Bill Text: HI HB1223 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 1223 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: University of Hawaii at Hilo; Department of Education; Hawaiian Language College

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-02 - Referred to OMH, HED, FIN, referral sheet 6 [HB1223 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2015-HB1223-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1223
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to hawaiian language.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there are several state funded English language medium preschools operated by the department of education. However, within the nearly three decades that it has been legal for the State to operate schooling through the Hawaiian language, there has not been a parallel focus on developing state funded Hawaiian language medium preschools.

The legislature further finds that the Hawaiian language college at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, established by Act 75, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006 (codified as section 304A-1301, Hawaii Revised Statutes), is the appropriate entity to pilot state funded early education in the Hawaiian language. The legislature also finds that the Hawaiian language college is authorized to offer preschool Hawaiian language education, and that section 302H-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes the department of education to "work collaboratively with the Hawaiian language college of the University of Hawaii at Hilo and any other entities recognized by the legislature for the purpose of addressing Hawaiian language medium education, extending to those entities support for inclusion in the special provisions for children and families enrolled in the Hawaiian language medium education program of the department and maximizing the joint use of existing and new resources to meet the goal of revitalizing, maintaining, and strengthening the Hawaiian language." The Hawaiian language college has a joint research project in early literacy through Hawaiian and has been funded to develop Hawaii Early Learning and Development Standards (HELDS) for Hawaiian language medium education.

The purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaiian language college to establish a four-year pilot Hawaiian language medium preschool program as part of the Hawaiian language college laboratory school program for the school years 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019.

SECTION 2. (a) The Hawaiian language college at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, established under section 304A‑1301, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall establish a four-year pilot Hawaiian language medium preschool program as part of the Hawaiian language college laboratory school program for the school years 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019.

(b) Funding for the pilot Hawaiian language medium preschool program shall be derived from the department of education, University of Hawaii at Hilo, and the Hawaiian language college. The Hawaiian language college may accept funding from other sources for the purposes of this Act.

(c) Funding for enrolled preschool students shall be no less than that provided on a per pupil basis for department of education kindergarten students. Total funding shall be for a minimum of twenty students if enrollment is less than that number.

SECTION 3. The Hawaiian language college at the University of Hawaii at Hilo shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the regular sessions of 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, on the progress of the implementation of this Act, including enrollment, facilities, cost and expense analyses, and recommendations for funding.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

University of Hawaii at Hilo; Department of Education; Hawaiian Language College

Description:

Requires the Hawaiian language college at the University of Hawaii at Hilo to establish a four-year pilot Hawaiian language medium preschool program as part of the Hawaiian language college laboratory school program for the school years 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019. Requires a report to legislature prior to the regular sessions of 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

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