Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 3, 1 March 2002 — Charter schools seek autonomy [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Charter schools seek autonomy

'Pono Campaign ' pushes lawmakers to create Hawaiian school district By Naomi Sodetani Ayear ago, Alika Ka'ahanui was about to drop out from Farrington High School. But after switching to Hālau Kū Māna, Ka'ahanui's grades shot up from .06 to 3.0. "From not caring about school and skipping class all the time, ī'm now class president," Ka'ahanui proudly declared. "ī'm living proof that charter schools work."

Ka'ahanui is one of about 1,000 students attending charter Hawaiian schools statewide. The youths testified at a packed Feb. 12 joint hearing in support of SB2919 that would establish a non-contiguous Hawaiian school district with its own superintendent and board under the state Department of Education. Soon after, the Hawaiian Affairs and Education committees unanimously passed the bill co-introduced by Ways and Means Chair Sen. Brian Taniguchi and WAM Vice Chair Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, who also sits on the Hawaiian Affairs committee. Hawaiian Affairs committee member Sen. Fred Hemmings applauded the native charter schools for "succeeding where the DOE has clearly failed."

Nā Lei Na'auao, the Native Hawaiian Charter School Allianee, whieh represents 12 charter schools on three islands, and Kanu o ka 'Aina Learning 'Ohana, have launched the "Pono Campaign" pushing the bill. Organizer Kū Kahakalau, director of Kanu o ka 'Aina, the state's first charter school based in Waimea, Hawai'i, says the campaign will restore "goodness" and "righteousness" to the state education system whieh many say has failed generations of Hawaiians. The DOE is currently embroiled in a funding parity dispute with the state's 23 charter schools, whieh receive less than half the $6,000 per pupil that the DOE gives other public schools, Three charter schools recently sued the state,

alleging its violation of state and federal laws, including Act 62 mandating that "all federal and other financial support for new century charter schools shall be no less than all other public schools," Designed to encourage innovation and foster parent and community involvement, charter schools are public schools created through existing schools or by community groups, and funded by the DOE and other sources, īf the bill passes, the new district would become a separate authorizing agency qualified to receive millions of federal dollars available for public charter schools, See PONO on page 14

NATIVE TESTlMONY - Ku Kaheikeileiu einel ccirnpciign supporters testify cit the Ccipitol, inclucling stuclents cittencling Hōleiu Ku Mōnei, ei chcirter school cit Kōneweii, Mōnoei ,

PONO from page 1 DOE Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto stressed that "these federal monies are primarily for planning and start-up costs," and that operating costs for new charter schools would impose a "long-term burden" on the DOE's alreadystrained budget. The DOE, Hawai'i Government Employees Association and Hawai'i State Teachers Association oppose SB2919 and its counterpart HB247. At press time, WAM had not held its hearing. The senate education committee is drafting an omnibus "governance bill" likely to merge SB2919 with several other bills also seeking to decentralize the DOE and BOE. Proposals include abolishing the BOE and establishing regional school districts and boards. ,Auy such legislation must address the need to amend the constitutional provision establishing the BOE. Where native schools provide hands-on project-based education proven to increase academic success of Hawaiian students, the DOE is "systemically over-chal-lenged," unable to help bright

children it often dismisses as "disruptive" or "unteachable" or misdiagnoses as "special ed kids," Kahakalau said. "īt's institutionalized racism." "īt benefits everybody in Hawai'i to have successful Hawaiian students becoming productive citizens," the educator said. "īf we are better educated," Kanu o ka 'Aina student Joshua Recaido testified, "mauy of the bad statistics, like high poverty, drug and aleohol abuse, welfare and prison rates that affect Hawaiians now will decrease." A non-contiguous Hawaiian school district would potentially serve 50,000 students now attending public schools in communities with high concentrations of Native Hawaiians. Like other indigenous education systems established around the world, a Hawaiian school district would empower students to "address our own needs so they don't get left on the side like rubbish," said Adrian Kamali'i, president of the 'īlio'uokalani Youth Coalition. "īt is truly a means of self-determination." ■