HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

105

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO CREATE a PRE-KINDERGARTEN ACADEMY.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, statistics show that approximately 50 percent of all children who enter kindergarten in public schools are behind in skills needed to learn at that age, and many never overcome that deficit as they progress through school; and

 

     WHEREAS, national studies show that for every dollar spent on early childhood education, seven dollars in remedial and social services are saved; and

 

     WHEREAS, a prudent step in improving learning is to establish a pre-kindergarten academy focused on early childhood development to prepare children for kindergarten and its routines, and to foster overall school readiness; and

 

     WHEREAS, state facilities and resources would be best used if a pre-kindergarten academy were operated during the summer in existing school facilities, and in the context of ongoing educational programs; and

 

     WHEREAS, because parents need the resources and tools to help them with the development of their child, the pre-kindergarten academy should also provide assistance to parents in conjunction with other early childhood programs that set standards and assist parents in the development of their child; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Education (DOE) is requested to develop a plan to create a pre-kindergarten academy; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the pre-kindergarten academy be designed to:

 

     (1)  Prepare four-year-old children for entry into kindergarten;

 

     (2)  Assist four-year-old children in the development of age-appropriate skills;

 

     (3)  Operate during the summer months in existing state educational facilities, and in the context of ongoing educational programs; and

      

     (4)  Provide parents from the birth of their child forward with ongoing childhood development assistance;

 

and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the pre-kindergarten academy plan shall be developed in consultation with the Good Beginnings Alliance and in accordance with accepted practices and standards; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOE is requested to submit the plan to the Legislature at least 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2010; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, and Good Beginnings Alliance.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

Pre-Kindergarten Academy