RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Changes the minimum age for entering kindergarten from age 5 by 12/31 to age 5 before 10/16 beginning with the 2005-2006 school year and age 5 before 8/1 beginning with the 2006-2007 school year. Requires cost savings to be used to expand or supplement early education programs.

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Lowers the compulsory education age from six to five years old, making attendance in kindergarten mandatory.

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes community partnerships within public schools; prohibits reduction by legislature or governor of state funds due to private partnerships; establishes statewide community partnerships coordinating council.

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Creates a tuition reimbursement program for persons who complete state-approved teacher education programs in Hawaii and who teach in Hawaii public schools for at least six consecutive years.

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds for 1.00 FTE educational officer position and 1.00 FTE clerk position to increase the professional development and educational research institute's capacity to recruit and train principals and other educational officers for the DOE.

RELATING TO SCHOOL ASSESSMENT LIAISONS.

Appropriates funds for an additional 20.00 FTE school assessment liaison (SAL) positions for the DOE. Requires the DOE to submit a report to the legislature concerning the effectiveness of SALs in helping schools to meet the adequate yearly progress benchmarks required by the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001".

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds for 3.00 additional permanent positions in the public affairs office of the DOE (2.00 FTE public relations specialists and 1.00 FTE clerk typist) and the procurement of necessary consultant services and goods.

RELATING TO COUNSELING.

Appropriates funds to the DOE to hire educational assistants or retired teachers, or both, as paraprofessional test coordinators in order to assist middle school and high school counselors.

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR SCHOOL SAFETY RESOURCE OFFICERS.

Appropriates $391,561 for continued funding of school safety resource officer positions in central O'ahu school district.

RELATING TO SAFETY RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM.

Converts one, full-time equivalent safety director position, one, full-time equivalent account clerk position, and         , full-time equivalent safety resource officer positions in the central departmental school district, safety resource officer program from temporary positions to permanent positions.