Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant
The purpose of the Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant is to support states in creating comprehensive literacy programs to advance literacy skills, including pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing, for children from birth through grade 12, with an emphasis on disadvantaged children, English language learners and children with disabilities. Language arts proficiency is a key performance indicator under the Board of Education’s 2023-29 Strategic Plan.
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Education awarded the HIDOE a five-year $60 million grant aimed at advancing effective, evidence-based literacy practices in public schools. This follows a nearly $50 million five-year CLSD Grant received in 2019.
AEFLA Adult Education
The Adult Education Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) is the most significant federal investment in adult education and literacy. The AEFLA program is authorized as Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It is administered by the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) at the U. S. Department of Education.
The Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design is the AEFLA grant recipient for the State of Hawaiʻi.
Hawaiʻi receives approximately $2.3 million dollars annually to provide adult education services. The amount each state receives is based on a formula established by Congress.
The eligible service provider of adult education services is McKinley and Waipahu Community School for Adults.
Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence)
In March 2024, the U.S. Department of Education has awarded the HIDOE a more than $2 million grant to help address the acute needs of students and educators who were directly impacted by the Maui wildfires.
The HIDOE applied for and was awarded a School Emergency Response to Violence—or Project SERV—grant, which provides short-term education-related services for school districts to help with recovery from a violent or traumatic event in which the learning environment has been disrupted.
The total grant award amount is $2,199,146, and is one of the largest Project SERV grants awarded for a natural disaster.
The funds will be used for services incurred as a direct result of the wildfires that cannot be covered by any other additional sources of funding.
A total of 1,593 students were either living in the burn zone, displaced, or under a water advisory as a direct result of the wildfires. Additionally, data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirms that a staggering 63% of the active student population comes from a home that submitted a claim.
The HIDOE expects to implement the grant over an 18-month timeline, with mental health services planned for between Jan. 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. Students in impacted schools will be screened and those schools and students with the most severe needs will receive services as needed based on assessment. Additional time will be needed for hiring staff and to address the large number of schools and students impacted by the disaster.
Title I-C: MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM
The Migrant Education Program (MEP) provides academic and supportive services for the children of families who migrate to find work in the agricultural and fishing industries. Students are eligible if they are younger than 22 years old, working toward a high school diploma or equivalent, and come from a family who has moved within the last 36 months because of seasonal or temporary agricultural work or fishing for personal subsistence.
MEP helps eligible students overcome educational disruption, cultural and language barriers, and health-related problems that create obstacles to learning. The program provides support services such as tutoring and academic assistance, summer learning opportunities, credit recovery or advancement, and community resource referrals. Interested parents should complete the Program Work Survey.
Title IV-A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment
The Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grant, authorized under Title IV, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), is intended to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of the Department to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education, improve school conditions for student learning, and improve the use of technology to enhance digital literacy. These priorities align with the Board of Education’s 2023-29 Strategic Plan, specifically focusing on student success and the development of the whole child through Nā Hopena Aʻo (HĀ).
The HIDOE utilizes Title IV-A funds to support a variety of statewide initiatives, including expanded access to STEM, the arts, and accelerated learning, as well as school-based mental health services and trauma-informed care. A portion of the funding is also dedicated to supporting the effective use of technology through professional development and personalized learning tools for educators and students.