Report Title:

Education; Professional Development Schools; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to establish professional development schools within Hawaii public schools to train preservice teachers.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2655
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that, pursuant to Act 313, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, the legislature supported and funded the establishment and support of professional development schools in Hawaii.  Professional development schools, wherein a public school enters into formal agreements with teacher education programs that address standards-based education and teacher preparation, equip teachers with the resources and skills necessary to ensure that all students attain their full potential.  An important component of professional development schools is mentoring and induction, which is only part of a holistic approach focused on a specific school or an entire complex.  Professional development schools are based on shared decision-making between all parties to improve student learning.  Professional development schools have proven successful in:  (1) helping hard-to-fill schools grow their own future teachers; (2) better preparing teacher candidates to teach; (3) positively impacting preschool through grade twelve student achievement; and (4) improving teacher retention.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the establishment of professional development schools in public schools in the State.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $300,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the establishment of three professional development schools in Hawaii public schools; provided that:

     (1)  The department of education shall allocate funds to professional development schools by means of competitive grants subject to the availability of resources;

     (2)  A grant application shall include a description of how the professional development school will meet the professional development school standards of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and the department's six images of success:

          (A)  Standards-based learning;

          (B)  Professionalism and the capacity of the system;

          (C)  Quality of student support;

          (D)  Coordinated team work;

          (E)  Responsiveness of the system; and

          (F)  Focused and sustained action;

     (3)  Five per cent of the funds appropriated for the establishment and continued development of professional development schools shall be set aside for program administration, including an annual professional development school conference;

     (4)  Grants may be awarded for up to five years at a time and may be renewable; and

     (5)  Professional development schools shall present annual reports to the department and shall present findings at the annual professional development schools conference. 

     For the purposes of this Act, "professional development schools" means those public schools, consortia of schools, or departments within schools that have entered into formal agreements with state-approved teacher education programs to address standards-based education, teacher preparation, and professional development.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

INTRODUCED BY:

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