Report Title:

Early Childhood Education; Appropriation

Description:

Creates a pilot program for universal access to early childhood education for children age 5 or younger whose families are unable to afford quality early childhood education. Makes appropriations.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

365

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

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 legislature finds that public investment in universal pre-kindergarten education provides a strong public and private return. Currently, sixty-two per cent of mothers in Hawaii work full-time and often lose productivity due to inadequate childcare. Statistics show that over half of Hawaii's children enter kindergarten up to two years behind. As children continue to enter school unprepared, these negative outcomes will persist. Universal access to early childhood education can relieve and solve these childcare and educational problems.

Hawaii's history is strong in early childhood education programs and awareness. The State has created programs such as preschool open doors, A+, pre-plus, and Healthy Start. Further, intermediaries like the Good Beginnings Alliance provide system oversight and coordination over such programs. With these programs in place, the State has laid the ground level for preschool standards and professional development systems with increased opportunities. Universal pre-kindergarten has been endorsed by Hawaii's School Readiness Task Force, Hawaii's P-20 Initiative, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and the Hawaii Business Roundtable as the next step.

Currently, high expense is the reason that prevents parents from sending their children to preschool. However, awareness of the benefits is high among residents. An overwhelming majority agrees that preschool has positive academic and workforce impacts. Eighty-three per cent of residents polled believe that preschool increases academic achievement and seventy-nine per cent agree employees experience absences due to difficulty in locating reliable childcare. A large majority favors a state subsidized preschool based on income levels and perceives it as extremely important for the state to increase funding for preschool.

The legislature further finds that the preschool open doors program has been successful in providing quality services to prepare young children for school. The program, which provides money to preschools that parents choose to send their children to, assists preschools in hiring qualified teachers with appropriate degrees or training in early childhood education.

The purpose of this Act is to create a one-year pilot program for universal access to early childhood education and appropriate funds to the department of human services.

SECTION 2. Early childhood education pilot program. (a) The department of human services shall establish a one-year pilot program to provide universal access to early childhood education for children age five and under to families in critical need as determined by the department.

In the development of the pilot program, the department shall consider implementing community-based models that emphasize parent-child interaction, such as the Home Instruction Program for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), which supports families of children age five and under in their role as the child's first teacher. The department shall incorporate into the pilot program home and community-based programs that give parents the tools, skills, and confidence they need to prepare their children for school success. Program curriculum shall be research-based and the outcomes proven through evaluation. The goal of the pilot program shall be to bring families, organizations, and communities together as well as remove the barriers to participation in school readiness programs.

(b) The department shall develop standards and qualifications for participation in the pilot program and focus on families whose income level is below two hundred and fifty per cent of the federal poverty level.

(c) The department shall submit a report on the pilot program, including its status, outcomes, findings, and recommendations as to how to improve universal access to early childhood education to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2006.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for the early childhood education pilot program for children age five and under.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $8,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for the preschool open doors program.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval;

provided that sections 3 and 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2005.

INTRODUCED BY:

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