STAND. COM. REP. NO.  121

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 821

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 821 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to recognize the importance of early childhood education by:

(1)  Authorizing the Executive Office on Early Learning to expend federal funds for the purpose of early childhood education;

(2)  Defining "early childhood education" as a developmentally appropriate early childhood development and education program for children from birth until the time they enter kindergarten; and

(3)  Making technical amendments.

The Department of Education, Good Beginnings Alliance, Hui for Excellence in Education, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 821 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair