Our School at a Glance

Supported by a local Hawaii grassroots community, Hawaii Technology Academy (HTA) is a tuition-free public school chartered by the State of Hawaii Charter School Review Panel. As a public charter school, HTA combines the accountability of public schooling with the highest-quality distance-learning curriculum available to provide an innovative, highly effective education for Hawaii’s students. In addition to providing individualized learning, Hawaii Technology Academy uses a “hybrid” model of schooling that combines classroom and virtual learning through two Learning Centers on Oahu and Kauai.

What is a charter school?

According to S.B. #603, the Legislature of the State of Hawaii recognizes two important purposes for charter schools:

1. Provide administrators, parents, students, and teachers with expanded alternative public school choices in the types of schools, educational programs, opportunities, and settings, including services for underserved populations, geographical areas, and communities; and
2. Encourage and, when resources and support are provided, serve as a research venue for the development, use, and dissemination of alternative and innovative approaches to educational governance, financing, administration, curriculum, technology, and teaching strategies.

What is the “hybrid” model?

In a hybrid model, otherwise known as “blended” instruction, students enjoy face-to-face instruction within centrally located Oahu and Kauai Learning Centers, combined with learning time spent individually or in small groups away from the centers. The remainder of the weekly instruction is facilitated off-site with a Learning Coach.

K-5 students enrolled in HTA are required to attend traditional instruction a minimum of one day per week at one of our Learning Centers. This includes instruction in one core course in either Language Arts, Science, Math, or History. Students in grades 6-12 will be provided Learning Center class requirements by their core content teachers. In addition, students in 4th, 7th, and 9th grades are required to take the Hawaii State History course at the Learning Center.

All students and their parents/other responsible adults will have daily access to their teachers via telephone, the online school, and e-mail, and are required to attend regularly scheduled face-to-face meetings with their HTA teacher(s). The unique blend of traditional brick-and-mortar schooling and online learning through the hybrid model of education provides students the opportunity to learn without limits.

The mission of Hawaii Technology Academy (HTA) is to use research-based technology applications and meaningful teacher/student/parent involvement to provide an innovative hybrid model of public charter school education adapted to the needs of elementary, middle, and high school students who reside in Hawaii.

Hawaii Technology Academy will increase the education options for Hawaii’s students by providing them with a comprehensive curriculum that meets Hawaii standards. HTA uses state-of-the-art online and hands-on instructional materials to provide a high-quality, innovative, and effective public school education with individualized learning approaches.

Teachers, parents/other responsible adults, and administrators will strive to engage students in constructive activities that will educate the whole student. For instance, there are frequent opportunities for socialization with fellow HTA students including special interest clubs, community-based projects, and field trips.