Bill Text: HI HB2630 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 2630 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Education; Family-Involvement-in-Education Pilot Program ($)

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-27 - Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 7 [HB2630 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-HB2630-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2630
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
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 over a decade of research, collected in reports such as "A New Wave of Evidence" from Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, shows that parental involvement can improve students' academic success. The positive effects of parental involvement, observed across all income levels and family backgrounds, include higher grades and attendance rates, better social skills, and a higher level of school advancement. For example, increased parental involvement was a factor credited to Kona's Honaunau elementary school's good standing after the school previously fell short of federal No Child Left Behind benchmarks. In addition to revisions to the curriculum and teaching methods, parents were invited to the school to learn what their children were being taught and how they could help at home.

The legislature further finds that technology can be an effective tool for providing information on what students are learning, school assignments, what parents may do to help, and any other important information. As an early example, the "TransPARENT Model" made information available to parents over the telephone, and the program resulted in increases in parental involvement and higher grades achieved by students. Improvements in technology, such as the Internet may facilitate yet more effective means of parental involvement.

The purpose of this Act is to create a family-involvement-in-education pilot program that would make information about students' education available to their parents or legal guardians via the Internet and facilitate greater family involvement in student learning.

SECTION 2. The department of education shall designate one public elementary or middle school and a subset of students within that school for eligibility to participate in a family-involvement-in-education pilot program to take place during the 2015 school year. The department shall request written consent from the eligible students and their parents or legal guardians to participate in the pilot program. The department shall use a designated electronic tool that allows participating parents and legal guardians to review their child's curriculum and lesson plans on a weekly basis and respond to the school with proposals to help extend lessons to their home. The department, in consultation with the designated school's administrators, shall determine other rules and selection criteria for participation in the pilot program and the electronic tool to be used to facilitate communication between parents or legal guardians and the school.

SECTION 3. The department of education shall submit reports on the implementation and effectiveness of the family-involvement-in-education pilot program to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2015 and 2016. The reports shall include:

(1) A status report on the pilot program's implementation;

(2) Findings on the costs incurred and experience gained from the pilot program;

(3) Recommendations for implementing a standardized family involvement system for all public schools; and

(4) Any proposed legislation.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the planning and implementation of a family-involvement-in- education pilot program.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014; and shall be repealed on June 30, 2016.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Education; Family-Involvement-in-Education Pilot Program

Description:

Establishes a family-involvement-in-education pilot program for one public elementary or middle school designated by the DOE. Requires report to the legislature. Appropriates funds.

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