Sen. Brian Shots secures one‑year extension to preserve Native Hawaiian education programs

Sen. Brian Shots said he secured a one‑year no‑cost extension from the U.S. Department of Education that will preserve nearly $50 million for Native Hawaiian education programs in Hawaii.

"I just got off the phone with Secretary McMahon from the United States Education Department, and we got a one‑year no‑cost extension," Shots said. "That means ... that all of these programs will have enough money" for the current school year and the following one, he added.

The extension follows reports that the programs were at risk of abrupt cancellation. Shots said he urged Secretary McMahon not to terminate the programs suddenly, arguing that doing so would force thousands of families to receive notice that preschool and related services were canceled. "You cannot cancel these programs abruptly because you are talking about thousands and thousands of kids and parents," he said.

The report said many nonprofits that administer the programs had been scrambling to identify backup funding, with some planning closures or layoffs. Shots cautioned the one‑year extension is not a permanent guarantee that funds will be maintained beyond the extension period: "I don't think it's a guarantee the funds will be cut off again after a year, but the extension does buy time to sort out this and other legal efforts that undermine Native Hawaiian program funding," he said.

The Department of Education action was described as a no‑cost extension; the report did not provide a formal notice from the department or a statement from Secretary McMahon. Officials and program administrators will need to pursue legislative, administrative or legal avenues if they seek funding beyond the extension period.

The extension temporarily preserves services delivered by Native Hawaiian education programs in Hawaii while stakeholders pursue longer‑term solutions.