STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2826

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3305

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3305 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt public charter schools that offer exclusively prekindergarten programs from various requirements applicable to other public charter schools.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, State Public Charter School Commission, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, and Parents And Children Together.

Your Committee finds that in January 2024, the State Public Charter School Commission approved the first prekindergarten-only public charter school. Your Committee further finds that this measure will help to expand access to early education by removing unnecessary requirements for that school and similar future schools.

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. 3305 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair