More pre-K classrooms will be sprouting up around the state as part of the Ready Keiki Initiative announced by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke on January 17, 2023. This public-private effort will increase the number of seats in pre-K for 3- and 4-year-old keiki in Hawaiʻi.

The coordinated effort will create 80 preschool classrooms by August 2024 and 465 classrooms by 2032. The Lt. Gov. made the announcement at Lincoln Elementary surrounded by lawmakers, educators, public, private and philanthropic providers.

The plan identifies sites for additional classrooms, increases Preschool Open Doors provider subsidies to expand access to children from lower-income households and envisions educational partnerships to train new preschool teachers and assistants. The Ready Keiki initiative also envisions onsite early learning classrooms at private businesses and UH campuses.

“Access to preschool is a social justice issue for Hawai’i,” said Lt. Gov. Luke. “Children who have attended high-quality preschool or child care programs are much better prepared for success in kindergarten, but not every family has access to early learning programs. If we can provide enough classrooms at an affordable price, we can make sure all of our keiki are ready to learn.”

Early Learning Director Deanne Goya has been working diligently with charter schools looking to expand high-quality early learning opportunities in their communities. At least twelve charter schools have already committed to adding new classrooms. Goya said,”This is an exciting time for families of young children. Through Lt. Gov. Luke leadership, important stakeholders are convening to think outside of the box to strategically address the child care shortages across our state to address many of Hawaiʻi’s ALICE households – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.”