Step Up is a community-wide campaign of Hawai‘i P-20 Partnerships for Education. It promotes career and college readiness for Hawai‘i’s high school students. To succeed in today’s economy and to prepare for a dynamic and ever-changing future, Hawai‘i’s public 8th and 9th graders are encouraged to earn the Hawai‘i State Board of Education’s Step Up Diploma.

Students sign a Step Up pledge form, along with their parents, to signify their commitment to earn the BOE Step Up Diploma, which includes more rigorous requirements than the regular high school diploma in science, math and English, as well as the completion of a senior project. This diploma has been designed to prepare students for success upon graduation from high school, whether they choose to enroll in college or enter the workforce.

Students who pledge to earn this diploma receive a number of benefits, including information on college preparation and financial aid, and invitations to college-prep events throughout their years in high school. Upon graduation, students who earn the BOE Step Up Diploma are rewarded with special incentives, such as special consideration for scholarships, admission into Hawai‘i colleges, and job application advancement with various employers.