"If we don't give teachers time to discuss student work or discuss what's working or what's not, how are you going to improve?" asked Gerald Teramae, who until recently was principal at Ali'iolani, but has now moved to Jarrett Middle School.

As principal of the elementary school, Teramae approached the Friends of Ali'iolani to ask for support in meeting the No Child Left Behind goals.

For years, many schools have relied on parent groups to raise money to pay for everything from art and music instruction to school supplies and, more recently, even textbooks. But with schools facing greater needs now under the demands of NCLB, parents are trying to raise even more money.

Friends of Ali'iolani president Teresa Fujino said that this year the school is trying to raise more than $24,000, substantially more than previous targets.

In addition to the fun fair, the parents have had a chicken sale, sold food at a craft fair on campus, had a pizza night and flown in doughnuts to raise money.

It's a lot of hard work, but Fujino, whose husband works for the Department of Education, said she knows the challenges the state and federal governments have in providing more money for NCLB.

"The reality is they can't and they're not, so why wait for them?" she said. "The ones that are going to benefit or suffer from it is my children."

Current principal Len Miyamoto said he is grateful for the efforts the families and staff are willing to make for this first-ever family fun day.

"This event will provide additional resources to enhance and extend our present programs," he said. While classroom teachers have their monthly planning days, pupils spend the time studying art, music, creative drama and character education.

Bob Allen, the Honolulu region director for the state Parent, Teacher and Student Association, and PTSA president at both Liholiho Elementary and Kaimuki Middle, said the reality is that parents just have to pitch in if their children are going to succeed.

Not only do parents have to help with homework and maintain communication with their children, they have to go the extra step and get involved at school.

Some of it will mean fund raising. While Allen hates to see struggling parents tapped for donations, he feels it's necessary.

"They just have to make certain sacrifices," he said. "They'll come through if they think it's important."

Liholiho principal Christina Small said her PTSA is a blessing, bringing in $20,000 to $30,000 a year. The Liholiho PTSA pays for part-time literacy teachers to help bring pupils up to proficiency in reading, something that the school could not afford without parents' help.

The school falls short of the low-income population criterion for Title I federal money by just 1 percentage point.

"We don't get the extra money, but we do have the students who need early intervention programs," she said, noting that pupils moving into the school on NCLB transfers have led to an increase in the free- and reduced-lunch population — a common measure of poverty — to one-third of the student body.

These intervention programs have helped the school remain in the top 10 percent in the state despite gaining more children with special needs.

Fujino, at Ali'iolani, pointed out that the benefits reach beyond giving teachers time for planning.

"From the parents' side, what we see is our children love these (fine arts) classes. They're making real art, not tissue and paper stuff," she said. "As a parent, I see the benefit that they like the classes."

Both elements — fine arts and planning time for teachers — are critical to the school's mission. "Our goal is to provide our best- quality education for our students," Miyamoto said.