Students are shown at Ke Kula Kaiapuni ‘O Ānuenue. Due to the growth of Kaiapuni Education programs, the Hawaii Department of Education is creating a new placement process intended to bring greater consistency to Hawaiian language immersion programs at public schools. Photo courtesy Hawaii Department of Education

State education officials are rolling out short-term guidance as they work to create a long-term approach to fair enrollment in Kaiapuni Education programs.

Citing the popularity of Kaiapuni Education, or Hawaiian language immersion programs, the state Department of Education announced on Monday a new statewide priority placement process that opens Feb. 2.

The department said the process is part of interim guidance from the Office of Hawaiian Education that’s intended to bring greater consistency to Kaiapuni enrollment statewide.

The new placement process applies to new enrollment and transfers to elementary Kaiapuni programs statewide, as well as two K-12 Kaiapuni schools — Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻO Ānuenue and Ke Kula ʻO ʻEhunuikaimalino. The application window will close March 13.

Kauʻi Sang, director of the department’s Office of Hawaiian Education, said centralizing the enrollment process will help the department make data-informed decisions about supply and demand while providing greater clarity and transparency for families and schools.

“When families select to enroll their children in a Kaiapuni learning environment, they should expect that the students are fully immersed in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi for the entire learning experience, from when they drop their kids off in the morning until they pick their kids up in the afternoon,” Sang said.

Students at Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻO Ānuenue. The Hawaii Department of Education announced a new statewide priority placement process for Kaiapuni Education programs. Photo courtesy Hawaii Department of Education

According to the department, the new placement process will help provide better direction for schools and families while the department develops a longer-term strategy to expand access and strengthen support for Kaiapuni Education.

Kaiapuni Education has expanded significantly over the years. The state currently offers 26 Kaiapuni programs, along with two K-12 standalone Kaiapuni campuses, that serve approximately 2,700 students combined.

On Maui, Kaiapuni Education is offered at Ha​​na High and Elementary, Samuel E. Kalama Intermediate, King Kekaulike High, Lahaina Intermediate, Lahainaluna High, Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary and Paia Elementary.

The department says that until now, individual schools have largely managed Kaiapuni enrollment on their own, resulting in inconsistent enrollment practices across campuses and uncertainty for families.

“This new priority placement process is about being clearer and more consistent with families, while honoring the integrity of Kaiapuni Education,” said Superintendent Keith Hayashi in a statement. “As demand continues to grow, we have a responsibility to put better systems in place so families understand how placement works and schools have the support they need to plan responsibly.”

More information about the Kaiapuni priority placement process is available at https://go.hidoe.us/kaiapuni-enrollment.