Report Title:

P-20; UOH; DOE; Good Beginnings Alliance

Description:

Establishes a state P-20 council to provide the high-level leadership, resources, and commitment needed to keep the P-20 initiative on course and focused upon its common goals. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

75

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to education.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that all Hawaii residents should be well-informed, caring, self-sufficient, and able to contribute to their families, to the economy, and to the common good. The State has an obligation to provide educational opportunities for all residents that maximize their potential and prepare them for full participation in a democratic society. Indeed, the overall quality of life of our people, the health of the State's economy, and the continuation of our democratic form of government require that residents be so prepared. Hawaii must take steps to mesh three largely disconnected levels of public education--preschool, kindergarten to grade twelve, and post-secondary--and infuse them with a strong sense of coherence.

One important component of this initiative is the creation of a state P-20 council to lead and oversee the effort to create this seamless system and to hold the University of Hawaii, department of education, and Good Beginnings Alliance accountable for working together. P-20 is the code for lifelong learning. The "P" refers to provisions for early learning; the "20" refers to the years of schooling thereafter through the graduate level and beyond. The state P-20 council will represent all stakeholders and arrange communication among them.

The overarching goal of the P-20 initiative shall be to improve student achievement at all levels of education by, among other things:

(1) Ensuring that every student has a competent, caring, and qualified teacher;

(2) Ensuring that every school principal and superintendent is well-prepared to manage and lead;

(3) Improving the transition from one segment of the education system to the next;

(4) Aligning curricula and assessments across all levels; and

(5) Enhancing the provision of early learning for all young children.

SECTION 2. There is established a state P-20 council, whose main function shall be to provide the high-level leadership, resources, and commitment needed to keep the P-20 initiative on course and focused upon its common goals. The state P-20 council shall be deemed a temporary commission for special purposes in accordance with article V, section 6 of the state constitution.

SECTION 3. The role of the state P-20 council shall be to facilitate collaboration and innovation and to assist the president of the University of Hawaii, the superintendent of education, and the executive director of the Good Beginnings Alliance and their respective boards in advocating for the resources needed to carryout P-20 projects; provided that nothing in this Act shall be construed to change the legal authority of the board of regents of the University of Hawaii, the board of education, or the board of directors of the Good Beginnings Alliance.

The role and efficacy of the state P-20 council shall be thoroughly reviewed at least once every five years to determine if changes in its membership and functions are needed.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval and shall be repealed on June 30, 2007.