STAND. COM. REP. NO. 133

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1095

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1095 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to implement an amendment to article X, section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution, upon its ratification, permitting the appropriation of public funds for private early childhood education programs by establishing a statewide early learning childhood education consisting providers of high-quality early childhood education.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor; Department of Education; Department of Human Services; Department of the Attorney General; Department of Health; University of Hawaii System; Hawaii Teacher Standards Board; KCAA Preschools of Hawaii; Imua Family Services; Child & Family Service; Parents and Children Together; Good Beginnings Alliance; Community Children's Council of Hawaii; Hawaii State Parent Teacher Student Association; Protecting Hawaii's Ohana, Children, Under Served, Elderly and Disabled; Hawaii Business Roundtable; Kamehameha Schools; Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children; Westside Service Provider Network; Hui for Excellence in Education; Hawaii Association of Independent Schools; Chaminade University of Honolulu; and twenty-nine individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from three individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that high quality early learning programs that are affordable and accessible for all children are critically important for ensuring the success of Hawaii's keiki.  In addition, significant, long-term benefits realized through investments in high-quality, early learning systems have been proven through decades of research.  Hawaii is one of only eleven states that does not publicly fund early education.

 

     Your Committee recognizes the need to form public-private partnerships to provide Hawaii's keiki with high-quality early childhood education.  This measure, which will be implemented upon the ratification of an amendment to article X, section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution, will allow the Office on Early Learning to contract with private early learning education programs, which have been the mainstay providers for early education in our State.  This program will assist more children in establishing a solid foundation for success in school and life.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1095, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1095, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

 

 

 

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair