Report Title:
Parent-Community Networking Center Program
Description:
Appropriates funds for the parent-community networking center program.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1230 |
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TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to parent-community networking centers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there are four phases of development in a comprehensive parent-community networking center system of support for students, parents, and teachers. Phases I and II begin with the establishment of a parent-community networking center at the school-building level. The part-time parent-community networking center facilitator offers parents, students, and the community many opportunities to relate with one another, heighten the awareness of their strengths and needs, and learn and support each other and in so doing, create an overall sense of `ohana particularly conducive to learning. Phases III and IV focus on strengthening each classroom unit as a learning community where teachers and parents form very meaningful partnerships to ensure the student's well-being and achievement of performance standards.
Evaluative reports indicate that phase I and phase II parent-community networking centers that are receiving sufficient funds have improved school-community relations, instilled positive attitudinal changes among teachers and parents, and increased the numbers of parents involved in the education of Hawaii's youth. Having generated resources and services for the schools that are four times the amount spent on the program, the parent-community networking center is also the most cost-effective program in the department of education.
Unfortunately, funding for the first and second phases of parent-community networking centers is uneven across the State. In many schools, parent-community networking center funding is dismal or absent. Some schools receive less than twenty-five per cent of the funds normally allotted to parent-community networking centers while other schools receive nothing at all. Consequently, one of the purposes of this Act is to ensure that every public school has sufficient moneys to fund a parent-community networking center program at the school-building level, consisting of an initial part-time parent facilitator, equipment, telephone, and supplies. Another purpose of this Act is to begin the long overdue process of taking sixteen schools to phase III and IV of the parent-community networking center concept.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,463,200, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, to:
(1) Provide $504,000 for forty-five schools ($11,200 per school), which are currently funded at $3,300 a year;
(2) Provide $638,000 for forty-four schools ($14,500 per school), which are currently not funded;
(3) Provide $195,200 for sixteen part-time parent-community networking center/classroom parent coordinators ($12,200 per school)(eight elementary and eight middle/intermediate lead school sites in phases III and IV);
(4) Provide $40,000 to establish a new twelve-month family support resource teacher position for program and staff development;
(5) Provide $10,000 to change the existing ten-month parent-community networking center resource teacher position to a ten-month position;
(6) Provide $26,000 for a district parent-community networking center coordinator/trainer position in Kona, Hawaii; and
(7) Provide $50,000 for program research and development, including parent curriculum development, standards for parents as partners in education, an evaluation tool, data collection, and analysis of data on program effectiveness on student achievement.
SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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