Hamamoto called a news conference just hours before the state House is scheduled to vote on whether to advance a bill favored by Gov. Linda Lingle that would break up the state Department of Education into local school districts with locally elected school boards.

The superintendent, who opposes local school boards, also sent an open letter to lawmakers today urging them to focus on student achievement.

"Student achievement is about good teaching and instruction in good schools having adequate resources, highly qualified professionals and supportive parents and communities," Hamamoto wrote. "Governance is not the single most important reason for school success or school failure. In fact, research is clear that governance alone does not impact student achievement."

Hamamoto has emerged as a strong voice in the reform debate after her unprecedented speech to the state Legislature in January, which was well-received in the education community and by many lawmakers.

Critics of the DOE have been reluctant to openly question Hamamoto’s leadership and have tried to avoid direct contrasts between Hamamoto and Lingle on reform.

State Rep. Guy Ontai, R-37th (Mililani, Waipi'o), said at a committee hearing yesterday that there are compelling reasons to split up the DOE and bring decision-making power closer to the people through local school boards.

But he also said schools would benefit by having "Pat Hamamotos" leading several smaller school districts.

Hamamoto said today that she is firmly behind moving to a new student spending formula that would get money down to schools based on student need instead of school enrollment and give more control to school principals. Lingle and Democrats in the Legislature also endorse such a formula.

She dismissed critics who have suggested that the DOE is not committed to reform and is only responding because of political and public pressure. "I’m using this to get it done," Hamamoto said. "It’s opportunity time."