Goodwill Hawaii Gets Approval to Open Kapolei Charter School in 2017

Curriculum will focus on individualized support, college and career readiness

Honolulu, Hawaii – Goodwill Hawaii announced today that the State Public Charter School Commission approved its application to open a charter school in West Oahu for students in grades 9 through 12. Set to open in July 2017, the Kapolei Charter School (KCS) by Goodwill Hawaii will feature a unique curriculum and coaching system to help students receive a high school diploma and prepare for their post-secondary academic and vocational goals.

“We are extremely pleased with the Charter School Commission’s decision and excited for the opportunity to provide a first-class educational alternative for West Oahu families,” said Goodwill Hawaii president and CEO Laura Smith. “The idea for the Kapolei Charter School (KCS) began because of the limited options available to students who have struggled in a traditional high school setting.”

The Kapolei Charter School (KCS) curriculum is being modeled after Goodwill Education Initiatives’ successful Excel Centers, which focuses on college and career readiness and a coaching platform designed to address barriers that impede a student’s continued educational success. Students enrolled at the Kapolei Charter School will be assigned an academic life coach who will help them to establish and follow a personalized education plan that meets their individual needs and goals. In addition to taking the traditional academic courses required to receive a high school diploma, students will have the opportunity to earn ready-to-use industrial certifications and/or college education credits to prepare them to enter the workforce.

“Goodwill Hawaii has a long history of helping people overcome employment barriers and the opening of the Kapolei Charter School will allow us to make an impact on our clients at an earlier age” Smith added. “Research shows that students who earn a high school diploma are more likely to go on to receive a post-secondary degree and earn higher paying wages than those with a GED. We want every child in Hawaii, regardless of their background, to have a fair shot at a successful future and becoming a self-sufficient member of society.”

The Kapolei Charter School (KCS) by Goodwill Hawaii will be located at the 30,000-square-foot Ohana Career and Learning Center at 2140 Lauwilwili Street (adjacent to the Goodwill Kapolei store and donation center). It features air-conditioned and high tech classrooms, conference and computer rooms, offices and a cafeteria. Enrollment for the school will begin in 2017.

Goodwill Hawaii currently serves more than 11,000 people each year through 30 different workforce development programs statewide, including the Ola I Ka Hana program which helps 300 youth annually obtain their General Educational Development (GED). For more information, visit higoodwill.org.