Report Title:

Resources for Early Access to Learning (R.E.A.L.); Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for Families for Resources for Early Access to Learning (R.E.A.L.).

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1861

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation for families for resources for early access to learning.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that parents are a child’s first and most important teachers. Brain research reveals that the formation of neural patterns that promote or inhibit learning and healthy development throughout life are dependent on a person’s experiences as a very young child. Therefore, one of the best approaches to a child’s education is to empower parents in their roles of parenting and teaching their young children at home.

Families for R.E.A.L. (Resources for Early Access to Learning), based on Minnesota’s family education model, has proven to positively affect children’s achievement. The emphasis is on empowering parents as their young children’s first teachers, rather than relying upon public school instruction when the child is age five or six.

Families for R.E.A.L. is open to families from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Parents attend classes with their children once a week for nine weeks. Parents learn and share critical parenting and teaching skills, network with one another, learn about community resources, and become aware of what makes a child succeed.

Currently there are three program sites as follows: Pearl City Highlands Elementary School, Leeward District; Kapunahala Elementary School, Windward District; and Wailuku Elementary School, Maui District. Each Families for R.E.A.L. site serves 350-500 families per year. Elementary school teachers consistently report that children who attended Families for R.E.A.L. are more ready to learn than others who do not have the experience. Not surprisingly, each site has a waiting list of 100-500 families.

The department of education plans for the Families for R.E.A.L. program to be established at fourteen school sites contiguous with each adult & community education school service area plus modified models for Molokai, Lanai, and Hana. Schools in the Honolulu, Central, Kauai, and Hawaii districts have already stated that this program is critical in preparing families and their children during their earliest years for success in school and life.

The legislature further finds that the future of local early childhood family education programs is dependent upon research and development of this program and that a local longitudinal study of the effects of Families for R.E.A.L. on student achievement is highly desirable for accountability purposes.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish the Families for R.E.A.L. program in the Honolulu, Central, Kauai, and Hawaii districts and to conduct a longitudinal study of the Families for R.E.A.L. program. SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $455,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, to the Families for R.E.A.L. project to fund four sites as follows:

(1) One full-time parent educator $36,000
(2) One full-time early childhood educator $36,000
(3) One part time temporary (PTT) teacher $15,000
(4) Supplies, equipment, and other costs $ 4,000
Total for each site $91,000

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $25,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, for a longitudinal study of the Families for R.E.A.L. program.

SECTION 4. The sums appropriated in this Act shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.

INTRODUCED BY:

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