EXCUSED:
Shanty Asher

ALSO PRESENT:
Kyla Musso, Student Representative
Keith Hayashi, Interim Superintendent, Department of Education
Phyllis Unebasami, Deputy Superintendent, Department of Education
Kau’i Sang, Director, Office of Hawaiian Education, Department of Education
Teri Ushijima, Interim Assistant Superintendent, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design, Department of Education
Alison Kunishige, Executive Director
Kenyon Tam, Board Analyst
Regina Pascua, Executive Secretary
Lady Garrett, Secretary

1. Call to Order

Committee Chairperson Namauʻu announced that Committee Vice Chairperson Bill Arakaki and Committee Members Kaimana Barcarse, Lynn Fallin, Catherine Payne, and Kenneth Uemura, as well as Ex Officio Committee Member Bruce Voss, were participating in the meeting. Committee members did not have others present with them at their nonpublic locations to announce.

II. Approval of Meeting Minutes of December 16, 2021

Committee Chairperson Namauʻu called for public testimony on this agenda item. No one provided oral testimony at this time.

Committee Chairperson Namauʻu asked Committee members to review the minutes of the Committee’s December 16, 2021 meeting.

Committee Vice Chairperson Arakaki moved to approve the Committee’s meeting minutes of December 16, 2021. Committee Member Barcarse seconded.

Committee Chairperson Namauʻu asked if there were any objections to the motion. No Committee member raised objections, and the motion carried through unanimous consent from all members present (Committee Vice Chairperson Arakaki, Committee Members Barcarse, Fallin, Payne, and Uemura).

ACTION: Motion to approve the Student Achievement Committee meeting minutes of December 16, 2021 (Arakaki/Barcarse). The motion carried through unanimous consent from all members present.


III. Discussion Items

1. Presentation on Department of Education’s virtual school plan

Cheri Nakamura, HE’E Coalition, testified that due the COVID-19 pandemic there should be some lessons learned and offered assistance to help the Department of Education (“Department”) build strategic processes. She encouraged the Department to engage with charter schools who already have hybrid and distance learning programs.

Susan Pcola-Davis, member of the public, testified that the Department is only talking to the legislature about the virtual school plan and not including the Board of Education (“Board”) in the process and asked that the Department clarify how it selected the learning management system and how it will select teachers and students for the virtual learning program.

Linda Elento, member of the public, testified in support of the virtual school, requested that the Department ask schools what is working, and stated that the Department needs to determine the program’s eligibility process.

Committee Member Lyla Berg entered the meeting at 11:15 a.m.

Committee Chairperson Namau’u announced Committee Member Berg would be participating in the meeting. Committee Member Berg noted that others were not present with her at the nonpublic location.

Osa Tui, Hawaii State Teachers Association, testified that the Department only gathered feedback from families already participating in the virtual school program and expressed concern about legislation relating to outsourcing of teacher positions.

Committee Chairperson Namauʻu called on Keith Hayashi, Interim Superintendent, and Phyllis Unebasami, Deputy Superintendent, to present the Department’s virtual school plan.

Unebasami stated that the Department is committed to in-person learning for students, but recognizes the need to provide diverse learning experiences built on strengths and passions. She stated that the Department’s virtual school would provide a Kindergarten to Grade 12 structure while continuing the current offerings for the next school year and establishing a program for the 2023-2024 school year.

Unebasami outlined the Department’s plans to enroll students in the spring of 2023-2024 school year to increase access to Kaiapuni (Hawaiian immersion) education programs and give teachers the opportunity to build curriculum through a digital platform. She also shared that Senate Bill 3094 and House Bill 2196, appropriates money for virtual school staff and programmatic expenses.

Committee Chairperson Namau’u asked if the Department is looking to open the virtual school for the 2023-2024 school year. Unebasami confirmed that this is the plan.

Committee Chairperson Namau’u stated that the memorandum did not include this information and the Board needs this clarification.

Committee Vice Chairperson Arakaki asked what types of support will be available for the virtual schools and asked for examples of the types of professional development that the Department will offer. He asked for information on how the virtual school will help the entire system address the needs of specific students. Unebasami replied that virtual learning is not the only effort in the Department to help our students. She explained that it took everyone to help schools pivot to offer virtual learning and the Department acknowledges the struggles relating to broadband access and support for students at home, which requires a basic level of competency.

Unebasami stated that as the Department moved forward, communities sought to provide their own programming to meet the needs for their students and the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design (“OCID”) assisted with providing statewide support for virtual programs. She noted that the Department made sure students in virtual learning programs could return to in-person instruction at any time if they were unable to thrive in the virtual environment.

Committee Member Lyla Berg left the meeting at 11:30 a.m.

Committee Chairperson Namau’u announced that Committee Member Berg needed to leave and would not be participating in the remainder of the meeting.

Unebasami outlined that the Department needs to continue the virtual learning program this school year to plan for what the Department envisions the virtual learning program to look like in subsequent post COVID-19 years.

