STAND. COM. REP. NO.  365-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2276

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2276 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to help provide much-needed early childhood education for the children of Hawaii by establishing within the early learning system an Early Childhood Education Program, to be administered by the Executive Office on Early Learning.  The Early Childhood Education Program may include private providers and will serve three- and four-year old children, with priority extended to children in the year prior to being eligible to attend kindergarten and underserved or at-risk children.

The Executive Office on Early Learning, Department of Education, Department of Human Services, Department of Public Safety, University of Hawaii, Kualapuu Public Conversion Charter School, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Hawaii P-20, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children, Good Beginnings Alliance, Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Aloha United Way, Hookakoo Corporation, Kamehameha Schools, Hui for Excellence in Education, Kamaaina Kids, Partners in Development Foundation, The Pacific Resource Partnership, Hawaii Community Foundation, PHOCUSED, Hawaii Business Roundtable, and numerous concerned individuals supported the measure.  KCAA Preschools of Hawaii supported the intent of the measure.  The Hawaii State Teachers Association and a concerned individual opposed the measure.  The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii submitted comments.

     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 H.B. No. 2276 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair