STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2612

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2545

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2545, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a comprehensive approach to developing and implementing early learning strategies for Hawaii's children.

     Specifically, the measure:

     (1)  Establishes the Executive Office on Early Learning;

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

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

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

     (5)  Makes an appropriation of $500,000 to pay for expenses for the Executive Office on Early Learning.

     Written comments in support of this measure were submitted by the Department of Education; Department of Human Services; Be My Voice Hawaii-Leadership Council; and Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children.  Written comments in opposition of this measure were submitted by the HE'E Coalition.  Written comments on the measure were submitted by the Hawaii State Teachers Association and Good Beginnings Alliance.

     Your Committee finds that early childcare systems that encourage learning at early ages provide significant, long-term benefits and that there is a need for high-quality early learning programs for the children of Hawaii.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that one purpose of the measure is to provide for an implementation plan and projected financials to ensure a seamless transition from junior kindergarten to the Keiki First Steps Program;

     (2)  Requiring the transfer of the Hawaii Head Start State Collaboration Office from the Department of Human Services to the Executive Office On Early Learning;

     (3) Changing the appropriation to establish the

          Executive Office on Early Learning to an unspecified sum; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2545, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2545, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair