Gov. Neil Abercrombie in his State of the State address this morning highlighted a number of education initiatives that he hopes will transform teaching and learning in the state’s public schools. 

Two of them involve revamping schools so that they’re fit for the 21st century.

The 21st Century Schools initiative would allow the Department of Education to lease underutilized lands in order to generate revenue that can be used to renovate current schools or even build new ones. The new facilities would accomodate innovative learning approaches, including individual, project-based learning, he said. 

Hawaii’s public schools are 65 years old on average. “Many facilities have been ignored due to limited budgets,” he said. 

Abercrombie emphasized that the initiative would only move forward after heeding community feedback. The state will be holding community meetings over the next few months to get public input. Stay tuned.

The governor also called for investment in and support of the Digital Materials Initiative, which aims to provide every public school student with curricular materials on a digital advice such as a tablet or laptop within the next three years.

An excerpt from his address:

Having students with curriculum materials on a digital device solves the problem of not having enough textbooks or obsolete textbooks. Common curriculum statewide is no easy task, which is why we are seeking dedicated funds for teacher training to empower them with current instructional innovations. Our students will be engaged in learning, and graduate with the knowledge and preparation for using these technological tools in college and the workplace

— Alia Wong