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School responses in Hawaii to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
As students returned to school for the 2021-2022 school year, states set a variety of policies on education and the COVID-19 pandemic, including how schools should open to in-person instruction and whether students and staff would be required to wear masks. By the end of the 2020-2021 school year, about 66% of students nationwide were in states that left closure decisions to schools or districts, 33% were in states with state-ordered in-person instruction, and 1% were in states with state-ordered regional school closures.[1][2] All 50 states closed schools to in-person instruction at some point during the 2019-2020 school year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
This article summarizes responses to the coronavirus in Hawaii schools in the academic years ending in 2020, 2021, and 2022. You will find:
- A timeline of events by school year
- A nationwide summary of school mask and vaccine requirements in the 2021-2022 school year
- A summary of school reopening statuses in the 2020-2021 academic year
- A summary of school reopening statuses in the 2019-2020 academic year
Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.
This page is updated monthly, but our email is always open. We encourage you to share updates from local officials, policymakers, and campaigns in your community at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Timeline by school year
Below is a list of major events involving schools in Hawaii during the coronavirus pandemic between 2019 and 2022, including school closings and openings, mask requirements, and the release of statewide operating guidance. Know of something we missed? Click here to email us and let us know.
2021-2022 school year
- July 12, 2022: Hawaii announced it would lift its school mask requirement on August 1.[3]
- Sept. 9, 2021: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio, a school data aggregator, reported one in-person schooling disruption in Hawaii.[4][5]
2020-2021 school year
- June 29, 2021: At the end of the school year, Burbio reported most schools were in-person in Hawaii .[6][7]
- October 19, 2020: The Department of Health released updated guidance for school reopenings. When the requirements were published, the previous two weeks of data made every island in the state eligible for blended learning or full-time, in-person instruction. The state also said it would consider schools' and districts' abilities to implement mitigation measures before it would allow reopenings.[8]
- Sept. 10, 2020: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio reported about half of schools were in-person in Hawaii .[9][10]
- August 7, 2020: Gov. David Ige (D) announced that public schools would begin the school year with four weeks of online learning. The school year was scheduled to begin Aug. 17.[11]
- July 30, 2020: The Hawaii Board of Education voted to delay the start of the public school year until Aug. 17.[12]
- June 28, 2020: The Hawaii Department of Education announced public schools would begin reopening starting August 4.[13]
2019-2020 school year
- April 17, 2020: The Hawaii Department of Education closed schools for the remainder of the academic year. Prior to the announcement, schools were closed through April 30.[14]
- March 24, 2020: The Hawaii Department of Education announced that the statewide school closure, scheduled to end April 6, was extended through April 30.[15]
- March 19, 2020: The Hawaii Department of Education announced that the statewide school closure, scheduled to end March 30, was extended through April 6.[16]
- March 16, 2020: Gov. David Ige (D) announced that schools in the state would extend spring break for one week, through March 27.[17]
Mask and vaccine requirements in the 2021-2022 school year
Mask requirements in schools
As of August 1, 2022, no states had school mask requirements in effect. Forty-two states left mask requirements in schools up to local authorities. Seven states banned school mask requirements.
The table below shows statewide school mask requirement laws and orders in states with school mask requirements or school mask requirement bans in place at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
| Mask requirement orders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Ban or requirement? | Type of order | Date lifted or altered |
| Arizona | Ban | Legislative action | N/A |
| Arkansas | Ban | Legislative action | Sept. 30, 2021 - Suspended by court action |
| California | Requirement | California Department of Public Health order | March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action |
| Connecticut | Requirement | Executive order | Feb. 28, 2022 - Lifted by executive action |
| Delaware | Requirement | Executive order | March 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action |
| Florida | Ban | Executive order | N/A[18] |
| Georgia | Ban | Legislative action | N/A |
| Hawaii | Requirement | Executive order | Aug. 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action |
| Illinois | Requirement | Illinois Department of Public Health order | Feb. 4, 2022 - Suspended by court action[19] |
| Iowa | Ban | Legislative action | May 16, 2022 - Reinstated by court action[20] |
| Kentucky | Requirement | Kentucky Board of Education order | Sept. 9, 2021 - Suspended by state law |
| Louisiana | Requirement | Executive order | Feb. 16, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[21] |
| Maryland | Requirement | Maryland State Board of Education order | March 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[22] |
| Massachusetts | Requirement | Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education order | Feb. 28, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[23] |
| Nevada | Requirement | Executive order | Feb. 10, 2022 - Lifted by executive action |
| New Jersey | Requirement | Executive order | March 7, 2022 - Lifted by executive action |
| New Mexico | Requirement | New Mexico Public Education Department order | Feb. 17, 2022 - Lifted by executive action |
| New York | Requirement | Executive order | March 3, 2022 - Lifted by executive action |
| Oklahoma | Ban | Executive order | N/A |
| Oregon | Requirement | Oregon Health Authority and Department of Education order | March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action |
| Pennsylvania | Requirement | Pennsylvania Department of Health order | Dec. 10, 2021 - Suspended by court action |
| Rhode Island | Requirement | Executive order | March 4, 2022 - Lifted by executive action |
| South Carolina | Ban | Legislative action | Sept. 28, 2021 - Temporarily suspended by court action |
| Tennessee | Ban | Executive order | Dec. 10, 2021 - Suspended by court action |
| Texas | Ban | Executive order | N/A[24] |
| Utah | Ban | Legislative action | N/A |
| Virginia | Ban | Legislative action | N/A |
| Washington | Requirement | Washington State Department of Public Health order | March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action |
School mask requirements over time
School mask bans over time
Teacher and school employee vaccine requirements
Seven states had issued a statewide requirement for K-12 teachers and staff to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or receive regular coronavirus testing during the 2021-2022 school year. The table below shows teacher and staff vaccine requirement laws and orders in states that issued such policies during the 2021-2022 school year.
