STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1069-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2236

      S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2236, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support early learning in Hawaii by:

     (1)  Authorizing the Executive Office on Early Learning to enter into agreements with the Department of Education and charter schools to use available classrooms for public preschool classrooms;

     (2)  Requiring the Executive Office on Early Learning to enter into contracts with no more than five charter schools for the use of available classrooms for public preschool classrooms; and

     (3)  Appropriating funds for the use of preschool classrooms.

The Executive Office on Early Learning; Department of Education; Department of Human Services; State Public Charter School Commission; Early Learning Advisory Board; Hawaii Association of Independent Schools; Hui for Excellence in Education; PHOCUSED: Protecting Hawaii's Ohana, Children, Under Served, Elderly and Disabled; Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Pacific Resource Partnership; IMUAlliance; and numerous concerned individuals supported the bill.  The Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children supported the intent of the measure.  The Hawaii State Teachers Association supported the bill with amendments.  Kamehameha Schools 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 S.B. No. 2236, S.D. 2, 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