Hawaii S.B. 613

Hawaii S.B. 613

Prekindergarten and Kindergarten

Directs the department to encourage inclusionary prekindergarten and kindergarten classes of both special education eligible and general education students, including consideration of the following options:
(1) Special education eligible preschool children may receive services in private preschool programs if required by their individual education program;
(2) Facilities for providing early education offer a variety of possibilities via partnerships between public and private offers;
(3) Special education staff may provide services at any site as provided in the individualized education plans process; and
(4) Departmental special education preschool staff may provide services to general education preschool students in their special education preschool classrooms.

Requires the department's kindergarten report card to assess an individual junior kindergarten or kindergarten student's readiness for first grade based on a range of characteristics.

Authorizes the department to give preference to teachers holding early childhood education credentials in placement in junior kindergarten and kindergarten programs.

Directs the department, prior to the 2008 legislative session, to
(1) Complete the planning and development of the appropriate curriculum for the junior kindergarten program; and

(2) Submit its findings and recommendations to the legislature on the planned junior kindergarten curricula, successful models, and assessments to be used in the placement and movement of students between junior kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade, as well as facilities to be used for junior kindergarten.

Establishes in statute the pre-plus program, which was created as a private-public initiative in 2002. Directs the department of education and the department of human services to develop suitable pre-plus classrooms on department campuses statewide for early childhood education programs serving children ages 3-5. Directs the department to coordinate site selection for public school sites, giving first priority to sites that serve predominantly students who are low-income or with special needs who require full-inclusion opportunities, or schools in restructuring under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Directs the department to submit an annual report to the legislature on the number of classrooms that would be suitable for early childhood education programs and the cost of renovating these classrooms to meet early childhood education standards. Bill: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/Bills/SB613_CD1_.htm
Governor's veto message: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/GM1037_.PDF

Source:
www.capitol.hawaii.gov

Status: Vetoed Status Date: 07/10/2007

Hawaii S.B. 613
Prekindergarten and Kindergarten
Directs the department to encourage inclusionary prekindergarten and kindergarten classes of both special education eligible and general education students, including consideration of the following options: (1) Special education eligible preschool children may receive services in private preschool programs if required by their individual education program; (2) Facilities for providing early education offer a variety of possibilities via partnerships between public and private offers; (3) Special education staff may provide services at any site as provided in the individualized education plans process; and (4) Departmental special education preschool staff may provide services to general education preschool students in their special education preschool classrooms. Requires the department's kindergarten report card to assess an individual junior kindergarten or kindergarten student's readiness for first grade based on a range of characteristics. Authorizes the department to give preference to teachers holding early childhood education credentials in placement in junior kindergarten and kindergarten programs. Directs the department, prior to the 2008 legislative session, to (1) Complete the planning and development of the appropriate curriculum for the junior kindergarten program; and (2) Submit its findings and recommendations to the legislature on the planned junior kindergarten curricula, successful models, and assessments to be used in the placement and movement of students between junior kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade, as well as facilities to be used for junior kindergarten. Establishes in statute the pre-plus program, which was created as a private-public initiative in 2002. Directs the department of education and the department of human services to develop suitable pre-plus classrooms on department campuses statewide for early childhood education programs serving children ages 3-5. Directs the department to coordinate site selection for public school sites, giving first priority to sites that serve predominantly students who are low-income or with special needs who require full-inclusion opportunities, or schools in restructuring under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Directs the department to submit an annual report to the legislature on the number of classrooms that would be suitable for early childhood education programs and the cost of renovating these classrooms to meet early childhood education standards. Bill: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/Bills/SB613_CD1_.htm Governor's veto message: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/GM1037_.PDF
Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov
Status: Vetoed	Status Date: 07/10/2007