Report Title:
Education
Description:
Appropriates funds for the establishment of at least one vice principal position for each public school; appropriates funds for bonuses for principals and educational officers.
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2620 |
|
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002 |
||
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
||
|
|
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Educational officers in the department of education play pivotal leadership roles in school improvement efforts, either directly as school administrators, or as district or state educational officers providing support services. Their presence ensures the attainment of the department's mission to help schools provide for the best possible educational development of students.
The legislature finds that school reform is a challenging undertaking. Positive outcomes are realized only if there is a principal with strong leadership skills and a vision, a plan for improvement, and a commitment to remain at a school for a sustained period of time for positive results to accrue. Indeed, educational research indicates that a personal and professional commitment by the principal for at least five years is necessary for reform initiatives and school improvement plans to become realities.
Attracting and retaining principals will provide the much needed stability that will:
(1) Improve student achievement by providing a sustained focus on curriculum and school improvement efforts;
(2) Contribute to the development of school pride;
(3) Serve to support and enrich the community in which the school exists;
(4) Demonstrate commitment to educational improvement;
(5) Reduce staff turnover rates;
(6) Provide mentoring and modeling for vice principals; and
(7) Provide continuity in staff development activities.
However, all indications point to a shortage of principals in the near future. To deal with this anticipated shortage, it is necessary to develop the appropriate workforce. By creating additional vice-principal positions, the department of education will have a ready pool of qualified and trained personnel to address this shortage.
Educational officers also play a vital role in the educational development of students. To effectively fulfill their responsibilities, educational officers must reflect upon their own performance and pursue professional, academic activities to strengthen their effectiveness as leaders. They should be encouraged to pursue advanced degrees in areas of study related to education, their assigned responsibilities, or both. To recognize educational officers whose initiative results in their attainment of advanced degrees for self-improvement, the department of education should provide additional compensation awards.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Establish and appropriate the necessary funds for at least one vice-principal position for each public school;
(2) Appropriate funds for the awarding of a stability bonus to principals; and
(3) Appropriate funds for the provision of additional compensation to recognize the attainment of an advanced degree by educational officers in a field related to teaching, public education, or other related responsibilities.
SECTION 2. Section 302A-605, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§302A-605 Principals and vice-principals. (a) Principals shall meet the department's certification requirements and shall have not less than five years of appropriate school-level experience of which at least three years shall have been as a teacher.
(b) Vice-principals shall meet the department's certification requirements and shall have appropriate school-level experience as determined by the department.
(c) On a case-by-case basis, the department may waive the certification requirements and school-level experience for vice-principal candidates with appropriate administrative experience. The department shall establish criteria and reasons for waivers pursuant to chapter 91."
(d) There shall be at least one vice-principal position for each public school."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003 for the establishment of at least one vice-principal position for each public school.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003 for awarding each principal a stability bonus.
SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003 to provide additional compensation to recognize the attainment of an advanced degree by educational officers in a field related to teaching, public education, or other related responsibilities. SECTION 6. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 7. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |