RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the department of education to staff qualified pre-school teachers and pre-school teacher aides in junior kindergartens beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.

RELATING TO TEACHERS.

Implements various programs and amendments to encourage teacher retention and recruitment. Appropriates funds.

RELATING TO TEACHERS.

Establishes teacher licensure reciprocity with other states' licensure and national board certification.

RELATING TO TEACHERS.

Allows the department of education to hire individuals with a license from another state and teaching experience as reciprocal hires and to authorize alternative licensing routes based on performance-based standards and giving credit toward licensing for prior teaching experience in public schools outside of Hawaii and at accredited private schools, colleges, or universities.

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Allows certain teacher loans to be forgiven after employment at a neighbor island public school for a specified number of years as determined by the department. Appropriates funds.

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOLS.

Appropriates funds to develop and establish professional development schools within Hawaii public schools to train preservice teachers.

RELATING TO TEACHERS.

Provides a tax deduction of up to $250 for classroom supply expenses incurred by a public school administrator, teacher or other staff member.

RELATING TO THE TEACHER CADET PROGRAM.

Provides funding to expand the teacher cadet program to include six additional public schools.

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to address teacher shortage.

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Facilitates the transfer of positions and funds to the DOE, reduces class size in junior kindergarten and grade three, and enhances DOE access to information technology. Allows the DOE to carry over unencumbered funds.