Hawaii’s Department of Education requested private tutoring proposals in October to address “unprecedented issues related to student learning” due to the pandemic.

The proposed spending cuts may result in the first state government layoffs in more than a decade.

The Department of Education approved Acellus Learning Accelerator as an option for students learning remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hawaii Keiki program to expand school-based health options for students started a health hotline after schools closed because of the pandemic.

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.

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.

The former assistant girls basketball coach was accused by two other students in 2018.