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ASSETS History
A History of ASSETS
School
Click for a narrative history written by Lou Salza, former head of school, for Perspectives, a publication of the International Dyslexia Association:
Population of Students
Served
- ASSETS, the Armed Services Special Education and Training Society, was
established in 1955 for military families who wanted specialized education
in Hawaii comparable to the services provided to their children on the
mainland.
- In 1969, the charter of ASSETS School changed from serving the mentally
disabled to the learning disabled.
- In the mid-seventies, when the State of Hawaii began to identify and
serve these students, ASSETS moved into areas of unmet needs by providing
highly specialized remediation for dyslexics and acceleration for the
gifted.
- In 1976, enrollment was opened to all children- military or civilian.
The Campus
- ASSETS' home for 37 years was on Pearl Harbor Naval Base.
- In March 1992, ASSETS moved off of Pearl Harbor to more spacious facilities
at its current location on Ohana Nui Way off Nimitz Highway and Valkenburg
Street. An additional 1.8 acres of adjoining land were leased for playing
fields.
- Situated in close proximity to Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hickam Air
Force Base, and the Honolulu International Airport, the campus is easily
accessible from all parts of the island.
- Thanks to a substantial capital grant from The Janaki Foundation with
support from the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation in 1999, ASSETS
was able to build five new buildings that house classrooms and facilities
for art, music, and science.
- The Brace Learning Center, which houses the library and computer lab,
underwent an expansion and renovation in the 2002-2003 school year.
ASSETS thanks the following foundations for supporting this project:
Donald C. Brace, Harold K.L. Castle, Cooke and Mabel Burchard Fischer
Grant.
Grade
Structure
- ASSETS began as a K-6
school.
- For a short time in the
mid-seventies, a preschool was operated until the Department of
Health began providing special education for three- and
four-year-olds.
- In 1978, Grades 7 and 8 were added.
- In 1991, the High School became a reality when Grades 9-12 were added.
- ASSETS is now a K-12 school that is fully accredited by the Western
Association of Schools and Colleges.
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