U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) announced that the Hawaii Department of Education has been selected to receive a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) Program for Hawaii's Plan To Redesign High Schools pilot projects involving a consortium of eight high schools in Hawaii, termed Model High Schools, including Kauai High School, Lahainaluna High School, Waiakea High School, Campbell High School, Kaimuki High School, Roosevelt High School, Waianae High School, and Waipahu High School. In addition, Aiea High School was awarded a $500,000 Smaller Learning Communities Program grant for its "Ho'omalama I Na Pua...Cherish the Children" program to implement school restructuring and establish smaller learning communities.

"Education research has demonstrated that students in smaller schools perform better on several indicators when compared to students in large schools," Akaka said. "Smaller schools offer a more personal and engaging learning environment. The SLC program attempts to replicate in larger schools the positive qualities found in smaller schools by supporting restructuring strategies, such as the creation of academies and schools-within-a-school, and by engaging students through innovations designed to personalize the high school experience, such as teacher advisors, mentoring, and alternative scheduling."