Latest news with #PreschoolOpenDoors
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Preschool applications for financial assistance are now being accepted
Hawaii families seeking financial assistance for preschool tuition can now apply for the state-funded Preschool Open Doors program, which supports working families by ensuring their children have access to early education. The state Department of Human Services is accepting applications through April 30 for the 2025-2026 school year. The program provides tuition subsidies for eligible 3-and 4-year-olds. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, who leads the state's Ready Keiki initiative aimed at expanding prekindergarten access, emphasized the program's importance amid ongoing uncertainties surrounding federal funding for early education. 'With uncertainty at the federal level around child care and early education funding, Preschool Open Doors reaffirms our state's commitment to supporting local families—ensuring our keiki can access the opportunities they need to thrive, ' Luke said. 'For many families, the cost of child care and preschool can be as high as rent. This subsidy provides meaningful relief, making quality early education more accessible for Hawai 'i's working families.' To qualify, children must have birth dates between Aug. 1, 2020, and July 31, 2022, meaning they would enter kindergarten in the 2026-2027 or 2027-2028 school year. The program prioritizes at-risk or underserved children and considers household income when determining eligibility. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. For a household of two, the monthly income limit is $6, 080, or $72, 960 annually ; for a household of four, the monthly income limit is $9, 245, or $110, 940 annually. Families that meet eligibility criteria can choose from 382 state-licensed preschools, with maximum subsidy amounts set at $1, 500 per month for accredited schools and $1, 200 for nonaccredited ones. DHS Director Ryan Yamane highlighted the program's growing demand, noting that over 5, 000 applications were received in 2024 due to expanded eligibility and increased income thresholds. 'The extended application window for the Preschool Open Doors program, expanded eligibility to include 3-year-old children, and increased income limits led to a significant increase in applications, ' Yamane said. 'Every child deserves a strong start, and the high level of interest in the program reflects how important these opportunities are for families across the state.' Currently, Preschool Open Doors serves more than 2, 300 children statewide and helps young learners develop essential skills to prepare for school and long-term success. With another strong response expected this year, DHS urges families to apply early. DHS expects a high number of applications again this year and urges families to apply before the deadline to secure preschool assistance for their children. Families can submit applications online at childcaresubsidy or request a form through People Attentive to Children, the program's contractor, at or by calling 808-791-2130. Applications must be received by 4 :30 p.m. April 30. Families also have the option to submit their applications by mail, fax or email to PATCH's Honolulu office. The organization can assist families in finding a suitable preschool and provide guidance throughout the application process.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hawaii lawmakers look to stop ticket resellers
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Ticket resellers have been making huge profits off events in Hawaii, sometimes leaving locals having to pay extreme prices. One bill could put a stop to that. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news No matter who's performing, there's always been an issue here with resellers raising ticket prices. 'In the early 80s, when tickets were $16.50, they were selling them for $200,' said Rick Bartalini, concert promoter. 'So now that tickets, the face value of tickets are $200, they're going for like $3000 on Stubhub for hot shows.' Preschool Open Doors priority application period now open Senate Bill 1160 looks to stop that by making it illegal for anyone to sell tickets more than the original price charged by the provider. 'What it does is prevent scalpers and bots and other folks from the mainland and swooping in and buying up tickets just to use them and hold them hostage until someone's willing to pay some exhoborent price,' said Sen. Chris Lee, (D) Transportation, and Culture and the Arts Committee Chair. Promoters said it happens all the time in Hawaii from large venues like the Blaisdell Arena to the intimate like Manoa Valley Theater. The director there said a patron recently bought tickets off a spoofed website. 'So they're paying two, three times more than they should be to come to our performances, and that's not what we do,' said Kathleen Young, Manoa Valley Theater. 'We work really hard to keep the arts accessible for everyone in Hawaii, and we wanna make sure they're coming in and paying a fair price.' There's a three-year study done on National Hockey League resale tickets. It found that there was very little difference in resale prices between markets with price caps and those without. Opponents of the bill said price caps just don't work. However, supporters said Hawaii is the exception to that rule. They added our venues are much smaller, and our events are much fewer, so our tickets are in much demand, which makes us more vulnerable to ticket scalpers. Opponents also said the bill is too broad and takes away the consumer's choice.'I think it's better to work in cooperation with the already regulated marketplaces for these for these items than it is to kind of create an arbitrary standard or to create a price cap which again we've seen in other studies isn't as effective at achieving the legislative aim,' Robert Singleton, Chamber of Progress. 'It just makes sense to take proactive steps to make sure local residents can access local events and local tickets without being scammed by people overseas,' said Lee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Preschool Open Doors priority application period now open
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The State is helping more families pay for preschool for this upcoming school year. If you haven't been able to qualify due to income restrictions, the state urges you to try again. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Preschool Open Doors is a state-funded program through the Department of Human Services (DHS) that provides monthly preschool tuition subsidies. The program's priority application period for the upcoming 2025 to 2026 school year, opened on Feb. 18 and will run through April 30. Good News: Free Early Childhood Programs with Open Enrollment Now 'I can cry when I think about certain families, how much it's helped,' stated Cheryl Cudiamat, Keiki Care Center of Hawaii Director. 'Families I know that are on it, they are really in need of it. Their children would not be in preschool without it.' The cost of tuition can be as high as rent, according to Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke who is partnered with DHS. Now, there is about $50 million available to help families with finances. Preschool Open Doors also expanded its eligibility requirements to include families with higher incomes and keiki three years and older. Priority will be given to underserved or at-risk children. 'We've been seeing a lot more families qualify this time around than ever in the past due to the increase of income eligibility limits,' said Shantel Griffen, Preschool Open Doors Program Manager. Family Size Monthly Gross Income Eligibility Limit Annual Gross Income Eligibility Limit 2 $ 6,080 $ 72,960 3 $ 7,663 $ 91,956 4 $ 9,245 $ 110,940 5 $ 10,828 $ 129,936 6 $ 12,410 $ 148,920 7 $ 13,993 $ 167,916 8 $ 15,575 $ 186,900 Currently, DHS is serving 2,300 students through its program and anticipates helping even more. 'In 2024, about 5,000 families applied and out of that, over 2500 families were parents and guardians of three-year-olds,' stated Lt. Gov Luke. There are over 350 DHS-certified childcare centers available throughout the state. Families can receive between $1,200 and $1,500. The amount they receive will be based on monthly gross income, co-payment, and selected preschool. Check out more news from around Hawaii 'It pays for 100% of the tuition. We don't charge comprehensive fees, but for the most part, it covers everything,' said Cudiamat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
