STAND. COM. REP. NO. 67

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 921

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 921 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the system of early childhood education in Hawaii by transferring administration of programs related to state-funded prekindergarten, except for special education and Title I funded programs, from the Department of Education to the Executive Office on Early Learning.

The Executive Office on Early Learning, Early Learning Board, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Parents and Children Together, Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture, Hawaii Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and many concerned individuals supported this measure. A concerned individual opposed the measure. The Department of Education submitted comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Granting the Executive Office on Early Learning oversight, as defined and determined by the Early Learning Board, of all state-funded prekindergarten programs, except for special education and Title I funded programs;

(2) Requiring the Department of Education, State Public Charter School Commission, and Executive Office on Early Learning to submit annual reports to the Legislature regarding the number of state-funded prekindergarten classes under their operation, chartering authority, and administration, respectively;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 921, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 921, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair