Establishes a Hawaii master teacher program for Hawaii public and charter schools. Offers a $10,000 bonus stipend per year to national board certified teachers who commit to teach in a school in need of improvement, including charter schools, that are classified as planning for restructuring, restructuring, or in corrective action.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. National board certification is a professional development process based on high and rigorous advanced standards guided by five core propositions that articulate what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. The five core propositions are: (1) teachers are committed to students and their learning; (2) teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students; (3) teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning; (4) teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience; and (5) teachers are members of learning communities. National board certification is administered and conferred by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of teachers and other education stakeholders who work to strengthen the teaching profession and improve student learning. Certification is a voluntary process open to anyone with a baccalaureate degree and three years of classroom experience under a valid state teaching license. Currently, there are 111 national board certified teachers in Hawaii public schools who have gained exceptional expertise and skill by going through the process of national board certification. These teachers are a resource of leadership that can help our public and charter schools succeed.

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

"§302A - Hawaii master teacher program. (a) There is established within the department the Hawaii master teacher program to allow schools in need of improvement to use a national board certified teacher to serve as a master teacher in their schools.

(b) Master teachers who commit to teaching for a minimum of three consecutive years at schools in need of improvement and who, in addition to the normal teaching duties and responsibilities required:

(c) Upon completing three consecutive years of teaching at the school in need of improvement, the teacher will have return rights to their previous school of employment.

(d) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for carrying out the purposes of this section."

SECTION 3. Section 302A-101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

""Master teacher" means a teacher who has achieved national board certification under the certification program of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, who agrees to teach and mentor in a school in need of improvement for at least three years.

"Schools in need of improvement" means a school, including new century and conversion charter school, which the department has classified as planning for restructuring, restructuring, or in corrective action, as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act and the department."

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $800,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 2006-2007 for the Hawaii master teacher program to provide bonus stipends to Hawaii master teachers. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purpose of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.