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SYSTEMIC REFORM IN PUBLIC EDUCATION From the State House to the School House By Senator Avery B. Chumbley This means that our schools need to modify their curriculum, teaching methods and teaching tools to meet the changing educational needs of our students. For example, we need to consider implementing multi-track systems including both college preparatory and technology preparatory programs. We should also consider re-configuring the school calendar and school day to increase the amount of teacher-student time available in our schools. We must equip our schools with today's current computer technology, such as multi-media systems so that we tap our children's full potential to learn. Finally, we need to set statewide performance standards, so that all our children can be assured a quality education. How do we improve governance through empowering schools and communities? Over the past several years the Legislature has reviewed the effectiveness of our public school system in Hawaii and found that the centralized system model has not been able to respond to education reform being demanded within the school community. The school communities have felt stifled by the centralized statewide education system. Imposing its "top-down" directives onto the schools. In response to the school communities request to be given the flexibility to move more effectively to address the specific needs of their particular student population, the legislature has adopted various education reforms initiatives such as, School Community Based Management (S.C.B.M.) and Student Centered Schools (S.C.S.). These reforms are intended to "put students first" by providing authority to the school community to implement innovative programs at the individual school or school complexes. Both of these initiatives require participation by the teachers, administrators, other school staff, parents, students and community of that particular school. In order to facilitate the implementation of these initiatives, the legislature has exempted student-centered schools (S.C.S.) from various state, laws and regulations, except those enforcing federal laws, state procurement, compulsory attendance, and health and safety concerns. Further, due to the rapid increased participation by schools in the S.C.B.M. program, the Board of Education's selection panel for school participants has been repealed. Additionally, the Board of Education, Department of Education and the S.C.B.M. councils have been requested to explore the possibilities of restructuring the traditional school day to a longer day.
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