Aloha HE'E Members and Participants,

Legislative News

The 2014 Legislative Session opened on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 and things will move very quickly from this point on. We will be updating everyone weekly with bills that are of interest to the Coalition, either bills or topics that the Coalition has supported in the past, or topics in which members have expressed interest in planning/policy meetings. 

Allen Awaya from Senator Jill Tokuda's office does an excellent job of compiling bills for the Education Committee.  We will also include these in our weekly updates. The latest "updater" is listed here. Hearings for the Education Committee will likely start on January 29.  

These weekly legislative updates will only be sent during the legislative session. If you are not interested in receiving these weekly updates, please let us know by e-mailing cheri@heecoalition.org.

The Coalition has expressed interest in topics including Mandatory Kindergarten and Early Learning, Instructional Hours, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, supporting the DOE Supplemental Budget, and 21st Century Schools.  Members have also expressed interest in prospective legislation requiring the Board of Education provide time at their meetings for the public to speak on issues not placed on the agenda.  

If members have other topics they would like the Coalition to consider, please send to cheri@heecoalition.org 

Upcoming HE'E Meetings

HE'E Quarterly Meeting, Wednesday February 5, 2014 from 4:00-5:30pm, at The Learning Coalition, 841 Bishop Street #301 (Validated Parking at Ali'i Place at 1099 Alakea St. See map here.*For those needing special accommodations to The Learning Coalition, please contact cheri@heecoalition.org.)

HE'E is delighted to have Tom Hutton, Executive Director of the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission, as guest speaker.  Please join us for an overview and update on the status of Charter Schools in Hawaii. Light Refreshments will be provided. There is limited capacity for this event so please RSVP through the electronic invitation if you haven't done so already. The link to register is here.

HE'E Planning Meeting, Tuesday February 11, 2014 from 9-11:00am, at The Learning Coalition

We will give an update on the status of education legislation at this meeting.