Bill Text: HI SB2068 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Junior Kindergarten; Early Learning System; Assessment Plan

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-06-29 - (S) Act 183, 6/29/2010 (Gov. Msg. No. 644). [SB2068 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SB2068-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2625

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2068

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2068, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Early Learning Council with the assistance of the Department of Education to assess the junior kindergarten and kindergarten program.

 

The measure also requires the Department of Education to report to the Legislature on its findings regarding the assessment for five years.

 

     Your Committee conducted a public hearing on a proposed draft of this bill.  The purpose of the proposed draft was to repeal the public school junior kindergarten program.  The proposed draft also moved back by approximately five months the cut-off date for entering kindergarten (from being five years of age by December 31 to August 1) starting in the 2011-2012 school year.

 

     Testimony in support of the proposed draft was submitted by the Department of Education.  The Good Beginnings Alliance commented on the measure.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's children benefit from early learning opportunities.  However, your Committee also finds that maintaining a two-tier junior kindergarten and kindergarten program is inefficient and is not cost-effective.  Your Committee further finds that a single-tier kindergarten program will more efficiently provide early learning opportunities for the children of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by replacing its contents with the contents of the proposed draft, and amending the proposed draft by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of style and clarity.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2068, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2068, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

		____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair