project exposing school board members and school leaders focused on indoctrinating children rather than educating them.CURRENT GRADE: F
Hawaii has limited publicly controlled charter schools and no options for tax dollars to follow the student.
Homeschooling has limited requirements but does require regular state mandated testing.
Compulsory education is required for ages 5-18 years old.
Education Options
- Charter Schools
- Approximately 37 charters statewide operated by the State Public Charter School Commission
- Must meet state standards of the commission
- One charter school offers full-time virtual distance learning for grades 4-12
Homeschooling Laws
Here are state requirements on the topic of homeschooling:
- A letter of intent to homeschool must be sent to local public school to include name, address and phone number, child’s birthdate, grade and signature of parent
- An annual report by the parent shall be submitted at the end of the school year showing satisfactory progress
- Students are required to submit to testing in grades 3,5,8, and 10
Religious Exemptions:
The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Many argue that a religious conviction to provide a home-based education is constitutionally protected and a state religious exemption law is not a requirement to be able to homeschool on religious grounds.
It should be noted that the U.S. Supreme Court in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) established that “Under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, a state law requiring that children attend school past eighth grade violates the parents’ constitutional right to direct the religious upbringing of their children.” (The case involved a challenge of a 16-year-old student to be exempt, so the scope was limited)
