DOE to Provide More Than $7.5 Million for Native Hawaiian Education

US Senator Brian Schatz recently announced that the Department of Education (DOE) will award Hawai‘i over $7.5 million for Native Hawaiian education programs.

“Over the past few decades, the Native Hawaiian community has developed innovative ways to revitalize the Hawaiian language and integrate culture with education,” Senator Schatz said. “This investment will give us more resources to help children reach their full potential in school and beyond.”

The funding is awarded through the DOE’s Native Hawaiian Education Program. Senator Schatz worked to protect the program despite the president’s proposal to eliminate its funding in fiscal year 2018. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Schatz was able to increase funding for the program by more than $3 million.

The programs receiving funding include:

• – Partners in Development Foundation will receive $621,994 to fund the Pili A Paʻa expansion project, which is focused on helping Native Hawaiian students in kindergarten through grade 12 on Hawai‘i Island.
• – Maui Family Support Services will receive $783,973 to help prepare Native Hawaiian children for kindergarten and reduce the risk of child abuse.
• – The Bishop Museum will receive $231,150 to create an internship program that provides Native Hawaiian students and teachers STEM-related activities and experiences.
• – LaʻiʻŌpua 2020 will receive $818,051 to improve academic performance for more than 1,250 students in West Hawai‘i.
• – Friends of the Future will receive $835,259 to improve education for over 1,400 Hawai‘i Island students.
• – Hoʻokākoʻo Corporation in Honolulu will receive $223,340 to improve the English and Hawaiian literacy of more than 600 students at the kindergarten to grade three levels.
• – The Hawai‘i State Department of Education will receive $604,729 to improve Native Hawaiian education in the Nānākuli-Waiʻanae Complex Area.
• – The University of Hawai‘i will receive $1,041,375 to create a Hawaiian immersion summer camp for more than 120 students.
• – The University of Hawai‘i will receive $682,271 to increase Native Hawaiian enrollment in postsecondary education and certification programs.
• – The University of Hawai‘i will receive $630,588 to fund literacy-focused education programs for pre-k through third graders and prepare more high school students for jobs in STEM.
•  – The University of Hawai‘i will receive $700,000 to address the needs of more than 1,600 at-risk Native Hawaiian students.
• – The University of Hawai‘i will receive $329,790 to foster and promote STEM engagement among sixth and seventh graders.