Committee Vice Chairperson Arakaki stated that the Department’s virtual school plan is a start and noted that many other community organizations have offered to assist the Department or provide it with access to resources. He emphasized that continued dialogue is important.

Committee Member Fallin asked for clarification regarding whether the virtual school will have a physical location and offer access to a variety of programs. Unebasami confirmed that the Department intends on setting up a campus, but the Department is using the term school to describe a set of learning experiences because the virtual school will not have a traditional campus like other schools.

Committee Member Fallin expressed support that the legislature acknowledges that the Department is looking at providing a variety of options for students. She asked whether the Board should address any policy decisions so the Department can move forward and she asked for clarification on the Department’s virtual school proposal, which includes online, hybrid, and synchronous learning options. Committee Member Fallin also asked if the role of the virtual school teacher is to supplement learning or whether virtual learning would be the primary form of delivering instruction.

Unebasami replied that students would still be in school while doing virtual learning and while developing skills and competencies. She explained that students in the virtual learning would have an opportunity to work with professionals in their interested fields because learning takes place not only in the classroom but also in the community.

Committee Member Fallin expressed concern that she does not want students to come for in-person learning but spend a substantial amount of time in virtual learning classes.

Committee Vice Chairperson Arakaki left the meeting at 11:43 a.m. and returned at 11:44 a.m. due to technical difficulties.

Kau’i Sang, Director of the Office of Hawaiian Education (“OHE”), shared the virtual learning design elements for Kaiapuni (Hawaiian immersion) students included trying to preserve a place-based and cultural-based approach to learning. She explained that OHE was challenged with ensuring that teachers were proficient in the Hawaiian language, which allowed for a course schedule that was designed to be flexible for teachers and students.

Committee Member Fallin encouraged the Department to monitor the amount of screen time students were being exposed to and how teachers are managing this for students.

Committee Member Payne asked for clarification whether the Department will continue to use the Arizona State University (“Arizona State”) learning management system and if the Department’s plan is to use this learning management system while it develops its own system aligned with Hawaii’s Content and Performance Standards. She expressed concern about the Department’s plan to start the virtual school next year, but not developing curriculum until the following school year. Committee Member Payne asked if the Department is ready to start a virtual school before developing a full set of curriculum and creating and implementing teacher training.

Committee Member Payne expressed concern about the Department’s proposed timeline because the Department is not fully prepared to offer hybrid and distance learning. She asked how the virtual school relates to existing programs like the Pineapple Academy and E-School.

Unebasami replied that the Department is working with the University of Hawaii Innovation Center and reminded the Board that when switching to distance learning, the Department looked for products with learning instruction models for all schools. She stated that the Department selected the K-12 Strive program with the understanding that any off the shelf curriculum may not fully align with Hawaii’s Content and Performance Standards.

Teri Ushijima, Interim Assistant Superintendent, OCID shared that the Department is currently in the second year of the pilot program with Arizona State.

Committee Member Payne asked whether the Department’s timeline includes use of the Arizona State learning management system or if the Department is preparing to procure another vendor. Ushijima replied that the Department has completed the request for proposal process and procured the Canvas learning management system, so the timeline does not refer to the Arizona State learning management system.

Ushijima stated that the Department is continuing to meet frequently to discuss plans to continue state-level distance learning options for the upcoming school year.

Unebasami explained that the learning management system allows the Department and teachers to upload materials and resources so students can access them.

Committee Member Payne asked how the Canvas learning management system is better than what the Department is currently using for students. Ushijima replied that the Canvas learning management system is more robust and because the learning management system the Department currently uses, BlackBoard, is only available for secondary schools, the Department needed access to a system for Kindergarten to Grade 12. She stated that Canvas allows more access to collaboration.

Committee Member Payne asked if the Department would include the various virtual learning programs at the school, complex area, and state levels under the Department’s virtual school. Ushijima replied that is the Department’s goal, but more work needs to be done with the Office of Information and Technology Services on the long-term vision.

Board Student Representative Kyla Musso pointed out that the memorandum provides that the maximum number of students enrolled in the virtual school will be determined by funding and school facilities allotted. She asked about the estimated number of students that could enroll in the virtual school. Unebasami replied that the estimated enrollment could go as high as 11,000 students based on balancing what would be an appropriate number of students in the virtual school while dealing with the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unebasami stated that the number of requests for virtual learning options increased this school year, but more students opted to return to in-person learning. She explained that the Department prioritized in-person learning and saw an increase in virtual learning to 774 students based on discussions with complex areas.

Board Student Representative Musso asked if the virtual school would provide computers and internet access for students. Unebasami confirmed that the Department would provide computers and internet access for students in the virtual school.

Board Student Representative Musso asked if the Department is planning on housing elementary, middle, and high school grades levels for the virtual school in one centralized area. She also asked if the Department establishing the virtual school on Oahu. Unebasami replied that previously there were discussions about a vertical school in Kakaako and as the state builds more affordable housing, it will need to include an educational element. She stated that the Hawaii Community Development Authority has expressed an interest in the presence of a virtual school office in the area.

