Hawaiʻi remains a national leader in preschool quality, meeting all 10 of the National Institute for Early Education Research’s (NIEER) benchmarks for high-quality early learning, according to NIEER’s newly released 2024 State of Preschool Yearbook. 

Hawaiʻi met all 10 national benchmarks for preschool quality, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research’s (NIEER) 2024 State of Preschool Yearbook, maintaining its status as a national leader in early childhood education.

A new report shows that Hawaii preschool programs rank among the top best state-funded programs nationally.

During the 2023-2024 school year, The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) reported that Hawaii preschools enrolled 1,026 children, which was an increase of 322 from the year prior.

State spending per child equaled about $7,400 in 2023-2024, down $3,200 from 2022-2023, adjusted for inflation. State spending for that year totaled $7.5 million.

Some of Maui’s youngest learners welcomed special visitors this week as Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke visited new public pre-kindergarten classrooms at Haʻikū Elementary and Kīhei Elementary. Luke, who leads the state’s Ready Keiki initiative to expand access to preschool statewide, was joined by Sen. Lynn DeCoite and Rep. Terez Amato.

Maui preschoolers welcomed a special visitor this week as Hawai’i Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke visited new classrooms at Haʻikū Elementary and Kīhei Elementary. Luke, who leads the state’s Ready Keiki initiative to expand access to preschool statewide, was joined by state Sen. Lynn DeCoite and Rep. Terez Amato.

The state program that funds early education for families in need is accepting applications.

Families with 3- or 4-year-olds born between Aug. 1, 2020, and July 31, 2022, can apply. Families of eligible children will receive a subsidy linked to their needs and the type of preschool they choose.

For example, a family of four with a monthly income of up to $9,200 a month would qualify for the program.

The State is helping more families pay for preschool for this upcoming school year. If you haven’t been able to qualify due to income restrictions, the state urges you to try again. Preschool Open Doors is a state-funded program through the Department of Human Services (DHS) that provides monthly preschool tuition subsidies.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke with the state’s Department of Human Services announced the Preschool Open Doors Priority Application Period for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, which opens today, Feb. 18, 2025, and runs through April 30, 2025. Preschool Open Doors is assisting families to pay for preschool for the July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 school year for eligible 3- and 4-year-old children. 

The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Education will launch a new Bachelor of Education in early childhood care and education this fall to address the state’s shortage of early childhood educators, officials announced Friday at the UH Manoa Children’s Center.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Education is offering a new program starting this fall.

The new UH Manoa Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) program is designed to address the growing demand for qualified pre-K teachers by training participants to nurture and guide children from birth through age 8.

Parkway Village is adding two preschools to the community: a public charter preschool in partnership with Kamehameha Schools and Parents And Children Together (PACT), offering 80 seats for the broader community, and a second preschool run by Keiki O Ka ‘Āina, which will provide 40 seats exclusively for Parkway Village residents by 2025. These efforts align with the state’s Ready Keiki initiative, expanding access to affordable, high-quality early education.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke visited Pearl City Elementary, one of 44 schools offering new publicly-funded pre-K under the Ready Keiki initiative, aiming for statewide preschool access by 2032.

The state has opened two more free public preschool classrooms at Reverend Benjamin Parker Elementary School on Waikalua Road in Kaneohe.

It’s all part of the Ready Keiki initiative that has created more than 50 pre-K classrooms statewide so far.

Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke, area legislators and students celebrated a milestone for Windward Oahu families after two new public preschool classrooms opened their doors in Kaneohe.

The two new classrooms at Benjamin Parker Elementary School are part of the Ready Keiki initiative, providing universal access to preschool and increasing access to early education.

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