Special Education Terms in Hawaii
What special education terms does Hawaii use?
Hawaii uses primarily standard federal IDEA terminology for its disability categories and special education processes, without the state-specific substitutions seen in some other states. Key Hawaii-specific terminology includes: 'HIDOE' (Hawaii Department of Education) — the single entity that is simultaneously both the State Education Agency (SEA) and the only Local Education Agency (LEA) in the state; 'Complex Area' — Hawaii's geographic administrative unit equivalent to a school district in other states, of which there are seven (Honolulu, Windward Oahu, Leeward Oahu, Central Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii Island/Big Island) plus the small islands; 'Complex Area Superintendent' — the administrator over a complex area, analogous to a district superintendent in other states; 'HiSAA' (Hawaii State Alternate Assessment) — Hawaii's alternate assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities; 'SBAC' (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) — Hawaii's general state assessment; 'DVR' (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation) — the state agency that provides transition services in partnership with HIDOE; 'CAMHD' (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division) — the Hawaii DOH division that partners with HIDOE for school-based mental health; and 'MTSS' (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) — Hawaii's statewide framework for tiered interventions including RTI for SLD determination.
What Hawaii Requires
HIDOE (Hawaii Department of Education): simultaneously the SEA and the only LEA in Hawaii — uniquely, there are no county, district, or local school boards with IDEA authority (HRS § 302A-101).
Complex Area: Hawaii's geographic administrative division for school management, equivalent to a school district in other states; seven complex areas plus small islands (HRS § 302A-101).
HiSAA (Hawaii State Alternate Assessment): Hawaii's alternate assessment aligned to alternate achievement standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities (HAR § 8-56-28(b)(6)).
DVR (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation): the Hawaii DOL agency that partners with HIDOE on transition services for students with disabilities approaching graduation (HRS Chapter 348).
CAMHD (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division): Hawaii DOH division that provides school-based behavioral health services in partnership with HIDOE (HRS § 302A-1001).
All-party consent: Hawaii's recording consent standard under HRS § 803-42, requiring all participants to consent before an IEP or other meeting is recorded.
Key Timelines
Complex Area Superintendents oversee compliance with HIDOE special education policies within their geographic area on an ongoing basis (HRS § 302A-101).
DVR partnership with HIDOE for transition services is initiated during the student's secondary IEP process, ideally by age 16 (HRS Chapter 348; HAR § 8-56-28(b)(8)).