The rally, led by students from Radford High and other local schools, drew nearly 10,000 people, surprising even its organizers.

The school superintendent also shared some preliminary results of a parent survey that went out in early June.

The Department of Education’s in-person, summer learning hubs offer a trial run for how many schools may operate when they reopen in the COVID-19 era.

The money is part of a broader $43 million the Hawaii Department of Education received from a federal coronavirus relief package.

Many child care centers have shuttered, delayed reopening or increased tuition due to the pandemic. That leaves many teachers who need to return to their classrooms with few options for their kids.

The peaceful march Saturday in Honolulu, organized by a youth-led group called Hawaii for Black Lives, drew a crowd estimated at nearly 10,000 protesters.

DOE also offered guidance on classroom safety protocols, including keeping students with the same staff all day and requiring masks outside the classroom.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools in March, the Hawaii schools chief says 80% to 95% of students have “consistent access to education material.”

But the Board of Education scored the school chief poorly in areas like operations, resource and personnel management.