STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2228

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2595

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2595 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Make the early learning public prekindergarten program available to all eligible children by the 2020-2021 school year; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds for the program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Children's Action Network, and four individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Executive Office on Early Learning.

     Your Committee finds that prekindergarten programs are a valuable investment in Hawaii's children which encourages student development and lays the foundation for future success.  Early childhood education is particularly vital for at-risk students.  Research indicates that participation in early learning programs dramatically raises a student's likelihood of graduating high school and being employed after graduation, and reduces a student's likelihood of being incarcerated.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing the section appropriating funds for the program; 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. 2595, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2595, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair