Report Title:

Quality Early Childhood Education

Description:

Requires the board of education to develop a graduated system for ranking of early childhood education providers.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1505

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO EARLY EDUCATION PLAN.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature recognizes that recent neuroscience research has shown that the early years of a child are the most crucial in a child's cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development. Research has also affirmed that there are tremendous opportunities for preventative work with children and families, as well as the predicable, costly consequences of failing to take advantage of these opportunities.

To encourage early childhood education providers to move in this direction, this Act establishes a graduated system to rank providers based on quality early education criteria developed by the board. The ranking system is intended to serve as a basis for ensuring that quality early education is provided to all children.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-410, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§302A-410 Quality early education plan. (a) The department plan for quality early education shall focus on children from ages four up to six years.

(b) The board shall adopt standards and criteria for quality early education based on current national standards and the needs of Hawaii's children. The standards and criteria shall provide the basis upon which the early education plan shall be developed.

(c) The department of education shall work cooperatively with the department of human services, the department of health, college level education programs, early education organizations, parents of young children, and other appropriate organizations, in developing a quality early education plan. The plan shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1) Standards for curriculum, activities, facilities, and teacher training for early childhood education;

(2) Methods and materials designed to involve and educate parents and guardians in the education and development of their young children;

(3) A timetable and implementation schedule, approved by the board, to be submitted to the governor and the legislature;

(4) Costs for delivery of early childhood services, including how costs can be shared between the public and private sectors; and

(5) Assessment of training and certification capacity of teachers, including assurances by teacher training institutions to recruit and graduate qualified staff for early childhood education.

(d) Early education shall be delivered through private providers to the maximum extent possible, and provision shall be made to enable parents and guardians to opt for home care if they so choose by providing early childhood education resources in each school for in-home use.

(e) The board shall develop a graduated system to rank early childhood education providers that shall be based on the standard and criteria adopted pursuant to subsection (b).

[(e)] (f) Beginning with the 1997-1998 school year, this section shall be interpreted as though the term "certification" read "licensing", as the term is used in part III, subpart D, and as circumstances require."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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