HB875 HD1

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii public schools have been facing a severe teacher shortage for years with little support to mitigate this issue. According to the Hawaii state teachers association, during the 2018-2019 school year, there were more than one thousand emergency hires and long-term substitutes due to the severe teacher shortage issue. Additionally, the number of teachers leaving Hawaii to find jobs elsewhere has increased by more than seventy per cent since 2012, and the teaching workforce in Hawaii has become increasingly out-of-state teachers, creating a classroom environment where teaching faculty do not adequately reflect the socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of Hawaii's students.

The legislature further finds that the lack of apprenticeship programs and other services that assist teachers in obtaining the necessary licenses and gaining workforce experience contribute to poor teacher retention, diversity, and local recruitment in public schools. Hawaii needs a structured, amply-funded teacher apprenticeship program to boost retention, diversity, and recruitment among Hawaii's public school teachers.

The legislature also finds that a "grow your own" teacher apprenticeship program has the potential to increase the retention rate of Hawaii's public school teachers by providing better mentoring experiences and financially supporting student teachers while they complete their workforce training. A teacher apprenticeship program also has the potential to increase local recruitment of teachers, developing teachers who are already in the community by providing them with the resources to succeed in their respective fields. This, in turn, benefits students by ensuring that they are taught by educators who understand their needs and the needs of the broader school community.

The purpose of this Act is to create and sustain a teacher apprenticeship program in order to support, recruit, develop, and retain teachers for Hawaii's public schools.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A-A Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program. (a) There is established the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program to be administered by the department to support, recruit, develop, and retain teachers in the department's schools.

(b) The goals of the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program shall be to:

(1) Recruit teachers that reflect the diversity of the student population and community;

(2) Support teachers and the placement of prospective teachers in high-need schools;

(3) Provide prospective teachers last-dollar support for postsecondary education, including tuition, student fees, books, technology, credentialing fees, transportation, and support for passing state testing requirements for licensure; provided that:

(A) The individual is enrolled in a state-approved teacher education program at a University of Hawaii campus and qualifies for Hawaii resident tuition;

(B) The individual makes a formal commitment to teach in the Hawaii public school system for a minimum of three consecutive years as a licensed teacher immediately following completion of a state-approved teacher education program; and

(C) If the individual fails to complete the state-approved teacher education program, or to satisfy the teaching requirement within the designated number of years, the individual shall repay the funds received to the department, as set by the terms and conditions of the department;

(4) Provide financial incentives for teachers, including professional learning opportunities;

(5) Partner with institutions of higher education to provide tutoring, academic counseling, assistance with credential requirements, and support for taking and passing state testing requirements for licensure; and

(6) Support other initiatives to support, recruit, develop, and retain teachers, as determined by the department.

(c) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to implement and administer the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program.

(d) Moneys repaid by individuals pursuant to subsection (b)(3) shall be deposited in the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program special fund established under section 302A-B.

§302A-B Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program special fund. (a) There is established the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program special fund into which shall be deposited legislative appropriations and all moneys received as repayment from individuals due to a breach in contractual agreements under the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program established under section 302A-A.

(b) The special fund shall be administered and used by the department to support the goals of the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program and related costs."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be deposited into the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program special fund established pursuant to section 302A-B, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program special fund established pursuant to section 302A-B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish and support the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program established pursuant to section 302A-A, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	875
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII