Bill Text: HI SB751 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Early Childhood Education Scholarships.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [SB751 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SB751-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
751 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to early childhood education scholarships.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that improving access to prekindergarten in the State is critical to equipping children and their families with the tools needed to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Today, more than forty per cent of Hawai‘i's children start kindergarten without participating in an early learning program, missing out on crucial opportunities to learn cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical skills that support further educational success.
The legislature further finds that a family living in the United States spends, on average, about $16,000 per year on quality child care. In Hawai‘i, a high cost of living results in many local families forgoing necessary child care due to financial burden.
Act 257, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, represents a historic $200 million commitment to local families by increasing prekindergarten student capacity within the State, including construction of new facilities and improvement of existing facilities. However, with an increase in facility capacity comes a corresponding need for qualified prekindergarten teachers and support staff.
The legislature further finds that the department of education partners with the executive office on early learning to operate the executive office on early learning public prekindergarten program. The program employs directors, teachers, and assistant teachers throughout the State -- all positions that require the completion of post-secondary education. Many individuals are deterred from pursuing a career in prekindergarten by the oftentimes high cost of acquiring the necessary credentials.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish an early childhood education scholarship program to be administered by the University of Hawaii to assist students with school tuition in return for a service commitment to teach in the executive office on early learning public prekindergarten program.
SECTION 2. Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II, subpart B, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§304A- Early childhood education scholarship
program. (a) There is established the early childhood
education scholarship program to be administered by the University of Hawaii. The early childhood education scholarship
program shall assist students with school tuition in return for a service
commitment to teach in the executive office on early learning public
prekindergarten program.
(b)
The early childhood education scholarship program shall cover the cost
of tuition and fees for a complete course of study that qualifies an individual
to teach at a prekindergarten program; provided that a recipient who fails to
maintain satisfactory academic progress shall be terminated from the early
childhood education scholarship program and shall be required to repay the
portion of the scholarship already dispensed on the recipient's behalf.
(c) Recipients shall be required to complete
three years of teaching in the executive office on early learning public
prekindergarten program established pursuant to section 302L-7. If a recipient fails to complete the required
three-year service commitment, the recipient shall reimburse the University of
Hawaii for the full amount of the award received from the scholarship program.
(d) The number of scholarships awarded annually
shall be determined by the University of Hawaii and shall be subject to the
availability of funds.
(e) The University of Hawaii shall establish necessary policies and procedures to implement and sustain the scholarship program, including application procedures, eligibility requirements, and standards to determine which applicants are awarded scholarships."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the establishment of the early childhood education scholarship program.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Early Childhood Education; Scholarship; University of Hawaii; Executive Office on Early Learning Public Prekindergarten Program; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes
the Early Childhood Education Scholarship Program within the University of Hawaii
to assist students with school tuition in return for a service commitment to
teach in the Executive Office on Early Learning Public Prekindergarten Program. Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
