More than 8,000 eligible Hawaii children do not attend preschool due to high costs and limited availability of spots in desired programs, a situation that warrants policy intervention and greater overall support, according to new analysis by the University of Hawaii Research Organization.

State officials have unveiled 44 new public preschools slated to open this school year, which includes the first two Hawaiian language classrooms under the Ready Keiki initiative.

For years, advocates have been pushing for more preschool access and Hawaiian immersion, or kaiapuni schools, throughout the state.

Hawaiʻi is getting $4.9 million for a program to recruit and retain teachers.

The money is from a federally funded State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) grant to launch an “earn-and-learn” program to mentor students to become teachers.

“The reality is Hawaiʻi has faced a teacher shortage for years. Addressing it will take a coordinated effort. … We have to support our future teachers by removing financial barriers and providing the benefits and mentorship they need to succeed,” said Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke in a statement.

Six new, public preschool classrooms will open in Maui County this fall for the 2024-2025 school year, announced Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and the state’s Ready Keiki Initiative on Friday. The pre-K schools enroll 20 students per classroom at no cost to parents.

In August, the state will see the opening of 44 new public preschool classrooms, with at least one located on each island.

This expansion will create 820 additional seats, increasing the total number of preschool spots to 1,767 statewide. 34 of the new classrooms will be situated in Title I schools.

Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke and executive director of PATCH Carol Wear share the good news about the Ready Keiki initiative's Preschool Open Doors (POD) expansion to a year-round application which includes 3- and 4-year olds. Applications are abeing accepted through January 31, 2025

The state will be opening what they call a “historic” number of public pre-K classrooms ahead of the new school year.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke made the announcement at Kuhio Elementary on Friday that 44 new classrooms will open statewide come August.

This is part of the “Ready Keiki” initiative led by the lieutenant governor, the Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) and other partners to expand preschool services across the islands.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke joined the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board to announce that Hawaiʻi has been awarded a $4.9 million State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) grant by the US Department of Labor to the DLIR. This funding will be used to support Hawaiʻi’s teacher workforce by creating the first statewide registered apprenticeship program for K-12 teachers.

The Preschool Open Doors program has been expanded, allowing families to apply at any time throughout the year on a rolling basis, instead of the previous fixed application period from January to the end of March.

The program provides monthly preschool tuition subsidies to qualified families for up to two years before kindergarten. Parents can choose any preschool licensed by the state Department of Human Services.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke on Tuesday announced that the preschool tuition subsidy program is now accepting applications year-round.

The Preschool Open Doors program aims to give more children in Hawai‘i a chance to enroll in private preschools. The initiative is funded by the state Department of Human Services and administered by the organization People Attentive To Children, or PATCH.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, who is serving as Acting Governor, joined the state’s Department of Human Services to announce that the preschool tuition subsidy program, Preschool Open Doors, is now accepting applications on a year-round basis.

A preschool subsidy program through the state is expanding.

It's called Preschool Open Doors, and Tuesday afternoon Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke announced the expansion.

Hawaii families needing help paying for preschool are encouraged to apply for a newly expanded state program that provides monthly tuition subsidies to qualified students.

The Preschool Open Doors program is now offered for 3 and 4-year-olds, and income eligibility limits were increased to support more working families.

Since 2022, when the state’s Ready Keiki program received its $200 million investment for the addition of new preschool classrooms, it’s become clear to Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and others that both public and private participation are crucial elements.

As Hawaii stands on the verge of educational reform, the implementation of universal prekindergarten (pre-K) emerges not only as a practical solution to provide our children quality education and a promising future, but also as a critical step toward achieving social justice and equity in our society.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke is leading the Ready Keiki initiative to open more preschools across the islands to help struggling families.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke has been tasked with launching a new early learning program.

Child care is a major factor that contributes to the post-30s earning cliff facing women, as mothers with young children are more likely than fathers to reduce their work hours. In Hawaii, the high cost and low availability of child care exacerbate the problem.

The state could see an increase in the availability of early learning programs by taking advantage of vacant public spaces beyond the state Department of Education public school campuses.

Honolulu-based Pacific Marine & Supply Co. celebrated its 80th anniversary last week with an $80,000 donation to Palama Settlement to help build preschool classrooms as part of the state’s Ready Keiki initiative.