Board Student Representative Musso expressed support for in-person instruction, but noted that it is important to provide options for students who thrive in a distance learning environment.

Committee Member Barcarse asked which professional staff the Department house at the virtual school’s physical location and whether teachers in rural areas will be able to participate in this program. He also asked if Canvas would fulfill all of the Department’s needs and be a system used by all schools for both distance and in-person learning.

Committee Member Barcarse expressed appreciation for the timeline relating to instruction. He stated that regarding the increased capacity for English and Kaiapuni (Hawaiian immersion) education in the virtual school, what will happen in subsequent years and whether the Department will limit participation over time. He also asked how many students the Department could serve with the virtual school.

Committee Member Barcarse expressed appreciation for the efforts to collaborate with Kaiapuni (Hawaiian immersion) programs and reminded the Department that Hawaiians have a deep cultural legacy relating to the early adoption of technology.

Hayashi emphasized that it is important for the Department to be able to adjust to meet the needs of virtual learning as the needs arise and asked Ushijima to share more about the opportunities for teachers from neighbor islands. Ushijima stated that teachers from all islands including Kauai, Maui, Big Island and Oahu are currently teaching in the virtual learning program. She explained that the professional staff at Keolu Elementary School would include administrators to oversee the program and administrative staff. Ushijima stated that the Department also plans to meet the needs of English language learners, students that receive special education services, and students with Section 504 plans.

Committee Member Barcarse stated that his final question was relating to student capacity. Ushijima replied that the Department would continue to monitor asynchronous learning while growing the program.

Board Member Bruce Voss, ex officio, stated that the Department’s long-term vision of a full buildout is missing. He asked, based on the Department’s current plan, what is the expected student enrollment and estimated cost in dollars for the virtual school. He noted that the plan is conceptual and that it will take an enormous amount of resources at a time when the Department focus on learning loss and closing the achievement gap, which the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated.

Board Member Voss, ex officio, asked if the timing is right for the Department to develop a virtual school. Hayashi replied that the cost estimate is approximately $5.7 million and the Department acknowledges the concerns he shared.

Committee Member Uemura asked about the financial component, implementation, and conceptual plan because there is no Board policy in place. He asked how the virtual school fits into the way the Department delivers education in schools to meet the needs of students. Committee Member Uemura stated that the Department did not seek guidance from the Board and recommended establishing a new Board policy before the Board considers approval of the Department’s virtual school plan.

Committee Chairperson Namau’u asked about staffing, accommodations for immune compromised students, and how the current virtual learning program has been working out. She stated that the process for the establishment of the virtual school is unclear.

Hayashi asked for clarification because his understanding is that the committee asked the Department to present its plan for a virtual school. Committee Chairperson Namau’u replied that what is being presented is introduction conceptual start, but that the Department needs to work on its plan. She emphasized that the Board needs to establish a policy and the Department needs to provide an update addressing the issues committee members raised.

Unebasami stated that the Department did not share the fiscal component today, but that the Department has the projections costed out on a per pupil basis. She stated that the projections are dependent on the demand for a virtual learning school after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

B. Presentation on amendment of and addendum to Elementary and Secondary Education Act (“ESEA”) consolidated state plan to: revise growth calculation methodology for 2021 growth results, modify COVID-19 data used for identifying and exiting CSI/TSI schools, and revise the minimum number of students for which data will be reported to comply with Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 302A-1004

Committee Chairperson Namauʻu called for public testimony on this agenda item. No one provided oral testimony at this time.

Cheri Nakamura, HE’E Coalition, testified and expressed concern about replacing the absenteeism indicators in the ESEA consolidated state plan.

Susan Rocco, Special Education Advisory Council, expressed concern about the proposed amendment relating to chronic absenteeism, but that given the circumstances, the amendment is appropriate.

Linda Elento, member of the public, testified that the legislature is considering two bills, Senate Bill 2748 and House Bill 2498, which relate to special education services for children with disabilities.

Committee Chairperson Namau’u asked the Department to highlight and condense the presentation due to time constraints.

Hayashi confirmed that the Department agrees with the Committee chairperson’s request relating to the ESEA consolidated state plan.

Committee Member Uemura expressed support to leave in the chronic absenteeism indicators because if students are not in school then students are not learning.

Hayashi replied that the Department would consider committee member comments.

IV. Late Public Testimony on Board Agenda Items

Committee Chairperson Namauʻu called for public testimony from any individuals who did not have an opportunity to testify on earlier agenda items.

Lynn Otaguro, member of the public, testified on agenda item III.A concerning the Department’s virtual school plan. She stated that the details of the virtual school plan and the implementation should show how flexible the plan will be for families to sign up and what happens during the transition.

Committee members received written testimony before the meeting. The following is a listing of the people who submitted written testimony before the meeting.

V. Adjournment

Committee Chairperson Namauʻu adjourned the meeting at 12:58 p.m.