Report Title:

Rehiring Teacher; Retired; DOE

 

Description:

Allows DOE to rehire retired teachers in areas of Hawaii where there is a teacher shortage. (HD1)

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1215

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO REHIRING RETIRED TEACHERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, a national organization with nineteen partner states, including Hawaii, is focused on improving student learning by ensuring that there is a caring, competent, and qualified teacher in every classroom.

Over the past year, with the Lieutenant Governor as its chairperson, the Hawaii Policy Group of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, comprised of a representative group of educational stakeholders, has collaborated on research-based recommendations to improve teaching in Hawaii. The recommendations encompass five key areas:

(1) Establishing and implementing standards for students and teachers;

(2) Teacher preparation and professional development;

(3) Teacher recruitment and placing qualified teachers in all classrooms;

(4) Encouraging and rewarding teaching knowledge and skill; and

(5) Creating schools that are organized for student and teacher success.

One thing was clear: aside from home and societal factors, teacher quality is, without a question, the most influential factor in student achievement. Standards-based reform has a greater chance of success when teacher quality is addressed and given our highest priority. We must equip our teachers with the resources and skills necessary to ensure that all students attain their full potential.

The department of education, in its efforts to provide quality education for all students, continues to seek solutions to address its recruitment needs in maintaining a teacher applicant pool capable of addressing continuing teacher shortages in all academic areas. The shortage of applicants for teaching is projected to exist for at least another ten years.

SECTION 2. The department of education may employ, beginning July 1, 2001, retired teachers at up to one hundred per cent full-time equivalents to teach in teacher shortage areas identified by the department of education and as mentors for new classroom teachers with prior approval of the superintendent of education, and pursuant to collective bargaining agreements. The specific provisions of section 88-21, 88-42.5, 88-43, 88-45, and 88-46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and any other statute to the contrary notwithstanding, those retired teachers who are hired shall not earn retirement service credit, contribute to the retirement system, or gain additional retirement system benefits as a result of their employment; provided that the retired teacher shall continue to receive entitled normal retirement benefits without penalty. In order for the teacher to qualify for full-time employment, the teacher must be retired for two calendar years. A retired teacher may qualify for mentoring or part-time teaching immediately upon retirement.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001; provided that it shall be repealed on July 1, 2005.