In two weeks, pupils at Hawaii’s public schools will be back in the classroom for the start of the new academic year. The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) has published a list of reminders and tips for families to help pupils get off to a successful start.
The department stresses that attending lessons is one of the key indicators of achievement. Pupils who go to school regularly are more likely to attain high results, finish their education on time, develop social skills and do better in later life. Attendance is considered regular if pupils are present for at least 90% of school days. Even missing around two days a month can make it harder to keep up with the material and to settle into the school community.
The new academic year will see the introduction of the first statewide mobile phone policy in public schools. It sets uniform rules for phone use for pupils from kindergarten through to 12th grade. In primary, middle and intermediate school, mobile phone use is banned during the school day. In high school, phones may not be used during lessons, while decisions on use before and after classes, during breaks, lunch and free periods will be taken by individual schools as they develop their own procedures.
HIDOE is also reminding families about school transport options. Bus services are available to pupils at public schools where this provision exists. For pupils in grades 0–5, the minimum distance from home to school is 1 mile, and for grades 6–12 it is 1.5 miles. Applications for school bus transport can be submitted via a dedicated portal, which is already operating; documents are submitted on a quarterly basis. There is also a separate EXPRESS County Bus Pass programme, which provides free public transport passes for middle and high school pupils who attend their designated “home” school and live at least 1.5 miles on foot from the nearest access point to the school. On the island of Oahu, the programme covers use of TheBus and Skyline.
Another change concerns school meals. Under Act 139, from this academic year pupils from families with incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level are entitled to one free breakfast and one free lunch on school days. Applications for free meals can be submitted throughout the school year via the online service EZMealApp.com; additional information and income criteria are available on the department’s website, and families are advised to contact their child’s school directly for help with the paperwork.