Hawaii Governor's School Proposal Surprises Many

By Linda Jacobson

A proposal by Gov. Benjamin J. Cayetano to grant two new schools in Hawaii the freedom to design their own curricula, manage their own budgets, and even eliminate collective bargaining has caught educators and legislators off guard and left many asking for details.

The governor, a Democrat who was re-elected to a second term in November, unveiled the "New Century Schools" program last month in his State of the State Address. He said the program would allow schools to "experiment, innovate, and try new ideas without fear of failure."

While some key players in the state--notably, the Hawaii State Teachers Association--have been cool to the governor's proposal, others say the plan is an encouraging sign that the state is interested in...