Appropriates $5,000 to each school that has a Hawaiian language immersion program for translation of books and materials into Hawaiian. Appropriates staff for the English for second language learners program.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

PART I.

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Hawaiian language immersion program has grown from two sites in 1986 to currently nineteen sites with a student population of approximately fifteen hundred students from kindergarten to grade twelve on five islands. In 1999, the first class of students educated entirely in Hawaiian graduated from high school. Interest in the Hawaiian language immersion program continues to grow and there is a need for instructional materials in Hawaiian. Puohala elementary School, Hauula elementary school, and Kahuku high and intermediate school are the only schools on windward Oahu that currently have Hawaiian language immersion programs.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to support Hawaiian language immersion programs.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $15,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the translation of educational materials from Hawaiian to English in support of the Hawaiian language immersion programs as follows:

PART II.

SECTION 3. The legislature finds that the department of education estimates approximately eighteen thousand students for whom English is a second language. However, teacher position allocations for the English for second language learners program has remained unchanged. In addition to teaching responsibilities, teachers are required to conduct student assessments, placement, monitoring, and documentation for federal compliance. Due to budget constraints, many of these teachers serve in a part-time capacity, which compounds other program challenges such as providing quality, standards-based instruction and support for students who are second language learners.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to support the English for second language learners program by increasing the capacity of resource teachers to serve and train personnel to provide quality instruction and support for students.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $194,700, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for additional staff positions and staff training for the English for second language learners program in windward Oahu public schools as follows:

SECTION 6. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.