STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2311

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2768

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2768 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KINDERGARTEN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, make kindergarten attendance mandatory for children who will be at least five years of age on July 31 of the school year;

     (2)  Require the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Executive Office on Early Learning, to develop a uniform statewide individualized kindergarten readiness program;

     (3)  Establish an individualized kindergarten readiness assessment system within the Department of Education to replace the Hawaii State School Readiness Assessment with more meaningful, individualized data, and reduce the need for and cost of assessments that individual schools are purchasing or developing; and

     (4)  Make an appropriation to the Department of Education for the administration, training, technology, and support necessary for the establishment of the individualized kindergarten readiness assessment system and to establish four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) positions for professional development and training of kindergarten teachers.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Department of Education, Department of Human Services, University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education, Good Beginnings Alliance, Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture, Hawai‘i Association for the Education of Young Children, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii State AFL-CIO, KCAA Preschools of Hawai‘i, Hui for Excellence in Education, IMUAlliance, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawai‘i P-20 Partnerships for Education, and ten individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the League of Women Voters Hawaii and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that many studies show the importance of early childhood education.  Currently, Hawaii does not require that children attend kindergarten, although ninety-seven percent of students eligible to attend do voluntarily enroll in either public or private kindergarten classes.  Those who do not attend kindergarten are typically behind their peers in their academic and social development.  This measure will enhance the educational achievement of Hawaii's youth by making attendance at a public or private kindergarten mandatory, unless otherwise exempted by law.

     Your Committee further finds that a uniform kindergarten assessment process can provide valuable feedback to early learning programs engaged in quality and culturally responsive early learning efforts and can assist parents and families in better understanding their child's learning and development.  Understanding the needs of individual children will help ensure that all children are on track for continued learning and growth.

     Your Committee notes that parents who choose to home school their children will be allowed to continue to do so under this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Increasing the appropriation to the Department of Education from $450,000 to $870,000 for the increased support necessary for establishment of the assessment system, specifically for the hiring of substitute teachers that will be needed as teachers undergo the training and professional development required pursuant to this measure; 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. 2768, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2768, 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 N. TOKUDA, Chair