Monitoring and Compliance Branch (MAC)
Department of Education – IDEA Complaints Management Program
The Hawaiʻi Department of Education’s Monitoring and Compliance Branch (MAC) oversees the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules (HAR Chapter 60), ensuring that public and public charter schools meet federal and state special education requirements.
It is also responsible for handling state complaints, facilitating dispute resolution processes such as mediation and due process hearings, and monitoring compliance across schools to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
Civil Rights Compliance Branch (CRCB)
Department of Education – Section 504 / ADA / Civil Rights Complaints Management Program
The Hawaiʻi Department of Education’s Nondiscrimination Policy affirms that all students and participants have the right to access educational programs and activities free from discrimination based on protected characteristics such as race, sex, disability, and other categories under federal and state law.
The policy outlines the Department’s obligation to prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and provides a framework for reporting and investigating complaints through the Civil Rights Compliance Branch (CRCB), ensuring that concerns are addressed and corrective actions are taken when necessary.
The Mediation Center of the Pacific
The Mediation Center of the Pacific provides neutral special education mediation services for families and schools in Hawaiʻi, offering a voluntary, confidential process to resolve disputes about a student’s services under IDEA and Chapter 60.
Trained mediators help parents and school staff talk through disagreements, clarify concerns, and work toward mutually acceptable solutions focused on the student’s educational needs.
Hawai’i State Public Charter School Commission
The Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission is the statewide authorizer responsible for approving, contracting with, and overseeing public charter schools, including monitoring their performance and compliance with state and federal laws.
Charter schools operate with significant independence through their own governing boards under performance contracts, while the Commission reviews complaints primarily for contract or legal compliance but does not intervene in all school-level decisions.
Office Of the Ombudsman
The Hawaiʻi State Office of the Ombudsman is an independent agency of the Legislature that investigates complaints about how state and county agencies handle decisions, actions, or processes. When families have raised concerns through the system and are not getting clear answers or fair resolution, the Ombudsman can review what occurred, obtain records, and assess whether actions were lawful, reasonable, and fair, making recommendations for corrective action when issues are found.
While it does not act as a personal advocate or overturn decisions, it can be a critical pathway for accountability when administrative systems break down.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
The Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission is the statewide authorizer responsible for approving, contracting with, and overseeing public charter schools, including monitoring their performance and compliance with state and federal laws. Charter schools operate with significant independence through their own governing boards under performance contracts, while the Commission reviews complaints primarily for contract or legal compliance but does not intervene in all school-level decisions.
Hawaiʻi State Board of Education
The Hawaiʻi State Board of Education (BOE) is the group responsible for setting the rules and policies that guide Hawaiʻi’s public schools. While principals, teachers, and the Department of Education handle the day-to-day operation of schools, the BOE decides many of the statewide policies that schools must follow.
The Board approves education policies, oversees the Department of Education, hires and evaluates the Superintendent, and holds public meetings where families and community members can provide testimony on issues affecting students.
For parents, the BOE can be a place to learn about statewide education decisions, policy changes, school accountability, special education issues, student rights, and other matters that affect children across Hawaiʻi. Although the Board generally does not resolve individual student disputes, it has the authority to influence the policies and systems that shape how schools operate.
Why Parents Should Know About the BOE
Many challenges families experience are not limited to a single school. Some issues stem from statewide policies, procedures, or system-wide practices. The Board of Education provides a way for parents to stay informed, share concerns through public testimony, and participate in conversations about improving Hawaiʻi’s public education system.
Legal Disclaimer
This webpage is provided by PAU for general information and educational purposes only. Nothing on this webpage may be considered or deemed to constitute legal advice. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, information may become outdated. The information presented should not be used by lawyers as a substitute for independent research or by non-lawyers as a substitute for legal or other advice.