Dear John,

I’m excited to share a win out of the Aloha State that is an important step forward in HawaiiKidsCAN's work to give every student a clear path to a career. Last week, both the House and Senate passed SB742 with unanimous votes, with the bill now headed to the desk of Governor Josh Green’s desk.

The bill, which was championed and guided through the legislative process by HawaiiKidsCAN Advocacy Director Erica Nakanishi-Stanis, establishes a working group to improve the state’s approach to long-term data systems by bringing together stakeholders from across agencies, sectors and fields to assess how we share, interpret, and use data to inform decision-making in Hawaiʻi - starting with gauging the impact of workforce development programs on Hawaiʻi’s keiki.

Capturing these long-term cradle-to-career outcomes are particularly important in Hawaiʻi, where elected officials and community leaders are fervently working to reduce a trend of Hawaiʻi’s youth leaving for the American continent and not returning, which places enormous pressure on the state’s workforce and economy.

Late last year, HawaiiKidsCAN Executive Director David Miyashiro emphasized that statewide data systems were not keeping pace with a growing number of ways and environments where kids are now learning. Too many students experiences weren't captured: a public school graduate who goes on to a private university? A student who receives a scholarship and attends a private school or microschool? A student who joins the military? In a world of expanding educational choices where families are diverging in record numbers from a one-size-fits-all education model, our data systems also need to evolve.

This goal is one of five across the network this year that supports students and families having a clear path to a career. Following a pair of wins in Georgia earlier this year, and this win out of Hawai’i, we’re turning our eyes now to Louisiana, where Executive Director Kelli Bottger continues to work toward changes to the state accountability system to incorporate career and workforce development.

With SB742’s passage, Hawaiʻi is poised to lead on long-term outcomes again. Congratulations to Erica for her first win as part of the 50CAN network and to David for his continued focus on strengthening the information that families, elected officials and the business community need to make key decisions on improving institutions and delivering greater opportunities for all of Hawaiʻi’s youth.