into a high school learning environment that promises student-centered, project-based, technology-infused approaches to develop collaborative teamwork and critical thinking skills. Relationships between teachers and students are collegial and respectful as they develop innovative solutions to real world problems and issues that prepare students for successful interactions at college and work. In 2010, the complex high school opens its New Tech signature school, based on a model that has resulted in successful turnaround schools in other states in the nation. Supporting the high school students and faculty are strong community partners including post-high institutions and other businesses and organizations.

College and careers

Building on the foundations established in middle and high school, a range of services support and guide graduates into the college and career pipeline of choice. High schools, post-high institutions, and collaborators are at the table, including Nānākuli High and Intermediate, UH West O‘ahu, Leeward Community Colleges, Chaminade, Kamehameha Scholars, Distance Learning, and Post High Counseling programs, College Connections, and others to support excellent learning opportunities that lead to college and careers.

New horizons, new futures

The Education Innovation Zone is a multi-community collaboration of education and keiki support organizations that focuses efforts and resources toward systemic education reform on the Leeward Coast, from Ka‘ena Point to Kapolei. It connects several model P-20 complexes and offers students and families access to a robust set of services and programs that support educational excellence while providing a network of social services to support healthy living. The theory of action within the education zone is that systematic work to create strategic alliances and collaboration around a shared vision for positive change will set the stage for long-term, intergenerational improvements in well-being and prosperity on the Wai‘anae Coast. The theory is that all of the right inputs (services and programs) are at the table. Thus, the primary focus is on bringing them together in a way that supports families and children with a seamless array of programs for increased capacity and well-being.

Schools in the zone are afforded the flexibility they need to successfully turnaround the historical low performance that many of them have experienced in recent decades. National research establishes that schools undertaking significant reform will succeed if they are given the conditions for change, capacity and clustered support. The conditions for change include autonomies with respect to people, time, money and program. The capacity to be built must include building staff, principals, external service providers and community partners. Clustered support enables turnaround at scale by coordinating resources, technical assistance and autonomies. Kamehameha Schools seeks to be a strong partner by supporting needed conversations for action and by working together to develop the right set of opportunities for schools within the zone. In turn, the lessons learned can be extended to other areas in the state.

Creating a 21st Century Learning and Living Community for the Leeward Coast