STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3522

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 13

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 13 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF THE STATE ESTABLISHING A UNIVERSAL, NO-COST PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on the feasibility of the State establishing a universal, no-cost pre-kindergarten program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Early Learning Board, Legislative Reference Bureau, Executive Office on Early Learning, and Early Childhood Action Strategy.

Your Committee finds that early learning programs provide a wide spectrum of benefits to children and society at-large. Your Committee further finds, however, that for many, program tuition is cost-prohibitive. Your Committee additionally finds that a handful of states have expanded access to early learning benefits to all children through a universal, no-cost pre-kindergarten program. Accordingly, this measure requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to study the feasibility of a universal, no-cost pre-kindergarten program.

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 S.C.R. No. 13 and recommends that it 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