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Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State agency's preschool production pipeline bulges while other projects hit roadblocks
RELATED PHOTO GALLERY Inside what looks like it could've been an art classroom at a Moiliili elementary school, a former engineer is leading a small team on a big quest to develop preschool classrooms, teacher housing and a more than $300 million new school. Riki Fujitani, executive director of the state School Facilities Authority, has made major strides in one lane of work a little over a year since the fledgling agency's first leader resigned under fire at the Legislature, though struggles in other areas remain. During the waning 2024-2025 school year, the SFA added new public preschool space for 849 children, after an initial 213 preschool seats the year before, when some state lawmakers were pushing to abolish the autonomous agency four years after its creation by the Legislature without initial funding or staff. Next school year, the agency with eight employees and expanding funds anticipates adding preschool space for an additional 497 children toward a long-term goal to help produce classrooms for all Hawaii 3-and 4-year-olds by 2032 under a 2023 Ready Keiki initiative led by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke. Only a little more than half of all preschool-age children in Hawaii are enrolled in preschool, and 95 % who are enrolled go to private programs that can cost several hundred dollars to over $1, 000 per month. Serving more children with free public preschool can provide families financial relief and set up keiki for better learning outcomes starting in kindergarten. Work to develop affordable rental housing largely for public schoolteachers plus a new middle and elementary school on Maui has not made nearly as much progress. Yet SFA has found some solid footing after floundering for most of its existence. Fujitani, who was once an electrical engineer at satellite maker TRW Inc. and later became a litigation attorney, kind of looks at SFA as a special-projects team. 'My analogy I tell people is like Skunk Works, ' he said during an interview in the agency's spartan office at Prince Jonah Kuhio Elementary School. 'Lockheed had to set up Skunk Works to build the stealth fighter.' Brian Canevari, SFA program manager for teacher housing, has another business analogy for the agency, which is governed by a volunteer board. 'It's kind of like a startup working in a garage, except it's a classroom building, ' he said. Preschool pipeline Much of what SFA has done so far has been procured through design consultants and other contractors. All preschool classrooms created by the agency to date stem from minor renovations made to state Department of Education classrooms not needed for higher grades. Such work includes furniture, flooring and bathroom fixture replacements requiring no building permits and at an average cost of $345, 000 per classroom, or $17, 250 per seat for a typical 20-seat classroom. The agency projects producing close to 100 classrooms this way for 2, 039 students by mid-2027, exhausting all spare DOE classroom space. SFA also has a couple major school renovation projects to produce five classrooms for 90 children. One of these involves major changes to three classrooms and building one new classroom at Waialae Elementary Public Charter School. Construction is expected to begin on the three classroom conversions this summer and finish before school resumes in August. Building the new classroom is slated for next summer. The project is budgeted at $50, 000 per seat, or $1 million for a 20-seat classroom. A third SFA strategy to deliver preschool classrooms is new construction in new or existing state buildings. For instance, eight classrooms for 126 children are being built in a graduate housing tower rising at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. That project costs about $79, 000, or $10 million in total. New classrooms also are planned for the Pearl City Public Library, Waikoloa Public Library, Kauai Community College, 'Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo, Paia Elementary School on Maui, Malama Honua Public Charter School in Waimanalo and a state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands community center on Hawaii island. SFA plans to deliver classrooms for 1, 392 children using new construction from 2026 to 2029. All currently planned preschool projects would serve 3, 521 children, or a little more than half of 6, 737 children in need estimated by Ready Keiki. Fujitani said fulfilling the Ready Keiki plan represents an 'aspirational ' goal that would require 56 sites. Balky start SFA is five years old, but initial funding and staff date only to 2022. That year, the Legislature appropriated $200 million for preschool classroom development and money for staffing. Then-Gov. David Ige appointed career educator Chad Keone Farias to lead SFA for a six-year term. Farias, however, resigned in January 2024 as a dozen state senators pushed a bill to repeal the agency. The departure by Farias also followed big funding reductions for preschools and teacher housing in 2023 by Gov. Josh Green, who released only $81.7 million of the $200 million for preschool development. Separately, Green eliminated all but $5 million of a $170 million legislative appropriation for teacher housing in 2023, vetoing $120 million and later redirecting $45 million for Maui wildfire disaster relief. Fujitani, who in 2017 had joined a division of DOE working on deferred school maintenance, was asked by SFA Board Chair Alan Oshima to succeed Farias at least on an interim basis. The 64-year-old Fujitani, who had once been a litigator in a law firm where Oshima was a partner, agreed with some reluctance. 