Bill Text: HI HB2453 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 2453 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: State Public Charter School Commission; New Charter Schools; Start-Up Grants; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2016-04-29 - The conference committee deferred the measure. [HB2453 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HB2453-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2453
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that certain department of education schools, such as those located in leeward Oahu, are operating at or near-full capacity and struggling with severe overcrowding. Additionally, public school capacity concerns have been raised in connection with the projected construction of residential high-rises in the Kakaako community development district.

Section 302D-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, provides for the creation of new start-up public charter schools. Public charter schools could be a crucial piece of a larger solution to address school overcrowding as public charter schools can often be established and begin operation in less time than it would take to establish and open a new school under the department of education. The state public charter school commission identified the following priority needs for applications in its 2015-2016 request for proposals for new public charter schools:

(1) New schools that would provide additional school capacity in geographic areas in which existing public schools are already exceeding, have already reached, or are projected to reach or exceed full enrollment capacity; and

(2) New schools that would serve communities in which existing public schools are not performing well academically, as measured by the State's strive HI performance system and other student outcomes, and that present a plan for improving these outcomes.

Although the State previously provided start-up grants to assist public charter schools with their pre-opening costs before operating funds become available to them, currently, pre-opening charter schools receive no state assistance in meeting these significant challenges.

The purpose of this Act is to provide funding for start-up grants to assist one or more new pre-opening charter schools.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for start-up grants for pre-opening public charter schools that will meet the priority needs identified by the state public charter school commission in its request for proposals for new schools. The state public charter school commission shall establish grant criteria and guidelines for use of grant funds.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the state public charter school commission for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

State Public Charter School Commission; New Charter Schools; Start-Up Grants; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates moneys for start-up grants for newly approved, pre-opening public charter schools. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

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