Jonathan Chee

This annual report details the Hawaii State Department of Education's Six-Year Program and Financial Plan for School Repair and Maintenance, covering the period from FY25 to FY31. The plan outlines a comprehensive approach to managing physical facilities, addressing maintenance issues, health and safety needs, and compliance with regulations. It specifically highlights a proposed $784.358 million Supplemental Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget request for FY27, allocated across twelve key areas including deferred maintenance, federal grants, health and safety, planning, capacity, temporary facilities, instructional improvements, support facilities, compliance, project completion, telecommunication infrastructure, and specific line items.

The Kaiapuni Strategic Implementation Plan, formulated by the Office of Hawaiian Education, serves as a roadmap to fulfill the Department's responsibility to students pursuing education through the medium of the Hawaiian language. The plan aims to empower current and prospective Kaiapuni students for positive impacts locally and globally. It is structured around three strategic goals: establishing a clear vision for Kaiapuni student success, developing personnel capacity, and transforming the system to support Kaiapuni education. The overarching vision is to reverse the historical suppression of the Hawaiian language and create a protective framework for future generations.

This document, titled 'The Foundational and Administrative Framework for Kaiapuni Education (FAFKE)', serves as a comprehensive guide for the Hawaiian language immersion program. It defines the Kaiapuni vision, mission, and core priorities, emphasizing Hawaiian language, culture, and knowledge as central to education. The framework outlines expectations for curriculum, instruction, and assessment, focusing on developing Hawaiian language proficiency, cultural understanding, and community stewardship. It also addresses administrative aspects like leadership, resource allocation, and the importance of community and family engagement to strengthen and sustain Kaiapuni education.

This document is a briefing testimony for the House Committee on Finance concerning the Fiscal Year 2027 Supplemental Budget for the Hawai'i State Department of Education. It articulates the department's mission and vision, focusing on developing students' academic achievement, character, and social-emotional well-being to prepare them for college, career, and citizenship. The briefing outlines federal funding status, non-general funds, and detailed budget requests for FY27, addressing key strategic priorities: High-Quality Learning for All, High-Quality Educator Workforce in All Schools, and Effective and Efficient Operations at All Levels. It also highlights challenges including federal funding uncertainty, inflation, staff recruitment and retention, student enrollment changes, and school facility conditions.

The document introduces "Nā Hopena A'o" (HĀ), a framework of six learning outcomes rooted in Hawai'i's indigenous language and culture. These outcomes—Belonging, Responsibility, Excellence, Aloha, Total Wellbeing, and Hawai'i (BREATH)—are designed to be strengthened in every K-12 student and modeled by staff. The framework emphasizes social and emotional learning and academic mindsets to foster competencies for success in college, careers, and communities, reflecting Hawaiian values and guiding holistic learning throughout the educational system. Its purpose is to provide a comprehensive outcomes framework for developing students' academic achievement, character, and well-being.