STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2352

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2052

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2052 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Add early childhood education students to the Hawaii educator loan program to allow the education loans of those individuals to be forgiven after an appropriate number of years teaching in early childhood education; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Executive Office on Early Learning, State Public Charter School Commission, Kamehameha Schools, Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Life Alliance, and a private individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that it is in the earliest years before brain development is largely complete that our children need the best teachers. Qualified teachers have the requisite understanding to support preschoolers and families living in difficult circumstances too. Teachers who are prepared to support children's developmental needs help to prevent instances of stress-induced behavior problems, inappropriate referrals to special education, and suspensions or expulsions. Your Committee further finds that this measure will incentivize the development of a pool of highly qualified early childhood professionals for the State.

Your Committee further finds that the other jurisdictions have similar loan forgiveness programs with a five-year term of service.

Your Committee has amended this measure by shortening the amount of time an early childhood educator must work in the field to have their loan forgiven from seven to five years.

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. 2052, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2052, 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,

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair