Project Description:
The proposed Growing Pono Schools (GPS) Project will contribute to expanding implementation of CBE with project schools through its products, which include culturally relevant advisory curricula, a video production guide, and a project website. This project addresses a cultural crisis in schools across the nation.
The proposed innovative project addresses the following Authorized Activities: (1) professional development activities for educators; (2) the development of vocational and academic curricula to address the needs of Native Hawaiian children; and (3) other research and evaluation activities to meet the educational needs of Native Hawaiian children and adults. Competitive Preference Priorities addressed are: Priority (1) the needs of at-risk children and youth; and Priority (6) improving achievement and high school graduation rates for all students in an inclusive manner that ensures addressing specific needs of high need students participating in the project.
Project objectives and activities: The goal of Growing Pono Schools (GPS) is to improve the academic outcomes of Native Hawaiian (NH) youth. This will be accomplished through the development, implementation, and evaluation of an advisory and character education curriculum, for elementary, middle/junior high, and high school students. The curriculum will integrate values driven culturally based education (CBE) practices; development of a video production guide; and incorporates the statewide E Ola Pono campaign to proactively address issues of bullying, low achievement, and low self-esteem in our youth.
The project will be implemented in three overlapping phases with evaluation threaded throughout. Phase I: Team Envisioning and Initial Curricula Design, Development, and Piloting; Phase II: Implementation; and Phase III: Replication, Dissemination, and Sustainability.
Project objectives and activities: The goal of Growing Pono Schools (GPS) is to improve the academic outcomes of Native Hawaiian (NH) youth. This will be accomplished through the development, implementation, and evaluation of an advisory and character education curriculum, for elementary, middle/junior high, and high school students. The curriculum will integrate values driven culturally based education (CBE) practices; development of a video production guide; and incorporates the statewide E Ola Pono campaign to proactively address issues of bullying, low achievement, and low self-esteem in our youth.
Outcomes: Improved academic outcomes for NH youth; increased student engagement; enhanced school climate; increased graduation rates; and decrease in incidences of bullying as measured through pre-post assessments of students, school personnel, and family members.
Number & Location of Proposed Sites: GPS will be initially implemented at the following sites during year one: Kohala Middle School (North Hawai'i Island, yr. 1= 80 students. Blanche Pope (Windward O'ahu, yr. 1=65 students); and Olomana School and Kailua High School (Windward O?ahu, yr. 1=60 students). Services to year 1 schools will continue all three years, with expanding numbers. Replication sites are presently established at Kealakehe Intermediate School (West Hawai'i Island) and He'eia Elementary (O'ahu) for year two. Additional replication sites will be established for year 3.
Number of Participants to be served: It is estimated that over 1700 youth of Hawaiian ancestry will be directly served by the GPS project over the 3 years of funding.
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Geographic Area - Other, Other
