Report Title:

DOE; Voc

Description:

Requires the Hawaii teacher standards board to develop alternative standards for persons to teach vocational education.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1506

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the changing nature of work requires higher literacy, numeracy, and technical skill levels. According to the United States Chamber of Commerce, nearly forty-six per cent of all employers reported difficulty in hiring qualified workers in the past year and close to twenty-nine per cent believe they will experience difficulty in hiring in the year. Approximately thirty-six per cent of adults receive a bachelor's degree. The other sixty-four per cent need other pathways to gain the technical skills and additional education to be successful in the workforce.

Vocational education instructors are necessary to ensure that those middle and high school students who decide to pursue careers without the benefit of a bachelor's degree have the opportunity to learn important technical skills. Such opportunities allows them to make important decisions regarding their career choices and their future. Many persons with the skills and career experience to provide these opportunities do not possess the necessary certification to teach vocational education in the public school system.

The purpose of this Act is to increase the pool of talented vocational education instructors by establishing alternative standards for their licensing or certification, thereby giving students the opportunity to make informed decisions about careers in non-baccalaureate areas.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-802, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) In the development of its standards, the board shall consider the existing teacher applicant pool that is available in the State and the level of the qualification of these applicants, as well as the nature and availability of existing preservice higher education teacher training programs. The board shall also consider alternative routes to licensing, such as national teacher examinations that certify competency in subject areas or programs taught in the public schools. The board shall also develop alternative licensing or certification standards to enable persons to teach vocational education."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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