HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2554
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to teacher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. (a) There is established within the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes a network improvement community task force to build an infrastructure platform leading to the development of a K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teacher education degree at the University of Hawaii. The task force shall coordinate with the University of Hawaii to develop a pilot K-12 STEM teacher education program coordinated through the University of Hawaii Maui college campus. The goal of the task force shall be to build the capacity for, and eventually establish, a statewide program to recruit, prepare, and retain K-12 STEM teachers that will work in high-need areas, with an emphasis on the teacher graduates being Native Hawaiian, Filipino, or another underrepresented minority group.

(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) The chancellor of the University of Hawaii Maui college;

(2) The complex area superintendent for the Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui complex area;

(3) The head master of Kamehameha Schools Maui; and

(4) The dean of the University of Hawaii Manoa college of education.

The task force may add additional members as it deems necessary.

(c) The task force shall elect a chairperson from among its members.

(d) In developing its infrastructure platform, the task force shall:

(1) Generate baseline data of current K-12 STEM teachers in target areas to determine need, interest, and capacity for recruiting STEM majors to become STEM teachers;

(2) Engage in relationship-building activities for recruiting STEM majors to become K-12 STEM teachers;

(3) Create strong partnerships with receiving high-need complex areas to ensure they are preparing K-12 STEM teachers to teach the complex area curriculum and to teach according to the complex area's professional standards and evaluation metrics; and

(4) Build high-retention, supportive pathways into teaching strategies to retain underrepresented minority teachers.

(e) The task force shall submit an interim report of its progress, including any preliminary findings and recommendations and any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021. The task force shall submit a final report, including any findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2022.

(f) The task force shall be dissolved on July 1, 2022.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 to support the activities of the network improvement community task force established by this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii Maui college for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) STEM entrepreneur-resident located at the University of Hawaii Maui college to provide expertise and assist in the needs of the network improvement community task force established pursuant to this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii Maui college for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; STEM Teacher Education; Task Force; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a network improvement community task force to develop a K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teacher education degree for the University of Hawaii. Appropriates funds.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.