'It was not in good shape, ' Fujitani said. He replaced most of what had been a staff of six and canceled plans to lease office space in Kakaako to house SFA. 'We had to reload, ' he said. Since 2024, the Legislature has appropriated an additional $120 million for preschools—$100 million last year and $20 million this year—and SFA's staff is up to eight, including program managers for preschool, teacher housing and new school development, a planning officer, an administrative services officer and a business manager. Four more authorized positions are as yet unfilled, including a procurement specialist, a land agent and a secretary under SFA's roughly $1.7 million annual operating budget. While the agency has racked up preschool achievements, developing teacher housing and new schools has been more problematic. Housing hang-ups In 2023, the Legislature assigned seven teacher housing projects to SFA with the $170 million that Green cut down to $5 million. At the top of the list was $65 million appropriated for housing at Mililani High School. Another $25 million was slated for Nanakuli and Waipahu housing projects, and four $20 million projects were directed for Windward Oahu, Maui County, Hawaii island and Kauai. Fujitani told House Finance Committee members during a Jan. 9 briefing that the best place for affordable teacher housing is urban Honolulu, and that SFA was assigned what became a 109-unit pilot project in Mililani that hasn't gone well. After the funding cuts, SFA used the remaining $5 million to procure a development agreement with nonprofit affordable-housing developer Pacific Housing Assistance Corp. A contract with Pacific Housing was signed in August, but the project site drew objections from school officials, and the developer is studying alternative site prospects. SFA earlier this year asked lawmakers for $20 million to procure five more housing development agreements. The Legislature approved $2 million. Some lawmakers did consider appropriating $50 million for the Mililani project instead of relying on Pacific Housing to arrange its own financing. But the proposed funding, inserted into House Bill 329 that aimed to clarify SFA responsibilities, was not in the final version of the bill that passed. Meanwhile, SFA hasn't been able to obtain other DOE sites for teacher housing despite identifying about 25 prospects and having the statutory power to acquire such land with approval from the governor. Canevari told SFA's board at its April meeting that DOE isn't supportive of what he called 'highly probable ' candidate sites. DOE spokesperson Nanea Kalani said the response was preliminary feedback. 'Any project of this nature requires careful consideration to ensure it doesn't interfere with student safety, daily school operations, or the learning environment, ' she said in an email. 'Our initial reviews, looking at factors like traffic and parking, highlighted the need for further due diligence before we could support development at these locations.' Fujitani believes bureaucratic inertia at DOE is stifling progress on teacher housing development. 'Change is hard, ' he said, gesturing to a big open space at Kuhio Elementary adjacent to three roughly 20-story residential buildings where he believes 800 homes could be developed. 'It's just inertia.' Some state lawmakers tried to drive the issue earlier this year by adding language to Senate Bill 1393 to repeal SFA's power to have DOE convey land upon SFA's request and approval of the governor. The bill did not pass. New school division Another clash between SFA, DOE and state lawmakers has been over new schools. SFA was created in part to take over new school development from DOE using innovative ways to expedite construction while leaving DOE to address huge deferred maintenance needs for existing schools. Yet lawmakers have provided partial funding to SFA for only one new school, an envisioned middle and elementary campus in Central Maui where an initial $20 million appropriation was made in 2022 followed by $10 million in 2023 and $9 million in 2024. This year, Green sought $100 million more for the project, which is expected to cost over $300 million, though the Legislature approved $37 million. DOE, meanwhile, has plans for about 16 other new schools. During a Jan. 14 SFA briefing to a pair of Senate committees overseeing education and budgetary matters, some lawmakers expressed frustration with the agency's limited role in new school development. 'It seems like that need is not a need, ' said Sen. Kurt Fevella. 'It's a big mess.' Fevella (R, Ewa Beach-Ocean Pointe-Iroquois Point ) complained that the Ewa region has several badly overcrowded schools and a bigger need for new schools than Central Maui. Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz (D, Mililani-Wahiawa-Whitmore Village ) questioned who determines new school priorities. 'There's a big disconnect between what's going on in the operations of DOE vs. SFA, ' he told Fujitani. 'Your board has no idea what's going on with board business at DOE. That's awkward. Some of that got to get cleaned up.' Fujitani responded by saying DOE data shows a big need for a new middle and elementary school in Central Maui, and that he is pursuing the project at the Legislature's direction. SFA has described the Maui project an opportunity to produce a new school in half the time and 75 % of the cost of a typical new Hawaii school by using new standards, a design-build method and modular construction. To date, only $20 million of the $76 million appropriated for the school has been released. Of the $20 million, $2.2 million has been spent on design work and the rest is committed to be spent on similar work. Fujitani said construction on an initial $180 million phase for 300 middle-school students could begin in 2028 and finish in 2030. A second phase is envisioned for 600 to 700 more middle school students. A third phase would be for elementary students. Projected full capacity is 1, 450 students. At one point during this year's legislative session, some lawmakers proposed $30 million in HB 329 for SFA to take over DOE work to replace a Lahaina elementary school destroyed in the 2023 wildfire disaster. The proposal did not end up in the final version of the bill sent to Green. HB 329, if enacted, would eliminate SFA's prior responsibility to develop all new public schools and instead refocus the agency's responsibility mainly on developing preschool and childcare facilities, workforce housing and new school development assigned by the Legislature, the governor or the state Board of Education.
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
08-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Interested in early childhood education? UH Manoa posts new degree option
MANOA, Hawaii (KHON2) — A new degree option at the University of Hawaii at Manoa will expand the knowledge of childhood educator candidates and help reverse the effects of a critical shortage across the in fall 2025, future educators can finish their undergraduate years with a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Care and Education. The program aims to give candidates the knowledge and experience to 'nurture and guide children from birth through age eight.' State Capitol hosts annual UH Manoa Research Day UH hopes the addition of the program will expand early learning access statewide and could help separate early childhood education from the Kindergarten through 8th-grade track. 'This new program reflects our dedication to supporting children, families and communities by ensuring a well-prepared workforce that understands the importance of early learning and care,' said UH Manoa College of Education Dean Nathan Murata. The initiative also aligns with the Ready Keiki initiative, led by Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke, which aims to create more than 400 classrooms islandwide. I am incredibly excited for the students of this new program to be able to learn about early childhood from infancy through the early elementary school years through the lens of both education and care, both of which are fundamental aspects of working with Hawaiʻi keiki and families. Valley Varma, UH Mānoa Children's Center teacher Graduates of the program will be recommended for an early childhood teaching license for preschool through third grade. Check out more news from around Hawaii Candidates can participate under a full-time, hybrid schedule with evening classes. Those interested in the program should apply before the March 1 deadline. More information can be found on UH Manoa's College of Education website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
University of Hawaii accepting applications for new early childhood education degree
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ UH President Wendy Hensel, right, talked Friday with UH Manoa College of Education Dean Nathan Murata, far left, UH Manoa Provost Michael Bruno and state Sen. Ron Kouchi during a news conference. 1 /2 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ UH President Wendy Hensel, right, talked Friday with UH Manoa College of Education Dean Nathan Murata, far left, UH Manoa Provost Michael Bruno and state Sen. Ron Kouchi during a news conference. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke spoke Friday during a news conference at UH Manoa's Children Center. UH Manoa's new program aims to address the critical need for qualified pre-K teachers as the Ready Keiki initiative, led by Luke, expands early childhood education access across the state. 2 /2 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke spoke Friday during a news conference at UH Manoa's Children Center. UH Manoa's new program aims to address the critical need for qualified pre-K teachers as the Ready Keiki initiative, led by Luke, expands early childhood education access across the state. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ UH President Wendy Hensel, right, talked Friday with UH Manoa College of Education Dean Nathan Murata, far left, UH Manoa Provost Michael Bruno and state Sen. Ron Kouchi during a news conference. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @ Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke spoke Friday during a news conference at UH Manoa's Children Center. UH Manoa's new program aims to address the critical need for qualified pre-K teachers as the Ready Keiki initiative, led by Luke, expands early childhood education access across the state. The University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Education will launch a new Bachelor of Education in early childhood care and education this fall to address the state's shortage of early childhood educators, officials announced Friday at the UH Manoa Children's Center. The program follows a full-time schedule with evening classes in a hybrid statewide format. Graduates will be eligible for a Hawaii early childhood teaching license for preschool through third grade. Scholarships for this program are also available. The application deadline is March 1, though some students already have begun the screening process as early as this month. Interested applicants can find more information at /4k3NIUL. UH College of Education Dean Nathan Murata said there is 'huge interest ' in the new degree program, with interest already in the double digits. Previously, students interested in early childhood education had to enroll in both an elementary and early childhood program to earn a dual degree or pursue a master's degree in early childhood education. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke said she realized the rigor of earning two degrees was discouraging for those who wanted to teach preschool, leading many to opt out of continuing. 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. Many followed the early childhood elementary or early childhood special education track before advancing to graduate studies. With the introduction of this new bachelor's program, students can now earn a dedicated degree in early childhood care and education, streamlining the path to licensure. The program aligns with the National Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment Consortium Model Core Teaching Standards, ensuring graduates meet national teaching benchmarks. The Bachelor of Education in early childhood care and education was developed through a collaboration between UH Manoa faculty and early childhood education faculty from Honolulu Community College, Kauai Community College, UH Maui College and Hawaii Community College. Designed to reflect Hawaii's cultural and educational landscape, the curriculum incorporates community input to address local needs. 'We aspire at the College of Education to get our students, our potential teachers, into the classroom and field experiences early on, and that exposure and experience is continuous, scaffolded throughout their entire program, ' Murata said. Rather than completing coursework first and fieldwork later, students will engage in hands-on classroom experience from the start of the program. The program aims to provide candidates with the needed competencies and experiences to nurture and guide children from birth through age 8, laying the foundation for their learning and discovery within their individual sociocultural contexts. Currently, the degree is offered only at the Manoa campus, but program directors are already in discussions to consult and partner with community colleges. 'As far as the other four-year (universities ), we'd be certainly happy to have conversations with our partners at Hilo and /or West Oahu to see if this program can be replicated, ' Murata said. Luke said the idea for the program emerged two years ago following the launch of the Ready Keiki initiative, a statewide effort to ensure all Hawaii children are prepared for kindergarten. 'Because we are aggressively opening a lot of classrooms, one of the things that we didn't want was to stress the teacher shortage, ' Luke said. 'We started the conversation with the university system and realized that to become a preschool teacher, you had to earn a dual degree—and it's hard to do that.' Luke said the Legislature has allocated funding over the past two years to address teacher shortages and is in discussions to secure funding for 50 new teachers and 50 new teacher assistants. The new program streamlines the pathway to becoming a pre-K teacher by establishing a dedicated early childhood education track, separate from the broader K-8 program. The change aligns with statewide efforts to expand early learning access and highlights the importance of early childhood care and education. The Ready Keiki initiative aims to provide preschool access for all Hawaii 3-and 4-year-olds by creating more than 400 classrooms statewide. However, the expansion of early childhood education remains limited by a shortage of qualified teachers. 'This is incredibly encouraging. It shows the power of partnerships and what we can do if we join forces together, ' UH President Wendy Hensel said. Hensel is confident the program will attract students and future educators while helping to meet Hawaii's workforce needs, strengthen communities and invest in a brighter future. 'It's such an extraordinary opportunity in Hawaii, given that we have a single set of public education K-12 and a single higher education institution, ' Hensel said. 'So, to be able to expand that into something that can build on itself in ways that's really extraordinary and not possible in most places, it's a really special thing.'