| Vaccine requirement orders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Testing instead of vaccination allowed? | Type of order | Date effective |
| California | Yes | California Department of Public Health order | Oct. 15, 2021 |
| Connecticut | No | Executive order | Sept. 27, 2021 |
| Delaware | Yes | Executive order | Nov. 1, 2021 |
| Illinois | Yes | Executive order | Issued: Sept. 19, 2021 Suspended by court action on Feb. 4, 2022 |
| New Jersey | Yes | Executive order | Oct. 18, 2021 |
| New York | Yes | Executive order | Sept. 19, 2021 |
| Oregon | No | Executive order | Oct. 18, 2021 |
| Washington | No | Executive order | Oct. 18, 2021 |
Student vaccine requirements
On Oct. 1, 2021, California was the first state to announce a vaccine requirement for eligible students. Louisiana also announced a vaccine requirement for eligible students on Dec. 14, but then announced the state would be removing the coronavirus vaccine from the list of required immunizations in schools on May 18, 2022.
School reopenings and closures (2020-2021 academic year)
Initial school year operating plan
Hawaii released an initial operating plan for the 2020-2021 school year on July 2, 2020. An analysis of this plan appeared in our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter on July 15. The sections below include an analysis of the plan, the details of the plan, and reactions from officials to the plan.
The Hawaii Department of Education released school reopening guidance on July 2. Superintendent Christina Kishimoto said, “We know that the delivery of instruction in Hawaiʻi, the nation and the world, is going to look very different. Our HIDOE ʻohana has been diligently working on plans for the new school year, growing from this experience and applying lessons learned toward our commitment to equity of access and quality education.”
On March 16, Gov. David Ige (D) extended spring break through March 27. On March 19, he closed schools through April 6. He extended the closure on March 24 through April 30. On April 17, the Department of Education closed schools for the rest of the school year.
Hawaii’s 2020-2021 school year is scheduled to start on August 4. According to EdWeek, traditional public schools in Hawaii typically start the academic year in early August.
The state’s school guidance is tied to the state’s general reopening plan. In-person instruction cannot fully reopen until the state enters the Recovery phase of reopening.
Context
Hawaii is a Democratic trifecta. The governor is a Democrat, and Democrats hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Democratic trifecta in 2011.
The following tables show public education statistics in Hawaii, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
| Hawaii school metrics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Figure | Rank |
| Per pupil spending (16-17) | $15,305 | 17 |
| Number of students (18-19) | 181,278 | 40 |
| Number of teachers (Fall 2016) | 11,782 | 42 |
| Number of public schools (18-19) | 249 | 49 |
| Student:teacher ratio (18-19) | 14.9 | 25 |
| Percent qualifying for free/reduced lunch (16-17) | 47.6% | 24 |
| Hawaii school revenue | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Figure | Rank |
| Total revenue | $2,699,827,000 | 42 |
| Federal revenue percent | 9.6% | 20 |
| State revenue percent | 88.2% | 2 |
| Local revenue percent | 2.2% | 50 |
Details
District reopening plans
Hawaii’s school reopening plan does not discuss a need for school districts to develop their own plans or submit such plans to the state. Schools must reopen in compliance with the state’s plan.
In-person, hybrid, and online learning
The Department of Education said instruction will be delivered through in-person, blended, and online channels, depending on the threat presented by the coronavirus and the department’s resources. The Board of Education passed a resolution on June 18 asserting online and hybrid attendance is equivalent to in-person attendance for the purposes of fulfilling the state’s 180 instructional day requirement.
Parents of children from grades 6-12 will be able to select a virtual-only learning option. The state is still developing a virtual solution for grades K-5. Full details are not yet available.
Hawaii’s three multi-track schools (Mililani Middle, Kapolei Middle, and Holomua Elementary schools) will convert to a traditional, single-track schedule at least through the Fall semester.
