Maui K-12 Schools To Receive $6.35 Million for Public Schools in Low Income Communities

Hawai‘i K-12 schools will receive a projected $56,517,953 in new federal funding for the 2021-2022 school year to support teacher professional development, additional educators, new technology, and other academic programs at public schools serving low income students.

This includes $6,357,580 for schools in Maui County; $14,170,802 for Hawai‘i County; $33,710,186 for Honolulu County; and $2,255,287 for Kaua‘i County.

These funds will be given directly to Title I schools – where a disproportionate number of students live in poverty – and will benefit nearly 85,000 students in Hawai‘i.

US Senator Brian Schatz, who announced the funding today said, “This new federal funding will help Hawai‘i public schools in low income areas hire more teachers and offer more academic support programs for students in need.” Sen. Schatz, who serves as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee said, “As we rebuild our economy after this pandemic, we’ll keep working to make sure every kid can get a quality education in our state.”

Authorized under Title I Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title I funding is the largest source of federal funding for elementary and secondary education in the country.

These grants provide financial assistance to school districts for services that improve the teaching and learning of children at risk of not meeting academic achievement requirements. Based on a variety of factors such as per-pupil expenditures, poverty, and population estimates, Title I Grants are targeted to help students who reside in high concentration areas of children from low-income families. Hawai‘i’s local education agencies expect to receive these funds by July 1, 2021.

This year’s funding is an increase of $2,329,625 from the 2020-2021 school year.

In addition, Hawai‘i will receive $24,099 in Title I Part D Subpart grants. This funding is distributed to schools with high numbers or percentages of children and youth in locally operated juvenile correctional facilities, including facilities involved in community day programs.