The state appropriated $200 million to build more preschool classrooms across the islands and nearly half of it has been spent. Ready Keiki, an initiative of Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke to bring universal preschool access for the state’s 3- and 4-year-old children, rolled out a new website and data tracker on Wednesday.
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke has been leading a project to increase preschool access across the state by 2032. Her goal is to build more classrooms, expand subsidiary access and create a pipeline for educators. The program, Ready Keiki, launched in January. HPR' Sabrina Bodon reports.
In 2020, the state Legislature set a state goal to provide pre-K access to children aged 3 and 4 by 2032. Lawmakers appropriated $200 million to build and retrofit classrooms to make that happen in 2022. With this money, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke has engaged in public and private partnerships to expand preschool access.