Hawai"i K-12 Schools To Receive $56.5 Million To Provide Extra Academic Support For Students In Low Income Communities

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai"i) announced that Hawai"i K-12 schools will receive a projected $56,517,953 in new federal funding for the 2021-2022 school year to support teacher professional development, additional educators, new technology, and other academic programs at public schools serving low income students. These funds will be given directly to Title I schools -- where a disproportionate number of students live in poverty -- and will benefit nearly 85,000 students in Hawai"i.

"This new federal funding will help Hawai"i public schools in low income areas hire more teachers and offer more academic support programs for students in need," said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "As we rebuild our economy after this pandemic, we'll keep working to make sure every kid can get a quality education in our state."

Authorized under Title I Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title I funding is the largest source of federal funding for elementary and secondary education in the country. These grants provide financial assistance to school districts for services that improve the teaching and learning of children at risk of not meeting academic achievement requirements. Based on a variety of factors such as per-pupil expenditures, poverty, and population estimates, Title I Grants are targeted to help students who reside in high concentration areas of children from low-income families. Hawai"i's local education agencies expect to receive these funds by July 1, 2021.

This year's funding is an increase of $2,329,625 from the 2020-2021 school year. The counties and grant fund amounts are as follows:

Hawai"i County: $14,170,802
Honolulu County: $33,710,186
Kauai County: $2,255,287
Maui County: $6,357,580
In addition, Hawai"i will receive $24,099 in Title I Part D Subpart grants. This funding is distributed to schools with high numbers or percentages of children and youth in locally operated juvenile correctional facilities, including facilities involved in community day programs.

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