Bill Text: HI SB1095 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Early Childhood Education Program

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-04-26 - Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-26-13 4:00PM in conference room 329. [SB1095 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-SB1095-Amended.html

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1095

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to establish a statewide early childhood education program consisting of providers of high-quality early childhood education to assist families in establishing a solid foundation for success in school so that children graduate from high school prepared for college and a career; provided that either Senate Bill No. 1084 or House Bill No. 853, introduced in the regular session of 2013, which amend article X, section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution, to permit the appropriation of public funds for private early childhood education programs, is enacted and ratified.

     Significant research affirms the positive effects of high-quality early childhood education programs on the physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional outcomes of young children.

     For example, early childhood education is one way to reduce high school dropout rates.  A report released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in 2011 found that students who do not read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school without a diploma, compared to proficient readers.  The likelihood of dropping out of school increases when those students come from low-income families.  After third grade, students are using their reading skills to learn other subjects, and students who do not have the skills by then will be faced with enormous challenges.

     Children who are provided an early childhood education are more likely to succeed in kindergarten and beyond, and more likely to grow into healthy, capable, and contributing adults.  Research emphasizes that high-quality programs are necessary to produce positive outcomes for children, both in the short- and long-term.  Studies have shown that high-quality early childhood education programs are especially effective for at-risk children, including low-income and otherwise disadvantaged children, with the great potential to alter their lifetime trajectories for success.

     Well-executed and well-targeted early childhood education programs have immediate and long-term benefits not only for the children participating in the programs, but also for the societies in which they live, as determined by seminal studies such as those conducted of the HighScope and Chicago Parent-Child Centers programs.  Societies that invest in programs like these boast of higher levels of educational attainment; reduced homelessness, crime, and substance abuse; improved health; and better overall social and economic well-being.  A 2008 study commissioned by the Good Beginnings Alliance found that every $1 invested today in high-quality early childhood education for Hawaii generates more than $4 in future savings and increased earnings through state, federal, and social benefits.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302L, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302L-    Early childhood education program.  (a)  There is established within the early learning system an early childhood education program to be administered by the executive office on early learning.  The program shall:

     (1)  Prepare children for school; and

     (2)  Provide access to high-quality early childhood education that addresses children's physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional development.

     (b)  The program shall serve three- and four-year-old children, with priority given to:

     (1)  Four-year-old children; and

     (2)  Underserved or at-risk children.

     A parent or guardian may enroll their children in the program on a voluntary basis.

     A parent or guardian shall share in the costs of the program through a co-payment according to a sliding fee scale that is based on need and through fulfillment of family participation requirements, as provided by rule.

     The program shall not serve children who are enrolled in or eligible for public elementary education.

     (c)  The office may contract with eligible providers of early childhood education to increase the capacity of the program to provide high-quality early childhood education to children across the State.  Eligible providers shall meet, or develop plans to meet, the standards established under the program pursuant to rule.  The office may provide support to providers to meet these standards.

     (d)  The program standards shall:

     (1)  Include research-based, developmentally appropriate practices that are associated with better educational outcomes for children, such as hiring teachers with a bachelor's degree with twelve credits in early childhood education or child development, curriculum aligned with the Hawaii early learning and development standards, and individual assessments of children based upon all areas of childhood development and learning, including cognitive, linguistic, social-emotional approaches to learning, health, and physical development; and

     (2)  Align with the state content and performance standards for grades kindergarten to twelve to facilitate a seamless and high-quality educational experience for children.

     (e)  The office shall coordinate with other agencies and programs to facilitate comprehensive services for early childhood education.

     (f)  The office shall collect data to evaluate services provided, inform sound policy, and improve the provision of early childhood education through the program.

     (g)  The office shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary to carry out the purposes of this section."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that a constitutional amendment permitting the appropriation of public funds for private early childhood education programs has been ratified.


 


 

Report Title:

Early Childhood Education Program

 

Description:

Establishes the early childhood education program within the early learning system.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

 

 

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

 

 

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