STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1609-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 17

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.R. No. 17 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE REGARDING THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL SPACE AVAILABLE TO BE USED FOR PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS AND THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS CERTIFIED TO TEACH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Education to report to the Legislature regarding the amount of public school space available to be used for the establishment of public preschool classrooms and the number of current public school teachers who are licensed to teach early childhood education.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Early Learning Board and Executive Office on Early Learning.

Your Committee finds that investments in early childhood education pay dividends for the formal preparation of children as learners and future citizens. Your Committee further finds that during the COVID-19 pandemic, preschool enrollment declined precipitously, with the State's public preschool system operating at approximately fifty-five percent capacity in March 2021, and the State's private preschool enrollment decreasing by nearly a third during the same time period. Your Committee believes that utilizing available public school space for the establishment of public preschool classrooms will expand preschool opportunities for many families and their young children.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the department of Education is urged to include in its report an analysis of the amount of classroom space not used for instructional purposes, rather than vacant classroom space available; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 17, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 17, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair