STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1498

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 820

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 820, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Executive Office on Early Learning Pre-kindergarten Program to provide high-quality early childhood education to the State's children.

 

The measure also gives priority to:

 

(1)  At-risk children; and

 

(2)  Underserved children who are not qualified to attend other early childhood education programs and whose family income is no more than two hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, State Public Charter School Commission, Aha Punana Leo, Aloha United Way, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Good Beginnings Alliance, Hawaii State Teachers Association, HEE Coalition, PHOCUSED, and two individuals.  The Department of Education submitted written comments on the measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that early childhood education prepares children for success in school and in life, but that many of the State's families cannot afford to send their children to costly early childhood education programs. 

 

Your Committee further finds that this measure will help more of the State's children prepare for a lifetime of learning and develop key social, cognitive, emotional, and physical skills by making early childhood education more accessible to children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to participate.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 820, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair