STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3116

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2170

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2170, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Executive Office on Early Learning for an online platform to facilitate professional learning for Executive Office on Early Learning public pre-kindergarten program educators.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Early Learning Board, Hawaii Children's Action Network, and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, which rely on qualified educators, are necessary for positive early learning outcomes, and that early learning educators, including teachers and principals, require ongoing, targeted professional development to implement high-quality pre‑kindergarten classrooms. The Executive Office on Early Learning brings together educators, including principals, several times a year for face-to-face professional learning with other educators. However, educators in rural areas have expressed a feeling of isolation upon returning to their classrooms. This measure appropriates funds for the development and maintenance of an online platform that will provide a tool through which communication between early learning educators can occur and offer resources to these educators, including recorded trainings and meetings, accessible on a continuing basis.

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. 2170, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair