Report Title:

Parent-Community Network Center Programs

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the establishment of new parent-community networking centers and for the further development of existing centers.

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1860

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation for parent-community networking center programs.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there are four phases of development in a comprehensive parent-community networking center (PCNC) system of support for students, parents, and teachers. Phases I and II begin with the establishment of a PCNC at the school-building level. Part-time PCNC facilitators would offer parents, students, and others in the community many opportunities to relate with one another and to heighten the awareness of each other’s strengths and needs. These members of the community will learn from and support each other, creating an overall sense of school and community ohana that is especially conducive to learning. Phases III and IV of this process focus on strengthening each classroom unit as a learning community where teachers and parents form meaningful partnerships to ensure student well-being and achievement of performance standards.

Evaluative reports indicate that the one hundred sixty-four PCNCs funded at $14,500 per school for phases I and II have:

(1) Improved school-community relations;

(2) Instilled positive attitude changes among teachers and parents; and

(3) Increased the number of parents involved in the education of Hawaii’s youth.

PCNCs have generated four times the amount of resources and services that have been spent on them, making them the most cost-effective program in the department of education.

However, funding for phases I and II of PCNCs is uneven across the State. In many schools, PCNC funding is minimal or absent. For example, in school year 2000-2001 there were forty-five schools that received only $3,300 each for the year, and forty-six schools had no funding at all. Through Act 262, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, $250,000 was appropriated to increase the number of PCNCs and to further develop existing sites, for the first year of the biennium. Not only must this level of funding be maintained for the second year of the biennium and thereafter, but more funds must be appropriated until all schools receive equitable and full funding for PCNCs.

Therefore, the primary goal of this Act is to continue the path that the legislature has taken to ensure that every public school (with the exception of Keanae and Niihau schools, each having a very small student body), has as at least $14,500 at the school-building level to fund an initial part-time school PCNC parent facilitator and equipment, a telephone, and supplies.

The legislature further finds that the more mature PCNCs must move into phases III and IV of development, where teacher-parent partnerships are forged at the classroom level by the teacher and volunteer classroom parent. Satisfying teacher-parent partnerships at the classroom level while fostering a highly supportive sense of community at the school-building level has resulted in higher student achievement in each of the past three years during phases III and IV of the pilot project at Kapunahala School, as indicated by a three year longitudinal report of student S.A.T. scores. Today more schools stand ready to move in this direction.

The legislature also finds that there is overwhelming research evidence of the critical need for an integrated comprehensive system of family support, parent education, teacher-parent partnerships, and volunteer and resource development at the neighborhood/school and classroom/family levels. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of education for the establishment of new PCNC sites and programs, and for the development of existing PCNC sites and programs.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,490,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, for parent-community networking centers to be expended as follows:

(1) $250,000 to supplement funds previously appropriated for the second year of the biennium and thereafter for the establishment of new parent-community networking centers and for the further development of existing centers;

(2) $350,000 to fund thirty-two remaining schools, which are currently funded at $3,300 each, with an additional $11,200 to bring each of them up to the basic level of $14,500;

(3) $551,000 to fund thirty-eight remaining unfunded schools at $14,500 each (not including funding for Niihau and Keanae Schools);

(4) $122,000 to fund ten more elementary schools for phases III and IV at $12,200 each;

(5) $122,000 for ten intermediate/middle schools for phases III and IV at $12,200 each;

(6) $45,000 to establish a twelve-month family support/PCNC resource teacher position for program and staff development, especially for the secondary schools; and

(7) $50,000 for program research and development including:

(A) Parent curriculum development;

(B) Standards for parents as partners in education;

(C) Evaluation tools;

(D) Data collection; and

(E) Analysis of data in program effectiveness and student achievement.

The funds appropriated in this Act shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.

INTRODUCED BY:

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