Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Thursday called for a “governor’s team” to help the state implement the Every Student Succeeds Act.

The law, says the administration, reduces federal authority over education and returns it to each of the 50 states so they may “set the direction” for their own public schools.

Ige appointed Darrel Galera chair of the Governor’s ESSA team, which will assess Hawaii’s school system and identify areas of need.

The governor is also looking for 16 additional members to represent “all stakeholders” in public education. The deadline to apply is April 22.

“This is a major opportunity to change the face of public education in Hawaii for the better,” Ige said Thursday. “Our innovation economy depends on a well-educated workforce to meet the state’s goals in renewable energy, locally grown food production, environmental stewardship and more.”

He added: “It is my hope that the public will participate in this process to help our education system prepare students for high-skill careers in the 21st century.”

An education summit and town halls will be scheduled sometime this summer to folks can weigh in on the ESSA blue print.

The act was signed into law by President Barack Obama in December to replace the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act.