by Alia Wong | Sep 12, 2016 | charter schools, education, government, k-12 education, politics, public schools, race
John King Jr. doesn’t have much time to carry out his goals as the country’s education secretary. Having been tasked earlier this year with rounding off Arne Duncan’s term, King’s core duties, one could argue, should involve little more than ensuring existing programs...
by Alia Wong | Oct 8, 2014 | charter schools, education, hawaii, k-12 education, neighbor islands, uncategorized
As lava from the Kilauea Volcano continues its approach toward Pahoa, schools in the rural community are preparing for the worst. For two public Department of Education and charter schools, that could mean total devastation. The latest volcanic activity started in...
by Alia Wong | May 9, 2014 | charter schools, education, government, k-12 education, public schools, uncategorized
School administrators who have been working hard to secure permission to found four charter schools watched Thursday as their projects were rejected. A fifth school may soon join them. Over the past few months, six prospective Hawaii public charter schools sought...
by Alia Wong | Nov 20, 2013 | "learning hilo", charter schools, education, language & culture, uncategorized
HILO, HAWAII — A group of barefoot children around 10 years of age wait patiently for one of the few actual classrooms at a South Hilo charter school to empty out so they can go into class. On a cement pathway they sit on simple white plastic buckets they have turned...
by Alia Wong | Nov 19, 2013 | "learning hilo", charter schools, education, language & culture, uncategorized
KEAAU, HAWAII — In terms of quantifying school failure, at least by Department of Education standards, Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki is nearly unbeatable. The school, whose student body is among the poorest in the state, earned just 20 points out of a possible 400 on Strive...
by Alia Wong | Nov 15, 2013 | "learning hilo", charter schools, education, language & culture, uncategorized
HILO, HAWAII — Downtown Hilo looks like it’s frozen in time. Low, modest buildings are deteriorating relics of the sugar plantation era. The streets are usually quiet and free of traffic. Palm trees line a main boulevard that runs along the normally calm Hilo...