Kualapu`u School Appealing State Decision

Superintendent to make decision on results of Adequate Yearly Progress testing by end of August.

By Zalina Alvi

Kualapu`u School principal Lydia Trinidad is appealing Department of Education (DOE) results that say the school’s keiki did not met Adequate Yearly Progress targets as part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Earlier this month, the DOE posted the results on its website, which showed that while two Molokai schools – Maunaloa Elementary and Kilohana Elementary – are in good standing, four other schools on the island – Kualapu`u Elementary, Kaunakakai Elementary, Molokai Middle and Molokai High – are in line to receive state intervention.

Fourteen other schools in Maui County were also determined to require restructuring.

Although many schools, including Kualapu`u, showed progress this year, it was not enough to put them in good standing, and Trinidad is asking that DOE staff review how “disadvantaged” students were counted at the school.

About 74 students are on free- or reduced-price meals, according to the school, but were not placed into the disadvantaged category at some point during the process.

Trinidad told Maui News there was a possibility that a step was missed, and that she was “glad there’s an appeal process.”

Four other schools in the county are also appealing the results, which can be found at http://doe.k12.hi.us/. They are Hana High and Elementary School, Lahaina Intermediate School, Kahului Elementary School, and Kamalii Elementary School in Kihei.

State Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto will make a final decision on the appeals later this month based on a recommendation from her staff.