Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke is leading the Ready Keiki initiative to open more preschools across the islands to help struggling families.
Preschool and internet expansion have been her two main focuses as LG. Yesterday in part one of this interview, Luke talked about improving the digital divide in internet and broadband access.
Luke shared that Ready Keiki will open 44 additional preschool sites across the state this fall.
"We look at it as a social equity issue," she said, "We just want them to have the same availability and opportunity given to them as any other child, regardless of economic situations."
In total, the state wants to create 400 new classrooms for preschoolers by 2032.
Luke said opening free preschools is just one way the state is trying to make early education more accessible.
In addition to building or retrofitting preschool classrooms, she said Ready Keiki was able to secure funding from the Legislature last year to increase the subsidy amount for private preschool tuition.
"Before last year, I think about less than 1,000 folks got subsidies. This is known as the Department of Human Services Preschool Open Doors. But we were able to convince the Legislature to increase that subsidy from $12 million to $50 million," she said.
When Luke spoke with The Conversation, she was getting ready to attend her son’s college graduation out of state — and reflected on his first time going to preschool.
"These child care facilities, I mean, they are molding these kids in their most critical time period when their brain is developing. My son, I remember going to his class, and he would sit at the back of the class and not really interact, but by the end of that school year, I mean, he was interacting, and he was performing in front of the class," she said.
"Having quality teachers and education makes a huge difference in a child's personality, their development, and just their social interaction," Luke added.
This interview aired on The Conversation on May 9, 2024. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1.
