HAWAI‘I TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY OFFERING FURLOUGH FRIDAY PROGRAMS FOR DOE CHILDREN AND TEACHERS

WAIPAHU, Hawai‘i—The Hawai‘i Technology Academy (HTA), a public charter school, will offer a program for public school children at their Waipahu Learning Center. In conjunction with k¹², Inc. who donated the curriculum for the program, and the Creativity Academies, a local digital media program that fuses art, science and technology to build STEM skills via game and animation design, HTA will offer a FULL DAY program, including core classes for reading, mathematics, and science, to students impacted by the Department of Education schools furloughs. 

 “Our main difference is our approach to education,” said HTA Director Jeff Piontek, “HTA provides current students with an individualized program, which will be extended to every child who participates in our furlough Friday program.”

All students at HTA are assessed upon enrollment using a state-of-the-art national assessment tool and then the school develops a Customized Learning Plan (CLP) for each child. This approach allows the teachers to focus on that child’s individual needs and then to address them.  The CLPs provide formative assessments which help guide students on their paths to grow educationally, individually and creatively.

“HTA offers a blended model of instruction that includes face-to-face instruction as well as online lessons,” said Piontek.  “Students are provided a comprehensive Hawai‘i standards-based curriculum using state-of-the-art online and hands-on instructional material, creating an individualized public school education.”

HTA will be hiring teachers for the program, and will start October 23, DOE teachers that are furloughed are encouraged to participate. The HTA Furlough Friday program will provide them with professional development in reaching our 21^st century learners. 

Since opening as a public charter school in 2008, HTA’s Waipahu Learning Center serves as a community hub for innovative teaching where Hawai‘i-licensed teachers instruct and promote the importance of a school and community.

“Hawaii is at a crossroads in their future and our keiki need the skills to be competitive in the 21^st century global economy, HTA is providing those skills,” Piontek said.

To learn more about the Furlough Friday Program at HTA visit: 

http://sites.google.com/site/htafurloughfriday/  or contact HTA at (808) 676 5444.