RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the shortage of teachers in Hawaii's public schools is a major impediment to student achievement and school performance; and

WHEREAS, the number of teachers retiring annually, combined with the low retention rate of teachers in the teaching profession, are primary factors that have resulted in the shortage of teachers in Hawaii's public schools; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's teacher education programs produce fewer than half the teachers needed to fill the State's classrooms, with the Department of Education having to recruit teachers annually to fill more vacant teacher positions than there are students graduating with a degree in education; and

WHEREAS, over the past several years, the Department of Education has had to recruit both locally and on the United States mainland to fill teaching positions in classrooms throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, the difficulty in adequately filling classrooms with qualified teachers has prompted policy makers to look at factors that contribute to teacher recruitment and retention, and encourage individuals to pursue a career in teaching; and

WHEREAS, Troops to Teachers and Teach for America are some of the initiatives that recruit new candidates to the teaching profession and prepare professionals for second careers in teaching; and

WHEREAS, an area that shows promising potential for staffing classrooms with qualified teachers is recruiting professionals who seek to become educators as a new or second career; and

WHEREAS, teacher preparation and licensure programs as well as alternative certification requirements would assist professionals who have professional and subject area expertise in their transition from their current career to a new career or a second career in teaching; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Teacher Education Coordinating Committee is requested to recommend alternative methods for teacher education and teacher licensure for individuals pursuing a new or second career in education; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Teacher Education Coordinating Committee submit its recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Interim President and Chair of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, the Dean of the University of Hawaii College of Education, the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, the Executive Director of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, and the President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

Report Title:

TEACHER EDUCATION; ALTERNATIVE METHODS; COORDINATION COMMITTEE