State
Follow the latest K-12 education developments across Hawaii, including news from school districts, the state education agency, associations and education organizations.
Last updated: September 21, 2026
As of October 7, 2026, K-12 News has published 4 Hawaii stories over the last 30 days, from 1 organization. The most frequent themes are School Districts, Career & Technical Education and Funding.
Chu Hong received Hawaii’s top teaching honor for 2027 after expanding agriculture learning at Kaimukī High, where students grow crops, develop products and operate businesses.
Mililani students will gain hands-on manufacturing training through a new MEERA lab, part of a $1.75 million statewide investment that also supports programs at six O‘ahu middle schools.
Enrollment in Hawaiʻi’s public and charter schools fell 1.6% from last school year, according to state education officials. Despite the statewide decline, 93 public schools recorded increases.
Students at most public campuses on Kauaʻi return Sept. 14 after storm closures. Kīlauea Elementary reopens Sept. 15, while Hanalei Elementary students return Sept. 21 as recovery continues.
Teacher
States are funding educator recruitment and preparation and changing certification pathways: Kansas received an $8.4 million federal educator-pipeline grant, while Illinois allocated $15 million for recruitment and retention in 100 districts accounting for about 77% of reported teacher vacancies. Pennsylvania joined the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact to reduce certification barriers for eligible out-of-state teachers, and Connecticut opened registration for a free six-week paraeducator preparation academy. Teacher recognition programs also progressed from regional selections to finalists and statewide winners in Missouri and Iowa, while Colorado announced finalists and Hawaii, Kansas, Indiana, New York and Florida named 2027 Teachers of the Year.
Open enrolment, charter authorisation, vouchers, education savings accounts and enrolment shifts.
States are expanding career pathways and hands-on learning through grants, new facilities and work placements, including apprenticeships and work-based learning in Florida, paid AI internships in Massachusetts and a manufacturing lab at Mililani High School in Hawaii. Pennsylvania awarded $3.5 million to broaden career pathways, while Mississippi launched a statewide initiative connecting classroom lessons with college and careers for the 2026–27 school year. Rhode Island and Maryland are working with Advance CTE to expand pathway access with student participation in program and policy design. At the federal level, a stopgap spending measure maintained Perkins V career and technical education funding at current levels through December 11.
Based on: Kaimukī High School’s Chu Hong named 2027 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year
Orange County Department of Education · Oct 7, 2026
Clark County School District · Oct 6, 2026
Orange County Department of Education · Oct 6, 2026
Maine Department of Education · Oct 6, 2026
Clark County School District · Oct 6, 2026
