Public school 'academies' would grab student interest
| • | Plan for economic innovation unveiled |
By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer
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A key part of Gov. Linda Lingle's economic innovation initiative is the creation of state-backed science and technology "academies" in public schools that would stimulate student interest in engineering, robotics and other high-technology skills.
The academies would be voluntary, both for students and schools, and would run parallel to existing public school offerings. The program would be administered by the University of Hawai'i, rather than the Department of Education, Lingle said yesterday in unveiling the program.
Students who complete the program and are accepted by a Hawai'i-based college or university would be guaranteed scholarships for up to four years, the governor said.
The plan would not require new construction because the academies would be based at existing schools, she said.
Because participation would be voluntary, classes would not be subject to testing requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
Participating students would continue to take other classes at established middle and high schools while attending the academies.
The system would include two linked academies serving students in different grades statewide:
$8M FOR FIRST 2 YEARS
The system would cost $4.4 million in its first year, and $3.6 million in its second, according to Ted Liu, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The money would pay mostly for salaries and curriculum, he said.
The academies could be launched as soon as January 2008 if lawmakers agree to fund them in the legislative session that begins next week and ends in May, said Liu, one of the plan's chief architects.
Individual schools would have considerable leeway to structure the academies, integrating classes into their curriculum during the regular school day or operating the academies as after-school programs, Liu said.
"We didn't want to dictate the terms," he said.
But allowing the University of Hawai'i to administer the system would speed its creation and streamline its operation, he said.
"I think the Department of Education is extremely busy with its operations," he said. "It might take them a little time to start up a new program. We want to roll it out as soon as possible."
Board of Education Chairwoman Karen Knudsen said the plan "sounds promising" and that she looked forward to seeing more details.
"I definitely think it merits consideration," she said. "It sounds like it has a lot of potential. I don't think it poses any obstacles as long as there are clear lines of communication with the department."
She noted that the DOE already has health and construction academies that are a model for the science-based academies proposed by Lingle.
"We do have models already in place," she said. "As long as there is that strong communication link, I think there is potential."
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
State schools superintendent Pat Hamamoto could not be reached for comment yesterday. Lingle said Hamamoto had been briefed about the plan.
Osa Tui, head adviser of the active McKinley High School Robotics Team, said the academies sounded very exciting.
Many students use computers, mobile phones and other electronics as consumers but don't always realize the learning and employment opportunities connected to the development of such devices, he said.
"We really need something to motivate students," Tui said. "Contextual learning is something they really benefit from."
Alan Ing, a technical services engineer with Hawaiian Electric Co. and a mentor for the robotics team, said such activities can stimulate learning by students who would might otherwise be bored. And there are many job opportunities in the field, he said.
"When you get hands-on experience with electronics, it's very exciting," Ing said. "And we have a nationwide shortage of engineers. We've been falling behind as a nation."
UH President David McClain agreed that there is a serious need to improve science and technology education.
"Creeping globalization has slowly eroded America's competitive advantage," he said. " ... We need to respond before it's too late in America and in Hawai'i."
While there was considerable excitement about the new science-based programs yesterday, there was recognition that the path from concept to reality is not always easy.
For instance, the DOE in 2004 announced a partnership with Bishop Museum to open the state's first "magnet school" there, but the plan later changed significantly and bogged down. The school was to open as a pilot program in late 2005 and focus on the environment and culture of Hawai'i and the Pacific.
Lawmakers rejected a request for $4 million to construct a new facility for the school, and the plan is now in limbo, a museum spokeswoman said.
Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com.
