STAND. COM. REP. NO. 103

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 687

       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 S.B. No. 687 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Broaden the scope of the early learning program to include early childhood development;

     (2)  Expand the function of the Early Learning Advisory Board beyond an advisory capacity and amend the composition and powers of some board members;

     (3)  Allow the board to appoint and evaluate the director of the Executive Office on Early Learning; and

     (4)  Amend the enrollment priority for prekindergarten.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Kamehameha Schools, Early Childhood Action Strategy, and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that high-quality early learning programs are beneficial to the children who participate in the programs and lead to increased success in school.  Your Committee further finds that low-quality early learning programs can be significantly harmful to the development of participants.  This measure will empower the Executive Office on Early Learning and the Early Learning Board to more effectively implement and support high-quality early learning programs throughout the State.

     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 S.B. No. 687, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 687, 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