HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1056

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPALS AND VICE-PRINCIPALS.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the department of education currently has requirements for the certification of   its principals and vice-principals.  The legislature also finds that the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides educational funds for states that pursue educational reform and additional funds for those states that qualify for Race to the Top funds by advancing educational reform.  One of the selection criteria for the Race to the Top funds is   providing alternative routes to certification for teachers and principals.  Although the legislature previously amended section 302A-605, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to allow for the establishment of alternative routes to certification, the current requirement for a principal candidate to possess not less than five years of appropriate school-level experience, of which at least three years shall have been as a teacher, is too restrictive and conflicts with the Race to the Top grant requirements.

     The purpose of this Act is to amend the current provisions to allow principal and vice-principal candidates to be prepared through alternate routes of certification that meet the federal Race to the Top requirements.

     SECTION 2.  Section 302A-605, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§302A-605  Principals and vice-principals.  (a)  Principals shall meet the department's certification requirements and shall have at least five years of appropriate school-level experience, including at least three years as a teacher[.], or equivalent, as determined by the department.

     (b)  Vice-principals shall meet the department's certification requirements and shall have appropriate school-level experience, or equivalent, as determined by the department.

     (c)  The department shall establish alternative routes to certification for principals and vice-principals pursuant to rules adopted under chapter 91.

     (d)  For purposes of this section, "alternative routes to certification" has the same meaning as determined by United States Department of Education regulations for state applications for Race to the Top fund allocations under section 14001 of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as amended."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

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

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

BY REQUEST


 


 

Report Title:

Relating to the Certification of Principals and Vice-Principals

 

Description:

Amends section 302A-605, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to replace language regarding principal and vice-principal candidate qualifications that conflicts with the requirements of the Race to the Top grant.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.