Middle School Athletics Initiative - R.E.A.C.H. OUT HAWAII

A key focus of Hawaii’s Race to the Top agenda rests on a commitment to close achievement gaps, turn around persistently low-performing schools and ensure all students are prepared for college, career and citizenship. This was addressed through the Hawaii Department of Education’s (DOE) Zones of School Innovation (ZSI). For more information on the ZSI, please visit the DOE’s ZSI link.

As a part of that effort to increase learning opportunities among Hawaii middle schoolers, the DOE launched an Intermediate Athletics initiative in the Nanakuli-Waianae and Kau-Keaau-Pahoa complexes in October 2012. As a requirement of participating in the athletics initiative, students are required to enroll in academic support and homework assistance programs at their schools. Following the High School athletics model, participating students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average with no “F” grades, submit to regular grade checks, and complete the DOE’s Physical Examination Form which ensures that student athletes receive yearly health screenings.

In 2015, the R.E.A.C.H. Initiative absorbed and funded the Middle/Intermediate School Athletics Initiative as a core component. For the 2016-2017 school year, the R.E.A.C.H. Initiative expanded the athletics initiative to all 8 Maui middle/intermediate schools to study the viability and effects of a formal district wide interscholastic middle school athletics program. These activities focus on sportsmanship and character development and are delivered in a structured environment that instills self-discipline, builds self-confidence, fosters quality relationships and boosts school pride and improves student attendance, behavior, coursework and grades, including promoting active lifestyles and addressing childhood obesity which has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.

School Year 2015–2016	Amount
Nanakuli, Waianae Complex Area Nanakuli High & Intermediate School Waianae Intermediate School	$91,692
Kau, Keaau, Pahoa Complex Area Kau High & Pahala Elementary School Keaau Middle School Pahoa High & Intermediate School	$126,858
School Year 2015-2016 Total	$218,550
School Year 2016-2017	Amount
Nanakuli, Waianae Complex Area Nanakuli High & Intermediate School Waianae Intermediate School	$91,692
Kau, Keaau, Pahoa Complex Area Kau High & Pahala Elementary School Keaau Middle School Pahoa High & Intermediate School	$126,858
Maui District Hana High & Elementary Iao Intermediate Lahaina Intermediate Lanai High & Intermediate Kalama Intermediate Maui Waena Intermediate Lokelani Intermediate Molokai Middle	$66,636
School Year 2016-2017 Total	$285,186

Schools and Sports Offered:

Nanakuli High & Intermediate:

Boys: Football, Basketball. Girls: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer.

Waianae Intermediate:

Boys: Football, Basketball. Girls: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer.

Kau High & Pahala Elementary:

Boys: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer. Girls: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer.

Keeau Middle:

Boys: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer. Girls: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer.

Pahoa High & Intermediate:

Boys: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer. Girls: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer.

Hana High & Elementary: