STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2004

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2545

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2545 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is, among other things, to:

     (1)  Establish the Executive Office on Early Learning;

     (2)  Establish the Early Learning Advisory Board to replace the Early Learning Council;

     (3)  Repeal junior kindergarten programs at the end of the 2013-2014 school year;

     (4)  Require students to be at least five years of age on July 31 of the school year in order to attend kindergarten starting with the 2014-2015 school year; and

     (5)  Make an appropriation in an unspecified amount to the Executive Office on Early Learning.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, Department of Education, Department of Human Services, Department of Health, University of Hawai‘i System, Early Learning Council, Childcare Business Coalition, Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children, Child and Family Service, Special Education Advisory Council, Be My Voice Hawai‘i, ‘Aha Punana Leo, Community Children's Council of Hawaii, and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices and Good Beginnings Alliance.

     Your Committee finds that early experiences lay the groundwork for a child's lifelong learning and behavior.  Your Committee further finds that high quality early learning programs that are affordable and accessible for all children are critically important to ensure the success of Hawaii's children. 

Establishing an Executive Office on Early Learning will help the State meet its goal of providing a viable early learning system for the keiki of Hawaii.  In addition, your Committee urges the Executive Office on Early Learning to engage in outreach and collaborate with early education stakeholders, including early learning educators.

Your Committee also notes that the Office of the Governor has requested $500,000 in its budget request to support early learning. 

     As such, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an appropriation of $500,000 to provide the Executive Office on Early Learning with appropriate start up capital; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 2545, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2545, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair