Following Request From Schatz, Education Secretary Agrees To Avoid Cuts To Native Hawaiian Education Program, Keep Millions In Federal Funding Flowing For Hawai‘i Kids

Native Hawaiian Education Program Funds More Than 60 Learning Programs For Toddlers, Young Children Across Hawai‘i; Agreement Comes After Schatz Spoke With Secretary McMahon

News Release from Office of Sen Brian Schatz, May 8, 2026

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today spoke with U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon and reiterated his request that the department avoid cuts to the Native Hawaiian Education Program. In response, McMahon agreed to keep the program fully funded for current grant recipients for at least another year, which guarantees $46 million in federal funding secured by Schatz in Congress will continue to flow to the more than 60 early childhood education sites across Hawai‘i and sustain other critical education programs, including home visiting for children under 5, workforce development for parents, and Hawaiian language immersion programs. The federally funded programs serve more than 3,000 Hawai‘i families.

“This is good news for Hawai‘i. This money helps thousands of young kids develop learning skills and gives Native Hawaiian families more affordable child care options,” said Senator Schatz, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. “I’m grateful to Secretary McMahon for working with us to protect this funding and will continue fighting every day to make sure Hawai‘i gets its fair share of federal dollars.”

The agreement follows threats of cuts to Native Hawaiian programs across the federal government. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Schatz has been leading efforts to protect funding for Hawai‘i.

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Chapter II [ED-2026-OESE-2113] 4000-01-U

Proposed Waiver and Extension of the Project Period with Funding—Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title VI, Part B, Native Hawaiian Education

Excerpt from Federal Register 2026-11366, June 5, 2026

AGENCY:  Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Department of Education.

ACTION:  Proposed waiver and extension of project period with funding.

SUMMARY:  The Secretary proposes to waive the requirements in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) that generally prohibit project period extensions involving the obligation of additional Federal funds. The proposed waiver and extension would enable 21 projects under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.362A to receive funding for up to one additional 12-month period, not to exceed September 30, 2027.

…

Background:

Native Hawaiian Education (NHE), authorized under sections 6201 - 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), authorizes the Secretary to make grants to or enter into contracts with Native Hawaiian organizations and other organizations to support the development of innovative educational programs to assist Native Hawaiians. Under section 6205(a)(2), the Secretary must prioritize awarding grants to entities that propose projects designed to address beginning reading and literacy among students in kindergarten through third grade, the needs of at-risk children and youth, needs in fields or disciplines in which Native Hawaiians are underemployed, and the use of Hawaiian language in instruction. These projects may include one or more of the activities authorized under section 6205(a)(3).

On March 14, 2023, the Department of Education (Department) published in the Federal Register a notice inviting applications (NIA) for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2023 for the Native Hawaiian Education Program (88 FR 15689). A table listing the current 21 grantees from the FY 2023 cohort follows.

The current project period for these FY 2023 cohort grantees ends on August 31, 2026.

Waivers and Extensions:

The Department proposes to extend the project period for the 21 current NHE program grantees for up to one additional 12-month period. This proposed waiver would maximize continuity of services to those that the Native Hawaiian Education Program serves and support grantees through an efficient process that enables them to continue operating their current, approved projects for up to an additional one budget period with additional funding.

We have concluded that it would be contrary to the public interest to have a lapse in the work of current NHE program grantees while the Department considers changes to the NHE program. As such, the Secretary proposes to waive the requirement in 34 CFR 75.261(b)(2), which limits the extension of a project period if the extension involves the obligation of additional Federal funds. The waiver would allow the Department to issue continuation awards to current NHE grantees in FY 2026.

This action would allow the current NHE grantees to submit a request for continuation funding in FY 2026, provided grantees have certified that they have the capacity to continue activities. Any activities carried out under these continuation awards must be consistent with, or a logical extension of, the scope, goals, and objectives of the grantee's application as approved in the FY 2023 competition. The requirements for continuation determinations are set forth in 34 CFR 75.253, the 2023 Notice, and this Notice. Specifically, in making a continuation award determination under 34 CFR 75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: whether a grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget; if the Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, whether the grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the performance targets in the grantee's approved application; or whether the continuation of the project is in the best interest of the Federal Government.

In making a continuation award determination, the Secretary also considers whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). In making any continuation award determination, the Secretary may consider all relevant information….

read … FULL ANNOUNCEMENT

BIN: Schatz, McMahon agree on $46 million funding extension for Native Hawaiian Education Program : Big Island Now

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