HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

175

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO IMPLEMENT A PILOT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM WITH THE HAWAII ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND HAWAII CATHOLIC SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT WITH THE GOAL OF ALLOWING THE HAWAII ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND HAWAII CATHOLIC SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT TO SELF-REGULATE AND MANAGE THEIR 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 assists member schools by promoting choice as an important community value and helps parents learn about independent education; and

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

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

WHEREAS, effective preschools are those with programs that involve a variety of activities, including free choice-making, creating, interacting, discovering, and reading--activities that help children to develop socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually; and

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

WHEREAS, HAIS provides members with various educational resources to improve teaching and learning while promoting professionalism and collaboration, including premium programs for teachers, schools, and students; and

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

WHEREAS, excellent facilities, safe and disciplined family-oriented environments, co-curricular activities, parent involvement, character development, and moral education are also integral parts of HAIS' services to students and parents; and

WHEREAS, HAIS maintains a strict Code of Standards of Conduct, ensuring the highest standards of service and professional conduct among its members, and adherence to these standards ensures public confidence in the integrity and service of educators; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Catholic Schools Department (HCSD) performs functions similar to HAIS for Hawaii's Catholic elementary schools; and

WHEREAS, HAIS and HCSD currently provide assistance to private preschools that want to achieve accreditation; 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 all involve health and safety issues; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is tasked with the responsibility to ensure that private preschools maintain health and safety standards; and

WHEREAS, HAIS and HCSD are proposing a working public-private partnership with DHS to build a coordinated system of programs, policies, and services that better respond to the needs of families who want to send their children to private preschools; and

WHEREAS, HAIS and HCSD are committed to covering the expenses of self-licensing private preschools, thereby freeing up resources for DHS; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Human Services is requested to implement a pilot public-private partnership program with the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools and Hawaii Catholic Schools Department with the goal of eventually allowing HAIS and HCSD to self-regulate and manage their private preschools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that HAIS and HCSD are requested to work in conjunction with DHS, the current licensing authority for all private preschools, as part of a cooperative partnership to set up health and safety standards for private preschools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DHS, HAIS, and HCSD provide the Legislature with the best regulatory options that will enable HAIS and HCSD to self-govern private preschools as they already do for kindergarten through the twelfth grade; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DHS, HAIS, and HCSD are requested to submit their findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any necessary implementing legislation, at least 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services, Executive Director and Associate Director of Licensing and Accreditation of Hawaii Association for Independent Schools, and Superintendent of the Hawaii Catholic Schools Department.

Report Title:

Private Preschools