HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

228

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting the school readiness task force to conduct a study on the manner in which funding streams for childcare and early childhood education interact and make recommendations for methods of coordinating and optimizing funding sources.

 

WHEREAS, the first years in a child's life are critical to healthy brain development and future academic success, which presents only a limited opportunity for development that carries enormous implications for the rest of a child's life; and

WHEREAS, studies have indicated that the provision of early childhood education, particularly for children of lower income families, can dramatically improve their academic success and educational achievements through adulthood; and

WHEREAS, increased participation in early childhood education programs will result in monetary savings through the prevention of future expenses for remedial education, incarceration, as well as the provision of monetary and other forms of public assistance; and

WHEREAS, in Hawaii, there is a growing need for childcare and early education programs within our communities, especially for working families and those within the lower income brackets; and

WHEREAS, however, a lack of information and access prevents low-income and working families from availing themselves of affordable, quality childcare and early education programs; and

WHEREAS, increased access to affordable childcare and early childhood education programs will enable many families to secure gainful employment in the workforce; and

WHEREAS, there are currently several different sources of funding or other assistance available to families for childcare and early childhood education programs, including federal, state, county, and private sources; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive examination of current funding sources for childcare and early childhood education programs is necessary for the development and implementation of strategies to increase opportunities for early childhood literacy, learning, and development; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the Senate concurring, that the School Readiness Task Force is requested to conduct a study on the sources of funding available for childcare and early childhood education and evaluate the manner in which the various sources may be better coordinated to optimize the positive results for our children; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study should include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) The compilation of comprehensive data on the different types of assistance available for childcare and early childhood education programs within the State;

(2) The compilation of information on the various sources of funding and other forms of assistance, including all federal, state, county, and private sources;

(3) An examination of the various sources of funding and any other forms of assistance and determine the manner in which these sources interact and intersect with each other;

(4) An examination of the options and the formulation of recommendations for methods to better coordinate and optimize the available sources of funding and any other forms of assistance to assist families in need;

(5) The formulation of methods for informing and providing any necessary assistance to families in need of the various forms of assistance available for childcare and early childhood education programs; and

(6) The development of policies and procedures for encouraging the enrollment of children in organized early childhood education programs;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the School Readiness Task Force is requested to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature at least twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Co-chairpersons of the School Readiness Task Force.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Childcare and Early Childhood Education Programs; Study on Funding Assistance; School Readiness Task Force