REPORT TITLE:
Head start program


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates funds for the head start program. (HB563 HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        563
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO THE HEAD START PROGRAM.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that recent neuroscience
 
 2 research demonstrates that the early years of a child are most
 
 3 crucial in a child's cognitive, emotional, social, and physical
 
 4 development, and affirmed that there are tremendous opportunities
 
 5 for preventive work with children and families as well as the
 
 6 predictable, costly consequences of not doing so.  
 
 7      A Rand Study released in April of 1998 proved that quality,
 
 8 early intervention and education programs improve children's
 
 9 subsequent academic achievement and can increase the likelihood
 
10 that the child will not grow up to lead a life of crime.  For
 
11 every dollar invested in early childhood education and care and
 
12 early intervention services for children from birth to five years
 
13 of age, it is estimated that $7 in later remediation and special
 
14 education services may be saved.
 
15      The legislature further finds that the head start program
 
16 provides an important service for the community by assisting low-
 
17 income preschool children prepare for the public school system
 
18 and also helps their parents secure and maintain employment.
 

 
Page 2                                                     563
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      The closure of the head start center in Kurtistown at the
 
 2 Jodo Mission on the Big Island, due to the discovery of high
 
 3 levels of lead in the building, has negatively impacted those
 
 4 parents whose children are eligible to attend school there.
 
 5 Since there are no other facilities available in the area, it is
 
 6 critical to replace the building to continue helping these
 
 7 children and parents.
 
 8      While operational funds are available from the federal head
 
 9 start program to implement a local program, funding is still
 
10 needed for a facility.  An appropriation of $270,000 would be
 
11 used to purchase a modular facility, which would house four head
 
12 start classrooms, and serve approximately eighty families per
 
13 year.
 
14      The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the head
 
15 start program.
 
16      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
17 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof
 
18 as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000 for the head start
 
19 program.
 
20      SECTION 3.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
21 office of community services for the purposes of this Act.
 
22      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.