Requires DOE to use empty classrooms and identify construction sites for early childhood education facilities. Authorizes DOE to inspect early childhood education facilities. Requests studies on the progress of the various private early childhood education programs and the age limits for public school junior kindergarten. Appropriates funds. (SD2)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Early childhood education is a critical component in the development of children. Studies have shown that children who do not have access to quality programs may enter kindergarten more than a year behind their peers.

Currently, reports indicate only fifty-five per cent of Hawaii's four year olds attend pre-school, while half of the kindergarten teachers report their students are entering school unprepared. According to the Good Beginnings Alliance, early childhood education programs are operating at about ninety-two per cent of their enrollment capacity. This high demand with limited supply increases the tuition for preschool programs, preventing fixed income families from sending their children to these programs.

In 2001, the State established the pre-plus program to expand access to affordable and quality early childhood education for children from low income families. This program utilizes public-private sector partnerships to create preschool programs on public school campuses. Each facility is operated by a provider who determines the cost of the program and is responsible for seeking the necessary funds for its operation. The pre-plus program has thirteen preschool sites to accommodate two hundred sixty students ages three to four. Other programs have enhanced access of low income families to preschool education, such as the child care connection Hawaii and preschool open doors programs administered by the department of human services. However, the demand for preschool programs requires additional support from the State and the identification or construction of facilities to increase capacity.

The legislature further finds that changes need to be made to ensure a sufficient number of qualified teachers for early childhood education. Teachers who have four-year college degrees and specialized training on how to educate young children are needed to support early childhood education programs. To improve the situation, funding for early childhood education training needs to be increased.

The purpose of this Act is to increase the State's support of early childhood education programs by:

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

"§302A-   Early childhood education facilities; identifying sites; inspections. (a) The department shall identify unused public school facilities for use by state early childhood education programs. Suitable empty classrooms, as determined by the department, shall be prepared and utilized for state early childhood education programs to ensure that licensing standards, as determined by the departments of education and human services, are met. Priority shall be provided to facilities on sites with sufficient space for three or more classrooms to be renovated or constructed.

(b) The department shall assist in the identification of possible construction sites for private providers to build early childhood education facilities.

(c) The department shall inspect each early childhood education program facility as frequently as it deems necessary for the proper operation, sanitation, and safety of the facility. The inspections shall be made at least once annually. All early childhood education program facilities shall be open at all times to visitation and inspection by representatives of the departments of education, human services, and health, and by designated representatives of the respective county fire departments."

SECTION 3. Early childhood education task force. (a) There is established a temporary task force within the department of education to review the progress of early childhood education programs in the State. The task force may use asset mapping to ensure complete geographical identification of the location of programs and the population being served.

(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:

(c) The chair of the task force shall be designated by the members of the task force.

(d) The task force shall:

(e) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including recommended legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2006 and shall cease to exist on June 30, 2006.

(f) The legislative reference bureau shall draft proposed legislation for the task force.

SECTION 4. The department of human services shall work with the counties to develop efficient procedures to streamline the permit process for early childhood education facilities.

SECTION 5. 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 2005-2006, for department of education renovations to public school facilities and supplies for classrooms.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. 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 2005-2006, for supplemental training for early childhood education teachers and staff.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 7. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 5 and 6 shall be effective on July 1, 2005.