STAND. COM. REP. NO 488

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 844

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 844 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Executive Office on Early Learning Pre-kindergarten Program to provide high-quality early childhood education to the children of Hawaii.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission, Special Education Advisory Council, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Aloha United Way, Hui for Excellence in Education, Community Children's Council of Hawaii, PHOCUSED, Hawaii State AFL-CIO, Hookakoo Corporation, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Good Beginnings Alliance, Kamehameha Schools, and eight individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Human Services, and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that high-quality early childhood education prepares children for success in school and in life.  The high cost of preschool education in Hawaii is a substantial hurdle for many families.  A state-funded pre-kindergarten program would provide families better access to early childhood education.

     Your Committee further finds that state funded pre‑kindergarten programs will provide early interventions that may prevent the need for a child to receive remediation or more expensive and intensive special education or behavioral services in the future.  Some studies have shown that investment in early childhood education yields future savings through reduced incarceration rates and reduced demand for welfare assistance and other social services.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the Executive Office on Early Learning Pre-kindergarten Program shall be provided through the Executive Office on Early Learning which may partner with the Department of Education;

     (2)  Changing the definition of "underserved children" to children who have no access to, or are not qualified to attend, other early education programs and whose family income is no more than two hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level;

     (3)  Adding language to permit the Department of Education to grant a geographic exception, allowing a child to attend a pre-kindergarten in another service area as the Department of Education deems appropriate; provided that such a request shall be granted if the request is based on the employment location of the parent or guardian of the student;

     (4)  Adding an appropriation to the Department of Education to establish the Executive Office on Early Learning Pre-kindergarten Program, and specifying that the appropriation be in addition to any appropriations made in the Appropriations Act of 2015;

     (5)  Making the measure effective on July 1, 2015, rather than upon approval; and

     (6)  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. 844, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 844, 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,

____________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair