Authorizes tuition waivers for special education and education administration majors at the University of Hawaii (SD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a critical shortage of special education teachers and education administration officers in the State’s public school system. The legislature further finds that tuition waivers would provide incentive and support to encourage students to pursue special education licensure and school administrator certification. The University of Hawaii college of education offers tuition waivers for students that are limited in number and available only for critical shortage areas in education. In addition, the department of education provides tuition waivers for student teachers. However, this program is funded with moneys allocated on a year by year basis to comply with the Felix Consent Decree.

The legislature further recognizes that the department of education has identified criteria of coursework and study to qualify an individual to be an educational administrator.

The purpose of this Act is to encourage, recruit, and retain special education teachers and education administration officers in the State’s public school system.

SECTION 2. Chapter 304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§304-   Special education teacher and education administration officer incentive program; tuition waiver. (a) In addition to any other tuition waivers provided under this chapter, there is established a special education teacher and education administration officer incentive program at the University of Hawaii to provide tuition waivers to undergraduate students and graduate level students who pursue an academic curriculum which would qualify them as special education teachers or education administration officers in Hawaii’s public schools.

(b) To be eligible for a tuition waiver, an applicant shall agree in writing that the applicant will pursue a field of study leading to a degree in special education or education administration and will seek and maintain employment in the applicant's chosen field of study for a period of not less than five years in any public school within the State.

(c) The board of regents shall adopt rules as necessary pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purpose of this section and address the following requirements:

(d) Tuition waivers granted under this section are not cumulative and may not be granted to an applicant who is the recipient of any other waiver provided under this chapter."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, to provide tuition waivers for students to pursue special education licensure and school administrator certification and work in Hawaii’s public education school system.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.