National and Local Contest Challenges Hawai‘i High Schools
Hawai‘i's public and charter high schools have been invited to participate in two challenges that spotlight their commitment to preparing students for success after graduation. The President's 2011 Race to the Top Commencement Challenge is a national competition that asks schools to answer essay questions and provide statistical information that illustrate how they promote college and career readiness. The winning school will host President Obama as its 2011 commencement speaker.
The Hawai‘i Commencement Challenge asks schools to answer the same essay questions as the national competition and gives schools the option of also providing statistical information. Schools that participate in Hawai‘i's statewide challenge will compete for cash prizes up to $10,000 for graduation-related expenses or college and career activities for their students. The Learning Coalition, First Hawaiian Bank, and Island Insurance Companies are the lead sponsors of Hawai‘i's challenge.
The national challenge closes March 11 and the Hawai‘i challenge on March 22. Information and application links for both challenges can be found at www.hawaiidoereform.org.
Over 9,000 Scholars Stepping Up For Success
Hawai‘i P-20 continues to work with HIDOE and other partners to encourage 8th and 9th grade students to pledge their commitment to earn the Board of Education "Step Up" Recognition Diploma. Currently, there are over 9,000 students from 117 public schools statewide who have stepped up and enrolled in the Step Up Scholars program.
To date, the following schools have pledged over 50% of their 8th or 9th grade class this year: Anuenue, Central Middle, Hana High, Hawai‘i Technology Academy, Honokaa High and Intermediate, Ke Kula 'o 'Ehunuikaimalino, Ke Kula 'o Nawahiokalani'opu'u Iki, Maui High, Mililani High, Paauilo Elementary and Intermediate, Stevenson Middle, Waikoloa Elementary and Intermediate. To view a complete school chart list click here.
To reward schools for their efforts in encouraging students to pledge, incentives will be given to schools that have over 50% of their 8th or 9th grade classes enrolled in the program. Incentives include free bus transportation for students to attend a college or career awareness event and free PSAT test waivers. Pledge period for schools ends April 30. The deadline for general public is May 31.
Thank you to all the Step Up partners that have helped spread the message of Hawai‘i P-20's career and college readiness efforts. If your company/organization is able to include a newsletter article, payroll stuffer, or email blast to your employees about the campaign, please contact Lesli Yogi at lyogi@hawaii.edu.
Campaign Focuses on College Awareness
Today, thousands of Hawai‘i high school and intermediate students are excited and more aware of what college can offer them following College Awareness Month in January. This month-long campaign creates a college-going culture for schools, parents, students, and the general community, and builds the expectation of postsecondary education for all students. Students who have the parental, school, and community expectations that college is the next step after high school see college as the norm. To raise awareness of this initiative, GEAR UP sponsored a multi-media TV, radio and print campaign, organized a college fair at Pearlridge Center, and distributed college planning kits to all public middle and high schools. GEAR UP would like to thank the following partners for their generous support of this year's campaign: University of Hawai‘i Federal Credit Union, The Learning Coalition, University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges, KITV, and COX Radio.
Earn a PK-3 Graduate Certificate Program
Hawai‘i P-20 is sponsoring its second PK-3 Graduate Certificate program. Launched in 2010 as a collaboration between the UH Manoa College of Education's Department of Curriculum Studies and Hawai‘i P-20, teachers from P-3 demo sites can apply and be eligible to receive 100% tuition assistance towards a PK-3 Graduate Certificate in the Master's in Education in Curriculum Studies program. In return, members commit to participate in the on-going evaluation of coursework taken as well as its impact on teaching and practice in the PK-3 classrooms. Cotent covered in courses includes, but is not limited to, decelopmentally appropriate practices, early literacy and language development, and current issues and trends in P-3 curriculum. For more information on this program, contact Mandy Westfall-Senda at 808-956-2560 or via email: mwestfal@hawaii.edu