Seats are still available for free high-quality Pre-kindergarten at three public charter schools on Oʻahu and Kauai. Wai’alae Elementary Public Charter School in East Honolulu, Kula Aupuni Niʻihau A Kahelelani Aloha (KANAKA) Public Charter School and Ke Kula Niʻihau O Kekaha Learning Center both in Kekaha are accepting applications for their Pre-kindergarten program. All three schools launched their Pre-K program this school year.

The free program is being made available to income eligible families whose children are born on or between August 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013. To be income eligible, a family’s income must fall at or below 200% of Hawaiʻi’s current Federal Poverty Level Guidelines based on family size. The Pre-K programs are open to any student who qualifies regardless of where he or she lives, space permitting.

Kula Aupuni Niʻihau A Kahelelani Aloha (KANAKA) Public Charter School and Ke Kula Niʻihau O Kekaha Learning Center are bilingual education programs. Students are learners of the Niʻihau dialect of Hawaiian and English languages through two-way heritage bilingual program beginning in preschool.

The Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission administers the federal Pre-K program in Hawaiʻi. In 2014, the Commission applied for the U.S. Department of Education Preschool Development Grant and was one of 18 states awarded the highly competitive grant. This grant allows Hawai’i to continue to build on statewide efforts to support Hawaiiʻs early childhood system. Thirteen schools are participating in the Federal Pre-K program in Hawaii.

For additional information or to apply, contact the school directly: Wai’alae Elementary Public Charter School: (808) 733-4880 Ke Kula Niʻihau O Kekaha Learning Center: (808) 337-0481 Kula Aupuni Niʻihau A Kahelelani Aloha Public Charter School: (808) 337-2022 For additional information on the grant please contact the Commission’s Pre-K Grant Manager, Deanne Goya, at Deanne.Goya@spcsc.hawaii.gov or (808) 586-5227.