Hawaii

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Strategy Name	Strategy Type(s)	Year	Funding Amount	Funding Source	Features at a Glance
Hawaii Early Learning Board In 2017, Hawaii converted its early childhood advisory council to an advisory board, the Early Learning Board (ELB). ELB was established through Act 202 and is tasked with formulating statewide policy relating to early learning. It directs the Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) on how to best meet the developmental and educational needs of children; provides recommendations to EOEL on improving the quality, availability, and coordination of early learning programs; promotes collaboration across agencies and stakeholders serving young children; and appoints the EOEL director and evaluating the director on an annual basis. The ELB advises the governor and makes recommendations to the legislature. Learn more: State of Hawaii Executive Office on Early Learning Sources:Education Commission of the States, 2021Hawaii Executive Office on Early Learning (2023). 2023 Legislative UpdatesEducation Commission of the States, (2018). Education Governance Dashboard	Infrastructure to Support Early Childhood Systems Data Systems	2017	$7 million	Head Start and Early Head Start Funding Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five State General Fund	The ELB advises the governor and makes recommendations to the state legislature	In 2017, Hawaii converted its early childhood advisory council to an advisory board, the Early Learning Board (ELB). ELB was established through Act 202 and is tasked with formulating statewide policy relating to early learning. It directs the Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) on how to best meet the developmental and educational needs of children; provides recommendations to EOEL on improving the quality, availability, and coordination of early learning programs; promotes collaboration across agencies and stakeholders serving young children; and appoints the EOEL director and evaluating the director on an annual basis. The ELB advises the governor and makes recommendations to the legislature. Learn more: State of Hawaii Executive Office on Early Learning Sources:Education Commission of the States, 2021Hawaii Executive Office on Early Learning (2023). 2023 Legislative UpdatesEducation Commission of the States, (2018). Education Governance Dashboard
Ready Keiki Pre-K Program In 2023, Hawaii launched Ready Keiki, which aims to expand access to preschool for Hawaii's 3- and 4-year-olds, with the goal of creating 465 new classrooms statewide by 2032. To achieve universal access to prekindergarten, the state plans to use a mixed-delivery system that includes private providers, public preschools, family child care centers, and federally funded Head Start programs. Hawaii has allocated $200 million, as stipulated by Act 257, to create 2,000 to 4,000 prekindergarten seats over the next two years. The funds will be used to expand existing facilities and construct new ones. The School Facilities Authority (SFA) determines eligibility for and distribution of these funds, a process that includes working closely with stakeholders to maximize the reach and efficiency of the investment. Learn More: Ready keiki Pre-K Sources: Ready Keiki. (n.d.). About Ready Keiki. Office of the Lieutenant Governor. (2023). Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke unveils "Ready Keiki" plan.	Expansion Public Pre-K Universal Pre-K Policy (3-Year-Olds) Universal Pre-K Policy (4-Year-Olds)	2023	$200 million	State-Funded Pre-K	Allocated $200 million, as stipulated by Act 257, to create 2,000 to 4,000 prekindergarten seats over two years	In 2023, Hawaii launched Ready Keiki, which aims to expand access to preschool for Hawaii's 3- and 4-year-olds, with the goal of creating 465 new classrooms statewide by 2032. To achieve universal access to prekindergarten, the state plans to use a mixed-delivery system that includes private providers, public preschools, family child care centers, and federally funded Head Start programs. Hawaii has allocated $200 million, as stipulated by Act 257, to create 2,000 to 4,000 prekindergarten seats over the next two years. The funds will be used to expand existing facilities and construct new ones. The School Facilities Authority (SFA) determines eligibility for and distribution of these funds, a process that includes working closely with stakeholders to maximize the reach and efficiency of the investment. Learn More: Ready keiki Pre-K Sources: Ready Keiki. (n.d.). About Ready Keiki. Office of the Lieutenant Governor. (2023). Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke unveils "Ready Keiki" plan.

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Demographics Link copied!

Demographics Data Scorecard

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State population

1,440,196

Rural %

13.9%

Urban %

86.1%

Number of children 0–4

82,785

Poverty levels - children 0—8 below 200% poverty

30%

Median family income among households with children

$93,900.00

Unemployment rate

3.2%

Unemployment rate of parents

Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force

64%

Children living in households with a high housing cost burden

39%

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Child Population by Race and Ethnicity

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Race and Ethnicity

American Indian and Alaska Native (0.49%)
American Indian and Alaska Native - National (1%)
Asian (22%)
Asian - National (3%)
Black or African American (2%)
Black or African American - National (14%)
Hispanic or Latino (20%)
Hispanic or Latino - National (23%)
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (12%)
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander - National (0.5%)
Two or more races (32%)
Two or more races - National (5%)
White, not Hispanic or Latino (13%)
White, not Hispanic or Latino - National (49%)

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Year	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
Governor	D	D	D	D	D
State House	D	D	D	D	D
State Senate	D	D	D	D	D
Presidential Office	D	D	D	D	R
U.S. House of Representatives	R	R	D	D	D
U.S. Senate	D	R	R	R	R

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Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!

Early Childhood Education Programs

Public Pre-K Program Name Program Length: Full-day; minimum 30.5 hours/week, 5 days/week during school year

Ready Keiki

Public Pre-K Program Name Program Length: Full-day; minimum 30.5 hours/week, 5 days/week during school year

Hawaii State Public Charter School Early Learning Program

Universal or Targeted Pre-K Policy State Spending Per Child (Pre-K): $10,676

Transitioning from Targeted to Universal Pre-K Policy (3- and 4-Year-Olds)

Universal or Targeted Pre-K Policy State Spending Per Child (Pre-K): $10,676

Targeted Pre-K Policy (3- and 4-Year-Olds)

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Early Childhood Education Programs (3-Year-Olds)

Programs

Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs (1%)
3-Year-old Children Enrolled in Head Start (6%)
Other/None (93%)

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Early Childhood Education Programs (4-Year-Olds)

Programs

Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs (4%)
4-Year-old Children Enrolled in Head Start (7%)
Other/None (89%)

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Workforce Link copied!

2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages

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Role

Child Care Workers
$11.13 (2017, adjusted)
$12.43 (2019)
Child Care Workers - National
$11.21 (2017, adjusted)
$11.65 (2019)
Preschool Teachers
$18.77 (2017, adjusted)
$19.36 (2019)
Preschool Teachers - National
$14.34 (2017, adjusted)
$14.67 (2019)
Preschool or Child Care Center Directors
$24.36 (2017, adjusted)
$24.99 (2019)
Preschool or Child Care Center Directors - National
$23.65 (2017, adjusted)
$23.18 (2019)

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Funding Sources Link copied!

Federal and State Early Childhood Education Funding (in Millions)

Funding Source

Head Start and Early Head Start Funding ($29.5)
CCDBG & Mandatory Funds ($30.7)
CCDBG State Match ($4.8)
CCDBG COVID Relief Allocations - CARES, CRRSE, ARPA (CCDF & Stabilization) ($175.0)
State-Funded Pre-K ($8.8)
MIECHV ($3.6)
IDEA Part C ($3.9)
IDEA Part B, Sec 619 ($1.6)
TANF Early Learning and Care ($10)

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