HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2025

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to kindergarten.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The concept of kindergarten was developed in Germany in the mid-nineteenth century with a curriculum intended to nurture children's intellectual, moral, and physical development, and was imported to the United States soon after.  Over a century later, research has demonstrated that, as with all early education, the benefits of kindergarten last well into adulthood, particularly for disadvantaged children.

     The legislature finds that children who attend kindergarten benefit from additional cognitive development.  In addition, a child's presence in the kindergarten classroom permits teachers to identify special needs earlier, allowing for learning interventions that much sooner and giving the child that much more of a chance to succeed.  Perhaps more importantly, though, children who attend kindergarten develop increased social and emotional maturity and academic motivation, thereby equipping them with the social and behavioral tools to be successful throughout their academic careers.  All of these benefits last well into adulthood, resulting in lower incarceration rates, higher lifetime earnings, and increased social stability.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to make kindergarten attendance mandatory.

     SECTION 2.  Section 302A-1132, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Unless excluded from school or excepted from attendance, all children who will have arrived at the age of at least [six] five years on or before July 31 of the school year, and who will not have arrived at the age of eighteen years[,] by January 1 of any school year, shall attend either a public or private school for, and during, the school year, and any parent, guardian, or other person having the responsibility for, or care of, a child whose attendance at school is obligatory shall send the child to either a public or private school.  Attendance at a public or private school shall not be compulsory in the following cases:

     (1)  Where the child is physically or mentally unable to attend school (deafness and blindness excepted), of which fact the certificate of a duly licensed physician shall be sufficient evidence;

     (2)  Where the child, who has reached the fifteenth anniversary of birth, is suitably employed and has been excused from school attendance by the superintendent or the superintendent's authorized representative, or by a family court judge;

     (3)  Where, upon investigation by the family court, it has been shown that for any other reason the child may properly remain away from school;

     (4)  Where the child has graduated from high school;

     (5)  Where the child is enrolled in an appropriate alternative educational program as approved by the superintendent or the superintendent's authorized representative in accordance with the plans and policies of the department, or notification of intent to home school has been submitted to the principal of the public school that the child would otherwise be required to attend in accordance with department rules adopted to achieve this result; or

     (6)  Where:

         (A)  The child has attained the age of sixteen years;

         (B)  The principal has determined that:

              (i)  The child has engaged in behavior [which] that is disruptive to other students, teachers, or staff; or

             (ii)  The child's non-attendance is chronic and has become a significant factor that hinders the child's learning; and

         (C)  The principal of the child's school, and the child's teacher or counselor, in consultation with the child and the child's parent, guardian, or other adult having legal responsibility for or care of the child, develops an alternative educational plan for the child.  The alternative educational plan shall include a process that shall permit the child to resume school.

The principal of the child's school shall file the plan made pursuant to subparagraph (C) with the child's school record.  If the adult having legal responsibility for or care of the child disagrees with the plan, then the adult shall be responsible for obtaining appropriate educational services for the child."

     SECTION 3.  Section 302A-411, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

     ["§302A-411  Kindergarten program; establishment; attendance.  (a)  The department shall establish and maintain kindergartens with a program of instruction as a part of the public school system; provided that:

     (1)  Attendance shall not be mandatory; and

     (2)  Charter schools shall be excluded from mandatory participation in the program.

     (b)  Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, a child who will be at least five years of age on July 31 of the school year may attend a public school kindergarten.

     (c)  The department may accept gifts to establish and maintain kindergartens."]

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Kindergarten

 

Description:

Amends the compulsory education law to make kindergarten mandatory.  Effective July 1, 2014.

 

 

 

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