HI HCR11

Requests the Board of Education and State Public Charter School Commission to submit a report on increasing access to stable, suitable, and affordable facilities for public charter schools by twenty days prior to the 2027 Regular Session.

Hawaii charter school enrollment exceeded 1,300 students in the 2024-2025 school year, yet many schools operate out of tents, old offices, and temporary structures due to facility shortages.

Some charter schools spend significant portions of their budgets on facilities, with examples including Hālau Lokahi paying $33,000 monthly and Kamalani Academy spending roughly $39,000 (over half its budget) on rent.

The report must assess why state departments have failed to identify unused facilities despite being mandated to conduct biennial surveys, and propose policies to connect charter schools with unused or underutilized state and DOE facilities.

The Board of Education is requested to evaluate financing options such as tax-exempt bonds, credit enhancement programs, and revolving loan funds, and assess untapped federal funds available for charter school facilities.