HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2074
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPALS AND VICE-PRINCIPALS.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the department of education currently has requirements for the certification of its principals and vice-principals.  The legislature also finds that the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides educational funds for states that pursue educational reform, and additional funds for those states that qualify for Race to the Top funds by advancing educational reform.  One of the selection criteria for Race to the Top funds is providing alternative routes to certification for teachers and principals.  However, section 302A-605, Hawaii Revised Statutes, currently provides for only one pathway to certification, with exceptions made on a case-by-case basis.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the department of education to establish alternative routes to certification for principals and vice-principals that shall meet the federal government's Race to the Top funds selection criteria.

     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)  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.]

(c)  The department shall determine additional alternative routes to certification for both principals and vice-principals pursuant to chapter 91; provided that the department may on a case-by-case basis waive certification requirements until such time as the alternative routes to certification are established.

(d)  For purposes of this section, "alternative routes to certification" has the same meaning as the term "alternative routes to certification" as determined by United States Department of Education regulations for state applications for Race to the Top fund allocations under section 14001 of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as amended."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Principals and Vice-Principals; Alternative Routes to Certification

Description:

Requires DOE to establish alternative routes to certification for principals and vice-principals.  Allows DOE to, on a case-by-case basis, waive certification requirements until the alternative routes to certification are established.  (HB2074 HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.