Adds a new section to the Education Code to provide teachers with tuition waivers to earn credits towards professional development.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that qualified school teachers, whether public or private, are the single most critical component of a successful education program. School children deserve and require the best teaching methods available in order to succeed in higher education and/or in the marketplace.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a partnership program between the Department of Education and the University of Hawaii to provide public school teachers tuition waivers for education and training that will enhance their professional development.

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

"§302A- Tuition waivers; teachers. There is hereby created a program, to be administered jointly by the department and the University of Hawaii, for the purpose of providing every teacher with tuition waivers for the purpose of earning education and/or training credits that advance the teacher's professional development. For purposes of this section, "professional development" means any course of study or training that will improve a teacher's teaching, researching, and or administrative abilities, and is required for promotion or advancement by the department of education.

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.