HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

130

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

requesting the department of human services to implement a pilot program between the hawaii association of independent schools and the department of human services WITH THE GOAL of allowing the hawaii association of independent school to self-regulate and manage private preschools.

 

 

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools ("HAIS") is an organization of member schools that advocates on behalf of independent education in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, HAIS provides services that strengthen our individual schools, and supports their efforts to achieve educational quality and excellence for students by facilitating collaborative efforts among member schools on issues of concern as well as partnerships to address shared needs; and

WHEREAS, HAIS helps assist member schools by promoting choice as an important community value and assisting parents in learning about independent education; and

WHEREAS, HAIS strives to preserve independence by maintaining a vigilant presence at the Legislature also allows member schools to pursue their missions unencumbered by undue regulations; and

WHEREAS, HAIS also provides members with a number of educational resources that help teaching and learning while promoting professionalism and collaboration by way of presenting premium programs for teachers, schools and students; and

WHEREAS, HAIS offers diversity in curricula and philosophies, quality and richness in academic programs, professional dedicated teachers, and small classes; and

WHEREAS, excellent facilities, safe disciplined, family oriented environments, co-curricular offerings, parent involvement, character development and moral education is also an integral part of what HAIS offers students and parents; and

WHEREAS, in the last decade, the pre-schools have moved away from the play-oriented programs and have been offering programs based upon basic academic skills in order to prepare three and four year-olds for the future demands of kindergarten and first grade; and

WHEREAS, effective preschool are those whose programs reflect a variety of activities such as free choice making, creating, interacting, discovering and reading books so that each child will be developed socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually; and

WHEREAS, HAIS is also proposing a working public-private partnership with the Department of Human Services in order to build a coordinated system of programs, policies, and services that respond to the needs of families wanting to send their children to a private preschool; and

WHEREAS, HAIS is committed to take on the expense of self-licensing private preschools, freeing up resources for the Department of Human Services; and

WHEREAS, should private preschools want to achieve accreditation, HAIS currently provides assistance; and

WHEREAS, accreditation covers the areas of philosophy, organization, staffing, curriculum, classroom and school facilities, support services, food services, parent participation, education, and finances, which also include health and safety; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Human Services is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that private preschools maintain health and safety standards; and

WHEREAS, HAIS maintains a strict Code of Standards of Conduct for members in order to promote the highest standards of service and professional conduct among its members. Adherence to these standards serves to assure the public confidence in the integrity and service of educators in admissions; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that the House of Representatives requests that the Department of Human Services implement a pilot public-private partnership program between the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools and the Department of Human Services for the goal of eventually allowing the HAIS to self-regulate and manage private preschools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that because the Department of Human Services currently licenses all private preschools, that HAIS work in conjunction with the Department of Human Services as part of a cooperative partnership to set up health and safety standards for HAIS; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Services and HAIS provide the Legislature with the best regulatory options enabling HAIS to self-govern private preschools as they already do for Kindergarten through 12th grade; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Services and HAIS are requested to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any necessary implementing legislation, at least 20 days prior to the covening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Department of Human Services, and the Executive Director and Associate Director of Licensing and Accreditation of HAIS.

 

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Hawaii Association of Independent Schools