STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1059

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 500

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 500, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Authorize the Executive Office on Early Learning and State Public Charter School Commission to enter a memorandum of understanding to administer the charter school prekindergarten classrooms; and

     (2)  Appropriate monies to continue the support for eighteen charter school prekindergarten classrooms beginning with the 2018-2019 school year.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, State Public Charter School Commission, Early Learning Advisory Board, Kualapu‘u Public Conversion Charter School, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Public Charter School Network, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, Native Hawaiian Education Council, and four individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the State has made significant progress in developing a high-quality public prekindergarten program in Hawaii.  Your Committee further finds that continuation and expansion of the prekindergarten program will benefit young learners and increase the likelihood of their success in school and in the larger community.  This measure will facilitate efficient management and expansion of the public prekindergarten program.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 H.B. No. 500, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 500, H.D. 1, 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