Appropriates funds to address educational needs, specifically teacher shortage. (CD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The Reinventing Education Act of 2004, Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004 (Act 51), mandated a new spending method of funding education using a weighted student formula, which allocates funds based upon student characteristics rather than based upon enrollment and particular school programs. The implementation of the weighted student formula beginning next year will cause considerable adjustments to be made by many schools, and the loss of funds for some. This year, an additional $20,000,000 has been appropriated directly to schools to support improved student achievement. The legislature has provided these appropriations as foundational funding to ease the transition to the weighted student formula allocation method which shall be distributed uniformly among schools based upon level—-whether it is an elementary, middle, high school, or combination school.

The foundation funding will prevent any school from losing funds for the school year 2006-2007, and will in fact provide additional funds to every school. However, one need that remains to be addressed is the continued teacher shortage in our State.

The legislature finds that Hawaii continues to have a critical shortage of trained teachers within the public school system. Research indicates that teacher quality is one of the most influential factors in student achievement. Standards-based reform has a greater chance of success when teacher quality is addressed simultaneously. In an effort to provide quality education for its students, the department of education continues to recruit highly qualified teachers from within the State of Hawaii and the continental United States. As more "baby-boom" teachers in Hawaii and across the nation retire, the task of recruiting highly qualified teachers becomes more challenging each year.

One way to address the teacher shortage is with programs like the Hawaii teacher cadet program, through which high school students interested in educational careers may be specifically targeted and their skill sets enhanced towards becoming an educator. Such programs provide students with information, field experiences, and insights into teaching in Hawaii schools, and can guide and support Hawaii's future teachers to ensure success in the profession.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to address educational needs, specifically the teacher shortage in Hawaii.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $150,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for teacher training and support.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Department of Education to carry out the purpose of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.