HB1724

SECTION 1. Article XV, section 4, of the Hawaii State Constitution, provides that the State of Hawaii has two official languages, Hawaiian and English. Article X, section 4, states that the State shall promote the study of Hawaiian culture, history, and language, and that the State shall provide for a Hawaiian education program consisting of language, culture, and history in the public schools. There is a Hawaiian language public education system, as well as a Hawaiian language college, to provide for education through the use of the Hawaiian language.

However, the legislature believes that the study and integration of the Hawaiian culture and language by educators and administrators can offer insight and understanding of the cultural heritage, learning preferences, and traditions of the native Hawaiian culture to youth attending public schools in Hawaii. The legislature further believes that the learning of Hawaiian culture and language must be deliberately integrated throughout the public school system and must be further encouraged.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Increase the base of public school educators and administrators who are aware, knowledgeable, compassionate, and responsive to the cultural heritage and foundation, learning preferences, and traditions of the native Hawaiian culture; and

(2) Promote, encourage, and integrate the teaching of Hawaiian culture and language in public schools,

by requiring all new teachers, principals, and vice-principals to satisfactorily complete at least one Hawaiian language instruction course as part of their licensing and certification requirements.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-605, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§302A-605 Principals and vice-principals. (a) Principals shall meet the department's certification requirements and shall have not less than five years of appropriate school-level experience of which at least three years shall have been as a teacher.

(b) Vice-principals shall meet the department's certification requirements and shall have appropriate school-level experience as determined by the department.

(c) Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, all new principals and vice-principals shall have satisfactorily completed at least one Hawaiian culture and language course as part of their certification requirements.

[c] (d) On a case-by-case basis, the department may waive the certification requirements and school-level experience for vice-principal candidates with appropriate administrative experience. The department shall establish criteria and reasons for waivers pursuant to chapter 91."

SECTION 3. Section 302A-802, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

"(c) The board shall adopt policies, exempt from chapters 91 and 92, to initiate the following:

(1) Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, require all new teachers to satisfactorily complete at least one course in Hawaiian culture and language as part of the teacher licensing standards;

[~~(1)~~] (2) Develop criteria allowing more individuals with trade or industry experience to teach in vocational, technical, and career pathway programs, and criteria for the issuance of permits allowing qualified individuals to teach when recommended by the superintendent. The department shall be responsible for the review and acceptance of the relevant licenses, certificates, or other qualifications related to an individual's vocational, technical, or career pathway education-related experience that the department deems necessary for a permit. The department shall have the authority to waive the requirement of a bachelor's degree to teach in a vocation, technical, or career pathway education program;

[~~(2)~~] (3) Develop a plan to accept teachers from any state as long as they have completed state-approved teacher education programs and pass relevant Hawaii teacher examinations or their equivalent;

[~~(3)~~] (4) Clarify the requirements, on a state-by-state basis, for out-of-state licensed teachers to obtain a license in Hawaii;

[~~(4)~~] (5) Develop a plan to facilitate licensing for those who intend to teach in Hawaii immersion programs, the island of Niihau, or any other extraordinary situation as defined by the superintendent or the superintendent's designee; and

[~~(5)~~] (6) Pursue full teacher license reciprocity with the mid‑Atlantic states, California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Washington."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1724
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII