The state Department of Land and Natural Resources proposes increasing the number of charter schools across the state from 23 to 30, and proposes spending $3 million to help start schools whose curricula would emphasize environmental education.

The proposal, announced by Land Board Chairman Peter Young at a press conference yesterday, is part of a broader program to expand environmental education in the state — both to create a citizenry more informed on environmental matters, and to create the next generation of educated professionals who would care for Hawai'i's environment.

"We want to get our kids out into the best classroom in the world," Young said.

There are several bills before the Legislature that would increase the limit on new charter schools, and there may be a place for them, said Jim Shon, executive director of the state's Charter Schools Administrative Office.

"I think there is pressure out there for increased choice," Shon said. "I know there are certain communities that have been asking" for permission to launch new charter schools, he said.

But he said he is not sure that only allowing charter schools with an environmental specialty is the best approach.

"There are already several charter schools that have an environmental approach. Most of the Hawaiian schools have this connection to the 'aina," he said.

The land department argues for allowing seven New Century Charter Schools on six islands — one on the Kona and one on the Hilo side of the Big Island, and one each on Moloka'i, Maui, Lana'i, O'ahu and Kaua'i.

The department does not propose to run the schools. That would be done by community groups similar to those that run existing charter schools, Young said.

"The department firmly believes that we must begin recruiting the future guardians of our environment in our schools. The department's initiative is meant to engage our youth and instill in them the responsibility and commitment to protect our resources for future generations," Young said in a written statement.

"It is our hope that these future guardians will also acquire the same sense of obligation we feel for recruiting the generations to follow as stewards of our resources."

Young also will ask the Legislature to appropriate $1 million with which the department would support existing environmental education programs, like the Department of Education's Discovery Center in Koke'e on Kaua'i, the Hawai'i Nature Center, Kokua Kalihi Valley and others.

The legislative measure initiated by DLNR will increase the number of New Century Charter Schools with an environmental education curriculum from 23 to 30, placing two new schools on the Big Island and one new school on O'ahu, Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i and Kaua'i.

In another effort, the land department would make land available free or at low cost as natural laboratories for organizations doing environmental education. These environmental education centers would help create the educational materials that would feed into the environmentally based charter schools as well as regular schools, Young said.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.