Creates early childhood system including early learning authority, workforce and professional development institute; and early learning districts; establishes early childhood education task force as transitional board for early learning authority for one year. Appropriates $3.5 million to support new system.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the foundation of a child's life is developed within the first eight years, and any interruption in a child's development trajectory can require expensive intervention in later years. There is a great need in Hawaii for varied, high-quality care and learning options that support the whole child with regard to health, special needs, nutrition, physical development, safety, and early learning. Interagency coordination and collaboration are essential to ensure children's optimal development in all domains and the most effective use of resources. Successful transition to elementary school requires effective collaboration, communication, and continuity between early learning sites and elementary schools.

The purpose of this Act is to build upon the 2005 recommendations of the Early Childhood Education Task Force and by creating the framework for an early learning system which will include an early learning authority, a public/private advisory board, a workforce and professional development institute, and early learning districts.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part    

§   -1 Declaration of intent. The early learning system will provide equal opportunities for early learning, health, social, and family resources that are responsive to families. The system is focused on providing quality early learning experiences for children, recognizes families as children's first and most important teachers, and provides for parental choice among high quality learning settings that ensure successful transition of all children to elementary school. The system will provide for children's care and educational needs, prenatal to age eight, through a seamless, coordinated, and integrated system. Early learning districts, through their respective community councils, would assess needs, find gaps, and develop a plan to make use of the variety of early childhood programs and services offered at an affordable price.

§   -2 Definitions. As used in this chapter:

"Authority" means the early learning authority.

"Institute" means the workforce and professional development institute.

§   -3 Early learning authority. (a) There is established within the department of education for administrative purposes the early learning authority. The goals of the authority shall be to:

§   -4 Executive director. The governor shall appoint an executive director, who may be appointed without regard to chapters 76 and 77, who shall be responsible for the authority. The executive director shall be appointed on the basis of professional competence and experience in the field of early childhood education.

§   -5 Advisory board. (a) There is created the advisory board for the authority. The board shall be placed within the department of education for administrative purposes and shall consist of       members appointed by the governor as provided in section 26-34.       of the members shall be appointed from a list of       nominees submitted by the speaker of the house of representatives and       shall be appointed from a list of       nominees submitted by the president of the senate.

(b) The members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

(c) The twenty members of the early childhood education task force established pursuant to Act 151 of 2005 shall serve as the advisory board for the authority for fiscal year 2006-2007.

§   -6 Early learning districts. There shall be established four early learning districts, one for each of the counties of Honolulu, Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui. Each district shall have an early learning council as provided in this section.

§   -7 Early learning councils. (a) There shall be established in each early learning district an early learning council. The councils shall be placed within the department of education for administrative purposes and shall consist of       members appointed by the governor as provided in section 26-34.       of the members shall be appointed from a list of       nominees submitted by the speaker of the house of representatives and       shall be appointed from a list of       nominees submitted by the president of the senate. The goals of each council shall be to:

(b) The members of each council shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

§   -8 Workforce and professional development institute. (a) There is established in the department of education for administrative purposes a workforce and professional development institute. The goals of the institute shall be to:

(b) The governor shall appoint an institute director, who may be appointed without regard to chapters 76 and 77, who shall be responsible for the institute. The institute director, in collaboration with the institute advisory board and the authority advisory board, shall:

(c) There shall be established an institute advisory board appointed by the governor pursuant to section 26-34, whose members shall include representatives from center-based, family childcare, play and learn, and home visiting/parent education direct service providers, higher education, and community-based trainers and training organizations.

(d) The members of the institute advisory board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3,500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to carry out the purposes of this Act, including the hiring of necessary staff. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.