The school has previously come under scrutiny for financial mismanagement and challenges with enrollment and funding.
Kamalani Academy, a Wahiawā charter school serving 115 students in grades kindergarten through eight, is expected to close in June after the Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission voted on Thursday not to renew its contract.
The commission found the state-funded school failed to fulfill key components of its two-year contract, including submitting monthly financial reports and completing a comprehensive evaluation of its principal. It is set to be the third charter school in the state’s history to shut down.
The charter school was originally set to close in 2023, when the charter commission voted to shut it down for running an unauthorized online learning program and failing to properly maintain student records. But the school successfully appealed the decision to the Board of Education and received a two-year reprieve with requirements to better maintain its budget and records and replace its governing board, which oversees Kamalani’s academic and financial plans.
Commissioners said on Thursday that the school has struggled to make progress addressing its financial and organizational challenges, citing audits that showed Kamalani hasn’t paid its rent since October.
The school did not say if it will appeal the commission’s decision to the Board of Education in the spring.
Kamalani’s principal and governing board chair did not respond to requests for comment.
Civil Beat’s education reporting is supported by a grant from Chamberlin Family Philanthropy.
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About the Author
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Megan Tagami is a reporter covering education for Civil Beat. You can reach her by email at mtagami@civilbeat.org.