Bill Text: HI SB1384 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Kindergarten; Student Assessments; First Grade Prerequisites

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [SB1384 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SB1384-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 758

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1384

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1384, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the educational achievement of Hawaii's youth by requiring children to be assessed prior to entering the first grade.

 

     Specifically, this measure requires, beginning with the 2014-2015 school year:

 

     (1)  Public and private kindergarten students to be assessed by a qualified teacher with an early childhood education background to certify that the student is prepared to enter the first grade;

 

     (2)  Assessments by private kindergarten programs to be certified by the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools or the Early Learning Council; and

 

     (3)  Children who did not attend any kindergarten program to be assessed by qualified Department of Education personnel.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Kathryn S. Matayoshi, Superintendent of Education, Department of Education; and two individuals.  Written comments were received from Donald B. Young, Director, Hawaii Educational Policy Center; Elisabeth Chun, Executive Director, Good Beginnings Alliance; and Robert Peters, Chair, Early Learning Council.

 

     Your Committee finds that some children enter the first grade without the skills and preparation necessary for success.  Assessments of children entering the first grade by qualified personnel would help ensure that children are placed in an academically appropriate grade level.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on this measure; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

 

     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. 1384, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1384, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

		____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair