HAWAII ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

THE ANNUAL HAIS LEADERSHIP (HEADS AND TRUSTEE) SUMMIT IS OFFERED ANNUALLY TO MEMBERS OF HAIS'S SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAMS. THE EVENT IS CENTERED AROUND A SIGNIFICANT TOPIC OF IMPORTANCE FACING MEMBER SCHOOLS, SUCH AS RISK, SAFETY, GOVERNANCE ISSUES AND SO FORTH. IT GENERALLY INCLUDES SEVERAL SPEAKERS WHO ARE EXPERTS ON THE FOCAL TOPIC. HAIS SUPPORTS ITS 100 MEMBER SCHOOLS BY DEVELOPING AND OFFERING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS, WHICH INCLUDE CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, WEBINARS AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS. HAIS PROGRAMS COMPRISE ONE FACET OF THE SERVICES OFFERED TO MEMBERSHIP, WHICH BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY IMPACT MORE THAN 3,200 EDUCATORS AND 33,500 STUDENTS STATEWIDE. ACCREDITATION - A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OF PEER REVIEW EVALUATION WHICH CERTIFIES THAT SCHOOLS MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS DEFINED BY AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY, SUCH AS THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES (WASC) AND HAIS. THROUGH THE PROCESS, SCHOOLS HOLD THEMSELVES PUBLICLY ACCOUNTABLE TO FAMILIES, FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND ALL WHO SEEK ASSURANCE THAT A SCHOOL MEETS CERTAIN GENERALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF EDUCATIONAL QUALITY, OPERATION AND STAFF COMPETENCE.THIS PROCESS INVOLVES A SELF-STUDY WHICH GUIDES FUTURE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. IT PROVIDES FOR SELF-EXAMINATION THAT RELATES ALL ELEMENTS OF A SCHOOL AND THEIR IMPACT UPON STUDENT LEARNING. THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED AS EACH CONSTITUENT GROUP ASSISTS TO EVALUATE HOW WELL THE SCHOOL ACHIEVES ITS MISSION AND EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS IN A FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE MANNER.HAWAI'I COUNCIL OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS (HCPS) LICENSING - ALL PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN HAWAII ARE REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED BY THE HAWAII COUNCIL OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS (HCPS) OR ACCREDITED BY A RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING BODY TO ENSURE THAT THEY MEET BASIC HEALTH, SAFETY, OPERATIONAL AND EDUCATION PROGRAM CRITERIA TO OPERATE AS A SCHOOL, ACCORDING TO ACT 188 (1995), ACT 227 (2019) AND ACT 61 (2022) PASSED BY THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE. THE HAWAII COUNCIL OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS (HCPS), THE LICENSING ARM OF HAIS, IS AUTHORIZED BY THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO LICENSE ALL PRIVATE SCHOOLS OFFERING K-12 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. HCPS VERIFIES THAT ALL PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII MEET AND MAINTAIN MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL, SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS SET BY THE STATE.THE ANNUAL KAHEWAI SUMMIT IS HELD VIRTUALLY AND EXPLORES HOLISTIC APPROACHES TO ACHIEVING WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE THROUGH TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE STRATEGIES FOR ALL PROVIDERS WHO SERVE CHILDREN AGES 0-5. THE SUMMIT ENGAGES ATTENDEES WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND REFINE WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE PRACTICES AIMED AT SUPPORTING THOSE SERVING HAWAI'I'S EARLY LEARNING COMMUNITIES AND IS ATTENDED VIRTUALLY BY ABOUT 400 PARTICIPANTS.