STAND. COM. REP. NO. 517-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2399

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2399 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the State Public Charter School Commission for prekindergarten-only public charter schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, State Public Charter School Commission; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Waikīkī Community Center; Parents and Children Together; Parkway Village Preschool Governing Board; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that prekindergarten-only public charter schools are an essential component to improving access to early learning. Prekindergarten-only public charter schools meet the same rigorous requirements as Department of Education public pre-kindergarten schools, with the additional advantage of being able to operate on a full-day schedule that better serves the needs of working families. Your Committee notes that prekindergarten-only public charter schools are essential to a high-quality mixed-delivery system, but are currently operating at a deficit. This measure will provide additional funding for prekindergarten-only public charter schools and increase access to early learning for more children of Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $790,000.

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. 2399, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2399, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair