The Hawaii Charter School Administrative Office (CSAO) is a state office that is responsible for the organization, operation, and management of Hawaii’s charter school system.  The CSAO strives to improve and perpetuate the charter school system through advocacy, analysis, and support.  It is our hope with the continued innovative work taking place at charter schools that Hawaii’s overall education system will improve.  Our keiki deserve an education that will allow them to compete and contribute in the greater global society.

The CSAO is not part of the Department of Education (DOE) but attached to the DOE for administrative purposes only.  The CSAO is headed by an Executive Director that is hired by the State Public Charter School Commission (PCSC).  The major responsibilities of CSAO include:
 

1. Providing assistance and support for the development, growth, progress, and success of the charter schools and the charter school system;
2. Determining charter school and charter school system needs through analysis and providing recommendations on charter school issues;
3. Serving as an advocate for the charter schools and the charter school system and representing them in communications with the Board of Education (BOE), Governor, and Legislature;
4. Acting as a liaison, conduit, mediator, and facilitator between the charter schools and the PCSC, BOE, DOE and other state agencies; and
5. Preparing and executing the overall charter school system budget and allocating and distributing both state and federal funds to the charter schools;

Additionally, the CSAO is the designated staff of the PCSC. A more detailed description of CSAO’s responsibilities can be found in section 3 of Act 130, 2012 Session Laws of Hawaii.

The Governing Bodies of Hawaii's Charter School System:

The Board of Education (BOE) oversees both the Department of Education (DOE) and the State Public Charter School Commission (PCSC). The Charter School Administrative Office (CSAO) is attached to the DOE administratively only. The DOE is the Hawaii's State Education Agency and sole Local Education Agency, and as such, is responsible for special education, federal reporting, and many federal funds. The PCSC serves as the oversight for the Executive Director of the CSAO and, as the state's sole charter authorizer, the charter school governing boards (GBs). GBs serve as the governing bodies of the charter schools and are accountable to the PCSC.