Mask requirements
Students and faculty are required to wear masks when they are not in the classroom. Students and faculty generally are not required to wear masks in classrooms, but staff and other adults are required to wear masks when they are within three feet of each other or a child. For students, “Masks should be worn when keeping six feet apart is not possible, or when children face each other and interact in similar ways. However, if students are sitting three feet apart, and facing the same way, wearing a mask is not required.”
In-person health recommendations and requirements
The state outlined the following general guidelines for schools:
- All individuals entering the school building must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
- Sanitizing/handwashing stations must be set up at school entrances and in every classroom and possible gathering area (library, cafeteria, etc.).
- Desks and seats must be spaced at least three feet apart when students face the same direction, or six feet apart if students are facing each other.
- Relevant faculty members must be trained in proper cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
- Six-foot social distancing should be practiced to the extent possible.
- Designated health rooms and separate quarantine spaces should be set up for suspected COVID-19 cases.
- Schools should consider staggering student arrival and departure times.
- Nonessential visits should be limited.
For comprehensive guidelines, click here.
Transportation and bussing requirements and restrictions
The Student Transportation Services Branch is working with school administrators and bus contractors to develop adjusted, school-specific arrival and departure schedules. All bus passengers will be required to wear masks. No more than two students will be able to sit in the same bench seat, and seating will be assigned. Heightened cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be implemented between bus trips.
School reopenings and closures (2019-2020 academic year)
The map below shows the status of school reopenings and closures at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year.
- States closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year: 48
- Number of public school students in states closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year: 50,261,464
The chart below shows the first date schools in a state were closed to in-person instruction during the 2019-2020 academic year, divided by the political party of the governor.
School responses by state
To read about school responses to the coronavirus pandemic in others states, click one of the following links below:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
General resources
The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.
Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
- U.S. Department of Education
- World Health Organization
- Trends in Number of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in the US Reported to CDC, by State/Territory
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations, Our World in Data (Number of vaccines administered)
- Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker, New York Times (Progress of vaccine trials)
See also
- Documenting America's Path to Recovery
- School responses to the coronavirus pandemic by state (2021-2022 academic year)
- School responses to the coronavirus pandemic by state (2020-2021 academic year)
- Hawaii’s responses to the coronavirus pandemic
- COVID-19 vaccine distribution by state
- Travel restrictions by state
- Federal government responses to the coronavirus pandemic
Footnotes
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Number of operating public schools and districts, student membership, teachers, and pupil/teacher ratio, by state or jurisdiction: School year 2019–20," accessed September 10, 2021
- ↑ EducationWeek, "Map: Where Were Schools Required to Be Open for the 2020-21 School Year?," June 14, 2021
- ↑ The New York Times, "Hawaii, the last state with an indoor mask mandate for public schools, will make masks optional.," July 13, 2022
- ↑ To read more about Burbio's school disruption tracking, click here
- ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed August 27, 2021
- ↑ Burbio rated Hawaii's in-person index at 83.7. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
- ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 6, 2021
- ↑ Honolulu Star Advertiser, "Hawaii Health Department updates guidance for schools reopening," accessed October 22, 2020
- ↑ Burbio rated Hawaii's in-person index between 40-60. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
- ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 6, 2021
- ↑ Statesville Record & Landmark, " The Latest: Hawaii schools to open year with remote learning," August 7, 2020
- ↑ Honolulu Star Advertiser, "Hawaii public schools set to start Aug. 17," July 31, 2020
- ↑ Honolulu Star Advertiser, "Hawaii public schools to reopen with safeguards," June 28, 2020
- ↑ Hawaii Department of Education, "HIDOE enrichment and distance learning to continue for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year," April 17, 2020
- ↑ Hawaii News Now, "Hawaii public school campuses to remain closed through April 30," March 24, 2020
- ↑ Hawaii Tribune-Herald, "DOE extends school closures," March 20, 2020
- ↑ Honolulu Star Advertiser, "Hawaii public schools extend spring break due to coronavirus concerns," March 15, 2020
- ↑ On Sept. 2, 2021 the ban was temporarily suspended by court action. An appeals court upheld the ban on Sept. 10.
- ↑ Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) ended the statewide school mask requirement on Feb. 28, 2022.
- ↑ On Sept. 13, 2021 the ban was temporarily suspended by court action for all schools. On Jan. 25, 2022, the ban was partially reinstated.
- ↑ Oct. 26, 2021 - School districts could be exempt from the school mask requirement if they followed CDC quarantine guidance
- ↑ Dec. 7, 2021 - School districts could be exempt from the school mask requirement if they met one of the three following criteria: 1) the county vaccination rate was 80% or higher, 2) 80% of school staff and students were vaccinated, or 3) COVID-19 transmission in the county was considered moderate or low for 14 straight days.
- ↑ Oct. 1 - Schools could become exempt from the school mask requirement when at least 80% of students were vaccinated
- ↑ On Nov. 10, 2021 the ban was suspended by court action. An appeals court upheld the ban on Dec. 1.
