STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3070
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 3237
H.D. 2
S.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2006
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 3237, H.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to establish an inter-departmental working group to plan a state early learning system.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System. Comments in support of the intent or principle of this measure were submitted by the Department of Education, the Department of Human Services, the Hawaii Educational Policy Center, KCAA Preschools of Hawaii, and the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture. Comments in opposition to this measure were received from the Calvary Episcopal Preschool, Good Beginnings Community Council – Maui, the Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children, the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and Waianae Coast Early Childhood Services. Comments were submitted by the Good Beginnings Alliance Senior Advisory Committee.
Your Committees find that this measure has been the result of diligent efforts made by the early childhood education community in Hawaii, and that several amendments have been suggested to it to build on the ever-evolving development process.
Your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Incorporating amendments suggested by the Good Beginnings Alliance;
(2) Including a provision for a five-year pilot program to be overseen by the Office of Early Learning;
(3) Creating an Office of Early Learning based on the intent of Senate Bill No. 3101, which created an Early Learning Authority;
(4) Adding a policy board to advice and set policy for the Office of Early Learning based on the existing Hawaii Teachers Standards Board; and
(5) Deleting the sunset date of July 1, 2008.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3237, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3237, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Human Services,
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____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair |
____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair |
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