February 21, 2003
Contributed by Kekoa Paulsen
"Ho'olako Like is just one of several new initiatives that have emerged from our Pauahi's Legacy Lives strategic effort to extend our reach to more Hawaiian learners," said Dr. Hamilton McCubbin, chancellor and chief executive officer. "Through this new initiative, KS will develop collaborations with start-up charter schools to provide innovative educational services to Hawaiian students in grades K-12 and to enhance the Hawaiian community's capacity to improve the well being of their children and families." Ho'olako Like offers start-up charter schools an opportunity to collaborate with KS to obtain financial, technical and resource support. Eligible charter schools that commit to the provisions of a contractual agreement with KS may receive a minimum of $1 for every $4 of per pupil allocation received from the State of Hawai'i. Other examples of support that may be provided by KS include curriculum and professional development activities, baseline accountability and program evaluation development, or other collaborations that facilitate effective education reform. To be considered under this program, charter schools must meet the following criteria: - Serve student populations with 70% or more students of Hawaiian ancestry - Reflect programs initiated by Hawaiian communities - Work from a community-defined educational plan - Demonstrate support from the Hawaiian community in which the school is located - Commit to perpetuating Hawaiian culture, language, values and traditions - Offer Hawaiian culture-based curriculum, instruction and assessment - Support charter schools ideals, including compliance with the Hawaii Content and Performance Standards; promoting a strengths-based focus and encouraging family and community involvement - Serve communities with high needs - Share, participate and collaborate with other charter schools - Have or be in the process of obtaining a 501 (c) (3) status from the IRS. Participating schools will be required to set specific goals for reaching their success targets. Each school and its board of directors will set benchmarks that measure a variety of outcomes including standardized test scores, improving daily attendance, increasing the number of students pursuing higher education and training, and incorporating the concept of "Ike Hawaii" in their curriculum and educational approaches. "We are very excited and grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Kamehameha Schools," said Dr. Ku Kahakalau, principal of Kanu 'o Ka 'Aina New Century Public Charter School. "We applaud the efforts KS has taken to involve the community in its strategic planning process and are pleased that this program will provide a strong foundation that we can build upon together." Eligible charter schools may apply immediately to the Ho'olako Like program, with funding to begin as early as March 2003. For more information or assistance with the application process, charter schools should contact Sharlene Chun-Lum at 534-3983.
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
