Department of Education

Overview

Formula and Competitive Grants :  

On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.  The Hawaii Department of Education has received (directly from the U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture) approximately $78 million in grant awards, as additional funding for existing federal grants, i.e. for Title I Educational Opportunities for the Disadvantaged; Educational Technology; the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); Education for the Homeless; Special Education Preschool; and Child Nutrition.  The Department is expending these funds in accordance with the requirements of ARRA. 

State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF):

Governor Linda Lingle has received approval for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) portion of ARRA, Part A, Education Stabilization, totaling to $157 million, of which $110 million has been designated for public elementary and secondary education (Hawaii Department of Education and public charter schools), and $47 million has been designated for public higher education (University of Hawaii). The Governor’s plan is to allocate $52 million of Part A for the Hawaii Department of Education for Fiscal Year 2009-10.  These funds are being used to offset state general fund payroll expenses, as pay periods are incurred, due to the State Legislature’s reduction of $43 million per year in state general funds from the Hawaii Department of Education’s operating budget over Fiscal Years 2009-10 and 2010-11.  The Department is transmitting its pay-period-by-pay-period information to the State Department of Budget and Finance to obtain reimbursement.  The Governor has received approval for Stabilization Funds Part B, Government Services, in the amount of $35 million.  There has been no information from the Governor’s Office as to whether any of these Part B funds will be allocated to the Hawaii Department of Education.

“Race To The Top” Competitive Grant:

The ARRA also provides the U.S. Department of Education with $4.35 billion to be used for a competitive grant program, called “Race To The Top.”  This program is designed to encourage and reward states that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform; achieving significant improvement in student outcomes, including making substantial gains in student achievement; closing achievement gaps; improving high school graduation rates, and ensuring student preparation for success in college and careers; and implementing ambitious plans in four (4) core education reform areas:
• Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy;
• Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction;
• Recruiting, developing, rewarding and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed the most; and
• Turning around our lowest-achieving schools.

The application process for Race to the Top was designed in two phases. Forty states (including Hawaii) and the District of Columbia submitted applications for Phase 1. Of these, 15 states and the District of Columbia were selected as finalists, with Delaware and Tennessee ultimately receiving grants.

Hawaii reviewed the feedback it received concerning its Phase 1 application, and after significant additional work, submitted its application on June 1, 2010 for Phase 2 of the competition.

At the end of July, 19 out of the 36 Phase 2 applicants were selected as finalists.  On August 10, Hawaii's five-member team presented the state's case for education reform to the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the 10 Race to the Top Phase 2 winners on August 24.  In this phase, Hawaii garnered the third highest score and was awarded $75 million!  Hawaii representatives will meet with the U.S. Department of Education officials in September to work out the reporting requirements for the grant. 

For detailed information about Hawaii’s Race to the Top Phase 2 application, visit the following USDE site and scroll down to view Hawaii's  application, appendix, score sheet, and the reviewers’ comments:

 http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/phase2-applications/index.html

The budget in the successful application was revised in October of 2010 and approved by the US DOE.  The revised budget (Part A-37 of the appendix to the application) can be viewed here.

Awards

ARRA Recovery Team

Transparency and Communication

The Hawaii Department of Education is making Recovery Act information available to the public via links from its website:  doe.k12.hi.us.  In addition, we have complied with national reporting requirements to the FederalReporting.gov website, which is the basis from which state data is summarized on the national Recovery.gov website.

The Hawaii Department of Education presented an update on ARRA to the State Board of Education Committee on Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Support, on December 2, 2009.

Allocations of ARRA funds are available on the Hawaii Department of Education's allocations web site here:  

The information includes: 
• Amounts allocated;
• Description and purpose of the funds;
• Rationale for allocation;
•  Guidelines for implementation;
•  Organization ID(s) receiving funds; and
•  Key performance indicators.

The Hawaii Department of Education’s presentation to the Legislative Federal Economic Stimulus Program Oversight Commission on December 22, 2009, is posted on the Commission's web site for public viewing, as are answers to the Commission's questions regarding the funds.  Click here.

The  Hawaii Department of Education’s recommendation to the State Board of Education included the use of ARRA funds to help manage budget restrictions and other shortfalls in FY 2009-10, on July 9, 2009, Agenda Item VI.

The Hawaii Department of Education's recommendation on October 28, 2009, to the State Board of Education Committee on Budget and Fiscal Accountability included the use of ARRA funds to help manage budget reductions and other shortfalls in Supplemental Fiscal Year 2010-11, Agenda Item IV.