History
Since 2012, a group of educators, parents, and community members have been working to design a public charter school in the 'Ewa region. DreamHouse 'Ewa Beach was conceived to alleviate overcrowding and offer families another option at the secondary level.
Fall 2012
A group of educators and community members gather together and discuss educational options and opportunity within 'Ewa Beach.
Spring 2013
Some members of the eventual founding team of DreamHouse 'Ewa Beach travel to the Bay area to visit and learn from multiple, unique charter school models.
Fall 2013
A community partnership and listening tour begins to better understand the community we teach in and love.
Fall 2015
After two years of listening and workshopping ideas, we collectively arrive at a vision, mission, and core set of beliefs and values for DreamHouse 'Ewa Beach.
Spring 2016
DreamHouse 'Ewa Beach submits charter application 1.0.
Fall 2016
Application 1.0 is denied. Team welcomes feedback, workshops educational model and curriculum, deepens work with families and community, strengthens founding team, and begins redesigning charter application.
Spring 2017
Application 2.0 submitted.
July 13, 2017
DreamHouse 'Ewa Beach is approved as a 2016-17 charter application by the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission.
December 2017
DreamHouse 'Ewa Beach cannot secure a facility in time and has to push back the launch of the charter school until the 2019-20 school year.
Spring 2018
Leadership development series begins for children in the community to pilot and prototype the DreamHouse model for leadership and identity development
Summer 2018
The first-ever Summer Leadership Bootcamp is launched and receives over 80 applications.
December 2018
DreamHouse 'Ewa Beach signs a lease with Alexander & Baldwin for a start-up location at Laulani Village in ‘Ewa Beach.
March 2019
A lottery is held to select the founding cohort of DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach; the school receives over 130 applications.
June 2019
In the final moments of the pre-opening year two of DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach, the school successfully obtains occupancy documents and final permitting to open as Hawai’i’s newest public charter school.
August 2019
After seven years of planning, development, setbacks, and wins, DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach opens its doors to a founding class of 100 6th grade children. The seven-year start-up journey is captured in this dissertation.
March 2020
Due to COVID-19, DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach takes learning online and via distance programming for the remainder of the year.
May 2020
100% of 6th graders successfully defend final learning and promotion defense to earn their pathway to the 7th grade. DreamHouse completes its first year as Hawai‘i’s newest public charter school.
May 2020
100% of 6th graders successfully defend final learning and promotion defense to earn their pathway to the 7th grade. DreamHouse completes its first year as Hawai‘i’s newest public charter school. Staff team travels to over 80 students’ homes to surprise them with a DRIVE-BY PROMOTION CELEBRATION.
July 2020
DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach moves its school operations from the temporary Laulani Village site to Kalaeloa to grow and expand.
August 2020
DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach opens on August 17, 2020 for its second year with 200 6th & 7th graders; the school begins the 2020-21 school year in 100% Distance Learning mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2021
DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach received a record number of applicants and gets ready to expand to grades 6, 7, and 8 by August.
June 2021
DreamHouse readies its school site for 300 students to begin the 2021-22 school year, the largest student population and staff (28) in the history of the school. The waitlist to get into DreamHouse is over 150 families.
August 2021
DreamHouse opens as a full, grades 6-8 middle school, serving 300 students.
We continue to welcome voices of educators, community members, families, and children to write the story of DreamHouse 'Ewa Beach.