RESENDING DUE TO ERRORS IN EMAIL TITLE!

PLEASE JOIN US! 
BRING YOUR VISION OF A HAWAI‘I PUBLIC SCHOOL GRAD FOR THE FUTURE!

Zoom Thurs 10/23 @ 5:30pm
"Vision of a Public School Graduate"
Elizabeth Higashi, Asst. Superintendent, 
Office of Strategy, Innovation and Performance, Hawai‘i Department of Education

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8080070808?pwd=k5vuHQCWDYRHNChc0abcveVhrad0EH.1&omn=85926135256

Greetings HE‘E members, 

Having met last week with Dr. Teri Ushijimi and Dr. Winston Sakurai of OCID on Graduation Requirements and GLOs- we have good preparation to join Beth Higashi to discuss our "Vision of a Public School Graduate."

This meeting is on zoom only. Here is the current description of the current "vision" for your convenience:

The Hawaiʻi Department of Education’s Vision of a Hawaiʻi Public School Graduate, established by the Hawaiʻi State Board of Education Policy 102‑15, describes the statewide expectations for all graduates of Hawaiʻi’s public schools. It serves as the guiding framework for graduation requirements, strategic planning, and student outcomes across the system.


Vision of a Public School Graduate

All Hawaiʻi public school graduates will:

• Realize their individual goals and aspirations
• Possess the attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary to contribute positively and compete in a global society
• Exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship
• Pursue postsecondary education and/or careers​
  

Broader Educational Context

This vision aligns with the Hawaiʻi DOE and BOE’s shared mission and strategic framework, including the Nā Hopena A‘o (HĀ) framework, which emphasizes Belonging, Responsibility, Excellence, Aloha, Total Well‑Being, and Hawaiʻi (sense of place) as essential values supporting graduate outcomes. It also integrates the General Learner Outcomes (GLOs) — self‑directed learner, community contributor, complex thinker, quality producer, effective communicator, and ethical user of technology — as competencies all students are expected to develop.​


The vision is upheld through the DOE’s Strategic Plan goals that prepare every student for college, career, and community success, emphasizing culturally responsive education and lifelong learning rooted in Hawaiʻi’s heritage and global competence.​

What are your thoughts?


How do current technical, social and political issues impact the needs of our graduates?

Given Na Hopena A‘o -HĀ framework, SEL instruction, SEL and Student Perception surveys, what expectations should we have of student social emotional health and behaviors?

Are there specific academic knowledge or skills that you feel should be included?

Some excerpts follow on HIDOE student preparation in citizenship and digital learning follow in case they are helpful.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) promotes citizenship among students through a combination of required coursework, statewide civic engagement initiatives, and programs that connect classroom learning to democratic participation.


Citizenship in Curriculum

Citizenship education is central to HIDOE’s Hawaiʻi Core Standards in Social Studies (HCSSS). These standards emphasize preparing students for democratic civic life by encouraging critical thinking, communication, and informed action to promote the common good. Social studies classes from kindergarten through grade 12 integrate topics such as government, civil rights, and current events to help learners become responsible and active citizens. High school students must complete a semester-long Participation in Democracy course as part of four required social studies credits.​


Programs and Initiatives

HIDOE partners with the Partnership for Advancing Civic Education (PACE) through programs such as Hawaiʻi Schools of Democracy, which recognizes schools committed to civic readiness and active participation in democratic processes. The department also supports extracurricular civics opportunities like Project Citizen, Mock Trial, and Law & Justice Academy, where students practice problem-solving, advocacy, and legal reasoning with community mentors.​


Legislative and Community Support

The Hawaiʻi Legislature has reinforced these efforts by providing funding and staffing for civic education resource teachers and promoting policies that expand access to high-quality civic learning experiences. Through Constitution Day and Citizenship Day observances, HIDOE encourages reflection on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in every federally funded public school.​


Practical Civic Engagement

In classrooms statewide, teachers implement hands-on civic projects that encourage students to interact with local government, testify at public meetings, or advocate for community improvements—activities designed to develop civic identity, voice, and responsibility.​

Through these combined curriculum, programs, and partnerships, HIDOE cultivates informed, engaged, and responsible citizens who contribute to Hawaiʻi’s democratic and multicultural society.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) prepares high school graduates for digital literacy, computer proficiency, and responsible media use through a network of state mandates, curriculum standards, and technology‑based learning initiatives.


Digital Literacy and Online Learning

HIDOE’s Digital Transformation for Learning Plan emphasizes equitable student access to digital tools, online learning, and safe, responsible technology use across all schools. The plan integrates digital literacy into instruction and includes teacher training, cybersecurity awareness, and partnerships with communities to bridge digital divides. Under Act 233 (2022), the department’s Digital Learning Center was established to improve the quality of digital instruction and provide statewide support for building safe, ethical computing practices. Students may also take online or blended courses through the Hawaiʻi Virtual Learning Network (HVLN) and Hawaiʻi Online Courses (HOC) system, where they gain experience navigating learning management systems and digital collaboration tools.​


Computer Science and Coding Skills

Since Act 158 (2021), HIDOE has been required to ensure every public school offers at least one computer science course by the 2024–25 school year. The K–12 Computer Science Education Program develops students’ computational thinking, problem solving, and digital creativity using five core CS concepts: algorithms, computing systems, data and analysis, impacts of computing, and networks. Classes often include robotics, AI, and coding projects that connect directly to STEM careers and postsecondary study opportunities.​


Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship

HIDOE integrates media and information literacy into its standards and civics curriculum to help students critically analyze online content and combat misinformation. Students learn to interpret, evaluate, and produce digital media through the “Media Comprehension and Interpretation” benchmarks and through the Participation in a Democracy high school course. These efforts aim to foster informed digital citizens capable of ethical engagement in social and professional digital spaces.​


Future Readiness and Partnerships

Programs such as Digital Ready Hawaiʻi and local partnerships with Parents for Public Schools of Hawaiʻi and universities expand technology access and real‑world readiness training through internships, e‑learning, and device distribution initiatives. Together, these efforts ensure Hawaiʻi’s graduates leave high school with essential skills in digital navigation, critical media use, and computing literacy to thrive in academic, civic, and career environments.

November 12th Meeting 
with Supt. Keith Hayashi

HE‘E and Parents for Public Schools of Hawai‘i will Zoom with Superintendent

please send me your suggestions for the agenda. 

 Join Us on Zoom on 11/12 @ 5:30pm!

Mahalo for all you do, Deborah
director@HEEcoalition.org