HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2297
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the current state statute lists program areas that no longer align with federal requirements under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and implementing regulations in title 34 Code of Federal Regulations part 463.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to update Hawaii's statutory framework for adult and community education programs to ensure alignment with federal adult education funding requirements and current best practices in those programs by:

(1) Modernizing terminology to align with current adult education practice;

(2) Adding English language acquisition and integrated English literacy and civics education;

(3) Updating the term "homemaking and parent education" to "family and community education";

(4) Establishing workplace literacy and workforce preparation programs as a core component; and

(5) Defining which individuals are "eligible individuals" for those programs that receive federal funding under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-433, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§302A-433 Scope of adult and community education programs offered. (a) As rapidly as resources are available and interest is developed, instructional programs shall be initiated in the following fields:

(1) [Basic elementary education.] Adult basic education. A foundation program in reading [and], writing, speaking English, [writing, and arithmetic], and mathematics for [persons] eligible individuals with no schooling or only primary grade training[;], or for eligible individuals who need to strengthen their basic skills for daily life or employment;

(2) [Advanced elementary education.] Adult secondary education. A program [in advanced elementary education] of secondary-level instruction for [those persons]:

(A) Eligible individuals who have [completed four to eight years of schooling and who desire to obtain more complete mastery of the fundamentals;] left school or had their education curtailed and now desire to complete a high school equivalency or adult school diploma;

(B) Youths sixteen or older who have been excepted from compulsory attendance under section 302A-1132; and

(C) Youths sixteen or older who are in need of courses to complete their high school graduation requirements;

(3) [Secondary education. A program of secondary education for those adults who, in youth, left school or for some reason had their education curtailed and who now desire to continue their education; for those youths who have been excepted from compulsory attendance under section 302A-1132; and for those youths who are in need of courses to complete their high school graduation requirements;] Adult literacy education. A program in reading, writing, and mathematics for eligible individuals who need to develop or improve their literacy skills to enhance their personal, social, or employment lives;

(4) [Adult literacy education. A basic program in reading and writing English, and arithmetic for persons who need to develop or improve their mastery of basic literacy skills in these areas for purposes of enhancing their personal, social, or employment lives;] English language acquisition and integrated English literacy and civics education. A program to assist eligible individuals who are English language learners in acquiring reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension skills, including civics education to support effective participation in community and civic life;

(5) [Homemaking and parent] Family and community education. A program [in homemaking and parent education] for [all those] parents and other adults [who desire training] in family life[,including] skills, child [care, nursing, budgeting, and other instruction basic to homemaking;] development, financial literacy, health and wellness, and other areas that strengthen family engagement and support children's educational success, including family literacy activities that integrate parent and family adult education, early childhood education, parenting education, and interactive literacy activities;

(6) Workplace literacy and workforce preparation. Programs designed to improve the basic and employability skills of eligible individuals to function effectively in the workplace, including contextualized instruction developed in partnership with employers;

[(6)] (7) Community education. [A program to] Programs that facilitate understanding and enlightenment in civic duties, responsibilities, and obligations for all [persons] individuals who desire to keep pace with today's community, national, and world developments and who realize the necessity of continuing study for the adequate fulfillment of their civic functions. Community education addresses responsibilities within a given community, especially concerns related to education and the schools, and offers additional services to supplement and enrich the educational program of in-school children and youths. These programs may also provide opportunities for lifelong learning and community engagement;

[(7)] (8) Naturalization training. The standard course of training provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services[, which shall be provided to all those persons] for all individuals who have filed applications for United States citizenship and desire to enroll in [such a] the course under the supervision of the department; and

[(8)] (9) Cultural and enrichment opportunities. [A program of adult and community education that will] Programs that meet the interests and desires of [those people who wish to enrich and] individuals seeking to broaden their cultural, recreational, and social [interests.] knowledge and experiences.

(b) For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Adult" means an individual who is age eighteen or older.

"Basic skills deficient" means an individual:

(1) Who is a youth, that the individual has English reading, writing, or computing skills at or below the eighth-grade level on a generally accepted standardized test; or

(2) Who is a youth or adult, that the individual is unable to compute or solve problems, or read, write, or speak English, at a level necessary to function on the job, in the individual's family, or in society.

"Eligible individual" means an individual:

(1) Who has attained sixteen years of age;

(2) Who is not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law; and

(3) Who:

(A) Is basic skills deficient;

(B) Does not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and has not achieved an equivalent level of education; or

(C) Is an English language learner.

"English language learner" when used with respect to an eligible individual, means an eligible individual who has limited ability in reading, writing, speaking, or comprehending the English language, and:

(1) Whose native language is a language other than English; or

(2) Who lives in a family or community environment where a language other than English is the dominant language."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Department of Education; Adult and Community Education; Scope of Programs

Description:

Updates Hawaii's statutory framework for adult and community education programs to ensure alignment with federal funding requirements and current best practices in those programs.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.