STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1174
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2005
RE: S.B. No. 873
S.D. 2
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2005
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 873, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to prepare children for success in their educational experience by:
(1) Requiring the Department of Education (DOE) to staff junior kindergartens with qualified pre-school teachers and pre-school teacher aides, beginning with the 2007-2008 school year; and
(2) Requiring the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to develop standards for teachers and teacher aides assigned to junior kindergarten classrooms.
The University of Hawaii supported the intent of this bill. DOE, the Good Beginnings Alliance, and a concerned individual opposed this measure.
Your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Specifying the qualifications of pre-school teachers and pre-school teacher aides to be hired for junior kindergarten, as follows:
(a) Pre-school teachers who are hired for junior kindergarten must have, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree from an accredited teacher preparation program; and
(b) Pre-school teacher aides who are hired for junior kindergarten must have, at a minimum, an associate's degree in early childhood education from an accredited program;
and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 873, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 873, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ ROY TAKUMI, Chair |
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