Report Title:

DOE; Parent-Community Networking Centers

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the DOE to provide every public school with a parent-community networking center program at the school-building level, consisting of a part-time parent facilitator, equipment, telephone, and supplies.

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1486

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation for parent-community networking centers.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there are four phases of development in a comprehensive parent-community networking center system of support for students, parents, and teachers. Phases I and II begin with the establishment of a parent-community networking center at the school-building level. The part-time parent-community networking center facilitator offers parents, students, and the community many opportunities to relate with one another, heighten the awareness of their strengths and needs, and learn and support each other and in so doing, create an overall sense of `ohana particularly conducive to learning. Phases III and IV focus on strengthening each classroom unit as a learning community where teachers and parents form very meaningful partnerships to ensure the student's well-being and achievement of performance standards.

Evaluative reports indicate that phase I and phase II parent-community networking centers that are receiving sufficient funds have improved school-community relations, instilled positive attitudinal changes among teachers and parents, and increased the numbers of parents involved in the education of Hawaii's youth. Having generated resources and services for the schools that are four times the amount spent on the program, the parent-community networking center is also the most cost-effective program in the department of education.

Unfortunately, funding for the first and second phases of parent-community networking centers is uneven across the State. In many schools, parent-community networking center funding is dismal or absent. Some schools receive less than twenty-five per cent of the funds normally allotted to parent-community networking centers while other schools receive nothing at all. Consequently, the purpose of this Act is to ensure that every public school has sufficient moneys to fund a parent-community networking center program at the school-building level, consisting of an initial part-time parent facilitator, equipment, telephone, and supplies.

SECTION 2. 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 2001-2002, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, to provide every public school with a parent-community networking center program at the school-building level, consisting of a part-time parent facilitator, equipment, telephone, and supplies.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________