Local Principal Advocates for Private School Choice

by Aaron Lief, Grassroot Institute,  May 23, 2016

Maria Pauley, principal of Lanakila Baptist School, sat down with Joe Kent as a part of The Grassroot Institute with Keli’i Akina, a radio show on KAOI 1110AM Maui and KKNE 940AM Oahu.

Joe: “What does school choice mean?”

Maria: “School choice is shining a spotlight on education, and how important choice is for students. One size fits all education doesn’t work, and here in the state of Hawaii we see that already… the only choice we don’t have here, which would be supported by the government, is private school choice.”

Joe: “Right now in the state of Hawaii we have a weighted student formula, so the money follows the kid… except for private schools?”

Maria: “That is correct, private schools don’t have that option. Your money is going to their district school, but your child is not there, and I think that is why we need to have something here in Hawaii that will alleviate the cost. Because we are paying to have a public school in our district, however our students are not even attending that school… We can say that Hawaii does have choice, but there is one other choice we haven’t explored, and that’s the private school option.”

Listen to the full interview here: