Report Title:

DOE; Teachers; Hiring

Description:

Amends the definition of teacher to mean those who spend not less than 70% of their formal employment time in the direct classroom instruction of students. Enhances teacher hiring certainty by requiring schools to finalize teacher hiring before the end of the fiscal year. Lowers teacher-student ratios.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2065

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to teachers.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that many qualified teachers who are ready, willing, and able to assume positions within the department of education are often thwarted by an unresponsive bureaucracy, at both the school and department levels. Often, they are left in a state of limbo for months, with little to base their hopes upon. This not only has a negative impact on student achievement but creates a high level of uncertainty in the job search process for those seeking to become teachers.

The purpose of this Act is to amend the definition of teacher to mean those who spend not less than seventy per cent of their formal employment time in the direct classroom instruction of students, and to enhance teacher hiring certainty by requiring schools to finalize teacher hiring before the end of the fiscal year and lowering teacher-student ratios.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A-   Teacher hiring. (a) Principals shall finalize the hiring of all teachers for the school year no later than the end of the preceding fiscal year.

(b) In making these decisions, principals shall hire additional teachers constituting not less than a five per cent decrease in the teacher-student ratio of that school from the preceding fiscal year for the first four years after the effective date of this section."

SECTION 3. Section 302A-501, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) For the purposes of subpart D:

"Board" means the Hawaii teacher standards board.

"Emergency hire" means an unlicensed employee of the department paid under the salary schedule contained in the unit 5 collective bargaining agreement.

"License" means the document signifying the board's grant of permission to practice the profession of teaching.

"Teacher" means a licensed employee of the department paid under the salary schedule contained in the unit 5 collective bargaining agreement[.] who spends not less than seventy per cent of formal employment time in the direct classroom instruction of students."

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, for the purposes of the Act.

SECTION 5. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.

INTRODUCED BY:

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