REPORT TITLE:
Head start


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriate funds to provide mothers on public assistance to
receive child care certification.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        3022
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR CHILD CARE CERTIFICATION.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  There is a national effort for child care
 
 2 providers both in family-care settings and center-based settings
 
 3 to be minimally qualified to work with children from birth
 
 4 through age five.  Caregivers must demonstrate their ability to
 
 5 nurture children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual
 
 6 growth in a child development framework.  The proof of their
 
 7 competence are degrees in early childhood education and care or
 
 8 credentials such as the child development associate credential.
 
 9      The head start program has recently directed that the
 
10 majority of its head start classrooms be assigned one teacher
 
11 with an associate, baccalaureate, or an advanced degree in early
 
12 childhood education and care.  Additionally, the balance of these
 
13 classrooms must be assigned one teacher who has either the child
 
14 development associate credential, a state-awarded certificate for
 
15 preschool teachers that meets or exceeds the requirements for a
 
16 child development associate credential, or a degree relating to
 
17 the early childhood field.
 
18      The legislature finds that Hawaii's head start programs are
 
19 engaging in an innovative collaborative project to train and
 
20 enhance professional development initiatives for child care.
 

 
Page 2                                                     3022
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 Currently, Hawaii's head start programs are providing
 
 2 opportunities for mothers on public assistance to gain child care
 
 3 certification, thereby assisting mothers off the welfare rolls
 
 4 and ensuring quality child care for all.
 
 5      This project is currently funded by federal grants.  While
 
 6 head start has received a small budget increase, current funding
 
 7 levels are not guaranteed for subsequent years.
 
 8      The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to provide
 
 9 mothers on public assistance to receive child care certification.
 
10      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
11 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $     or so much
 
12 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000-2001 to assist
 
13 head start with providing opportunities for mothers on public
 
14 assistance to receive child care certification.
 
15      The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of
 
16 labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.
 
17      SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.
 
18 
 
19                       INTRODUCED BY:  ___________________________