AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR
STATE OF HAWAI`I
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2360
HONOLULU, HAWAI`I 96804
KEITH T. HAYASHI
INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
August 4, 2021
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) has developed new safety protocols for student-athletes and coaches to participate in fall sports for the 2021-22 school year. You are receiving this letter because your child is involved with athletics at school.
We opened the new school year this week with in-person learning and our highest priority is to ensure all students, including your child, can continue to attend school safely.
Effective Sept. 24, 2021, all HIDOE student-athletes, athletic staff and volunteers participating in school-sanctioned athletic activities will need to be fully vaccinated. Full vaccination is defined as two weeks after a second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.
In the meantime, due to the state's high positivity rate, the Department is delaying the start of the fall athletic season until Sept. 24 to allow for anyone unvaccinated or not yet fully vaccinated to get inoculated.
This decision was not made lightly because we know the important role athletics play in a well-rounded education, but we cannot jeopardize the health and safety of our students and communities. The alternative is canceling the season outright, which we do not want to have to do. We are implementing this layered plan that prioritizes vaccinations as the best way to protect against and reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Students and staff who get an initial COVID vaccine dose by Aug. 20 can be fully vaccinated by the Sept. 24 deadline. Any individual who is not fully vaccinated by this date will not be allowed to participate in athletics.
Timeline scenario for the Pfizer vaccine, which has emergency use authorization for adolescents 12 and older and requires two shots 21 days apart. (The Moderna vaccine is recommended for people aged 18 years and older, and requires two shots 28 days apart.)
Parents and Guardians
August 4, 2021
●By Aug. 20, 2021, proof of full vaccination or administration of the first and/or secondvaccination dose must be submitted to your child’s principal to initially qualify to participatein school-sanctioned athletic activities.
●By Sept. 24, 2021, proof of full vaccination must be submitted to your child’s principalprior to participation in school-sanctioned athletic activities.
Vaccination cards will be scanned by the school and a copy will be kept with other required documents and submitted to the school health assistant for input into the student’s health records. Copies of vaccination cards shall be treated as confidential health information. Students and adults may seek exemption from COVID-19 vaccination requirements for religious or medical reasons, with the appropriate documentation. Medical exemptions (bit.ly/3imCg8E) must be verified in writing by a licensed physician. If an exemption is granted, the individual will be allowed to participate in athletics but will be required to submit to twice-weekly COVID-19 tests. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. Sincerely,
Keith T. Hayashi
Interim Superintendent
KTH:nk
HIDOE Athletics
Students, Coaches and Volunteers
The Hawai‘i State Department of Education is committed to
safe student athletic programming, which is essential to the
physical and mental well-being of students. All student-athletes,
coaches and volunteers must show their school proof of full
COVID-19 vaccination by Sept. 24, 2021, to participate in
athletics for the 2021-22 school year.
Can you show valid proof of full
COVID-19 vaccination by 9/24*?
Are you willing to be fully
vaccinated by 9/24*?
YES
NO
Cleared for participation in
athletics.
Submit negative
COVID-19 test results
twice a week to
Cannot participate participate in athletics.
in athletics.
Ready to Return. Reconnect. Learn.
Can you demonstrate a valid
religious or health exemption?
NO YES
NO YES
Show proof of full vaccination or
administration of the first and/or
second dose by Aug. 20, proof of
full vaccination by Sept. 24.
*The Pfizer vaccine is recommended for those 12 years and older, and requires two shots 21 days apart.
Receive first vaccine dose by Aug. 20, second dose by Sept. 10. Fully vaccinated by Sept. 24, 2021, two
weeks following second dose.