Report Title:
DOE; Early Education Center/Training Program for School Teachers
Description:
Appropriates funding to establish a pilot early education center/training program for school teachers.
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2650 |
TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to early education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that early education provides a critical foundation for the success of individuals and society as a whole. Enhanced access to quality early education will reduce the school readiness gap, grade retention, special education placement, high school drop out rates, and juvenile and adult crime.
There is growing public support for voluntary pre-kindergarten for children ages three and four. New advocates from business, law enforcement, education, health, parents and other groups have emerged who see early care not only as a key to healthy families but as an economic and community development initiative as well.
A successful early education system should (1) view children's learning as central to its mission, (2) articulate standards for learning that align with K-12 academic standards, (3) ensure qualified teaching staff, (4) foster parental support, (5) embrace accountability, and (6) develop synergistic partnerships to govern, finance, sustain, and improve the system.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funding to establish a pilot voluntary pre-kindergarten early education center within the department of education, provided that such a center offers pre-service student teachers opportunities to become proficient in early education and offers in-service teachers and administrators access to early education services for their own children.
SECTION 2. 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, to establish a pilot voluntary pre-kindergarten early education program within the department of education administered by the department of human services.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. The department of education shall report to the legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2005, 2006, and 2007, on the progress of the project, and in the 2007 report, make a recommendation as to whether the program should be made permanent.
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 early childhood education and care center pilot project.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 2 and 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2004; and provided further that this Act shall be repealed on July 1, 2007.
INTRODUCED BY: |
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