December 19, 2007
Contributed by Liz Ahana
"It has been two years since implementation of Kamehameha Schools' Education Strategic Plan, and we are continuing to make significant progress," said Dee Jay Mailer, CEO.
"Kamehameha has invested $78 million aligning our efforts with more than 60 Hawaiian and community organizations statewide to offer our 'ohana many opportunities to thrive through education."
Kamehameha Schools' Education Strategic Plan strives to achieve three educational priorities that focus on children prenatal to 8-years old, grade four through post-high and each of the School's three campuses.
"We are on track as we continue to implement our education strategic plan," said Chris Pating, vice president of Strategic Planning & Implementation. "We have made great strides to better align our service offerings to capitalize on the strengths within our organization to better meet the needs of our keiki. In addition, we have developed wonderful collaborations with other service organizations that bring more targeted resources and services to our keiki across the State, specifically in predominantly Hawaiian communities."
Other progress towards achieving Kamehameha Schools' educational strategic priorities included:
• Served more than 8,800 keiki ages 0-8 through KS center-based preschools, preschool scholarships, literacy instruction and various educational collaborations.
• Increased by nearly 37 percent the number of scholarship awards to attend community preschools (850 keiki) and increased total financial awards from $3 million the previous year to $4.4 million in FY 2007.
• Awarded $16.4 million to 2,200 students for post-high scholarships to new graduates and continuing students of all ages.
• Supported 14 Hawaiian-focused charter schools with a total of more than 2,300 students and provided one-time funding allocations to 12 of the schools totaling approximately $4.8 million.
• Kamehameha Schools' K-12 campuses on O'ahu, Maui and Hawai'i served 5,354 students, introducing students to innovative ways of learning Hawaiian language and culture and improving student growth in areas such as student writing and instructional technology.
Kamehameha Schools is a private, educational, charitable trust founded and endowed by the legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Kamehameha Schools operates a statewide educational system enrolling more than 6,800 students of Hawaiian ancestry at K-12 campuses on O'ahu, Maui and Hawai'i and at 31 preschool sites statewide. Thousands of additional Hawaiian learners are also being served through a range of other Kamehameha Schools outreach programs, community collaborations and financial aid opportunities in Hawai'i and across the continental United States.
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
