Quality public education for our children is one of the most critical issues in this State affecting the public at large and anyone considering residency here. Hawai`i has one of the highest percentages of private school enrollments in the Nation, from parents who opt out of public schools despite their tremendous cost burden of doing so (over $200,000 per child). This removes some of the best and brightest students and parents from our public school system. Is this the critical "yeast" needed to help improve our public schools? Why do Hawai`i's public schools suffer continuing major challenges in providing quality education, despite decades of reform efforts? Are there viable answers to help this or future generations of children in Hawai`i? What changes do you believe would help improve the quality of public school education in Hawai`i?
We will have a lively discussion on this topic followed by remarks by BOE Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi, who has put tremendous energy into leading the BOE since 2009 in addressing these challenges to improve our public schools. She is a Hilo High School graduate with a law degree from Hastings College. She formerly served as Executive Director of Hawaii Business Roundtable, President/CEO of Community Links Hawaii, Chief of Staff for Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, as an attorney practicing at the Goodsill Anderson lawfirm and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Samuel P. King.
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