Aloha HE'E Members and Participants,

Upcoming HE'E Meetings

HE'E Planning Meeting: Tuesday, April 8, 2014, 9:00-11:00 am at The Learning Coalition, 841 Bishop Street, #301 (See map here. Validated Parking at Ali' Place at 1099 Alakea Street.) For those needing special accommodations, please contact cheri@heecoalition.org.
We will continue to give an update on status of bills Coalition has been following.  

 

HE'E would like to thank David Moyer of the Department of Education's Office of Strategic Reform for presenting about the School Report Card. Notes from the meeting can be found here and on our website here

We look forward to collaborating with the DOEon this project as it moves forward.

 

HE'E Coalition would like to congratulate the Hawaii Department of Education for receiving high praise from the US Department of Education on Hawaii's Race to the Top efforts!  See link to story here

Upcoming Member Events

Castle Complex Education Summit, Windward Community College, Hale Akoakoa, Tuesday, April 15, 2014.  5:30 PM - Registration & Refreshments 6:00-8:00 PM - Program

Light meal provided. See flyer here

Be captivated by renowned speaker Kathy Bentley as she unlocks the mystery of children's brains and behavior.  Hear Kahuku and UH football great Walter Santiago tie sports and academics to success in life.

 

Legislative News 

There are less than 20 days to go in the legislative session. All bills and resolutions should be in the final committee of the current referral. Bills must be out of final committee by next Friday for the floor vote and 2nd Crossover during the following week. There has been a lot of activity and participation from Coalition members and we thank you for your support and engagement!  

 

Among the bills that the Coalition has taken a position on, bills on Early Learning, After School, Instructional Hours, Superintendent Salary and Air Conditioning Planning are still alive. Those that have not progressed include bills on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.  

 

The list below is an update of bills that the Coalition is taking a position on, or bills that members have expressed interest in following.  Please view Senator Tokuda's recent "Updater" lists for Senate bills here, House bills  here, and Hearing Notices  here.  Any bill status can be looked up on http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/ 

To submit testimony, please see instructions on Capitol webpage here.  

 

Hearing Date 
Bill
Description
Remarks

  

 

  

 

 

  
 
 
HE'E Position: Support
 

RELATED TO EARLY LEARNING. Authorizes the executive office on early learning to enter into agreements with the department of education and charter schools for use of vacant or underutilized classrooms as public preschool classrooms. Makes an appropriation. 

3/20/2014    H         Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1069-14), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

3/20/2014    H         Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Lowen, Nakashima, Souki, Takai, Wooley excused (5).

 

 

 

HE'E Position: Support

 
RELATED TO EARLY LEARNING. Authorizes the executive office on early learning to enter into agreements with the department of education and charter schools for use of vacant or underutilized classrooms as public preschool classrooms. Makes an appropriation. 

3/25/2014    S          The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Ige, Kidani, Chun Oakland, Dela Cruz, English, Espero, Kahele, Keith-Agaran, Ruderman, L. Thielen, Tokuda, Slom; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Kouchi.

 SB2826 SD1 HD1
 
 
HE'E Position: Support
 

RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.  
Establishes the Early Childhood Education Program within the Early Learning System established by section 302L-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  

3/19/2014    H         Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1050-14) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

3/19/2014    H         Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Fale, Fukumoto, Hanohano, Johanson voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Takai, Thielen excused (2).

 

  

HE'E Position: Support


RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.  
Establishes the Early Childhood Education Program within the Early Learning System established by section 302L-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes. 
 

3/25/2014    S          The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 10 Aye(s): Senator(s) Ige, Kidani, Chun Oakland, Dela Cruz, English, Espero, Kahele, Keith-Agaran, L. Thielen, Tokuda; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Slom; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kouchi, Ruderman.

 

FIN      308     3/31/2014 2:00 PM            View

 

 

 
HE'E Position: Support
 
RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING. Makes an appropriation for the executive office on early learning to enter into contracts with third party providers for family child interaction learning programs.

3/28/2014    H         Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 03-31-14 2:00PM in House conference room 308.

 

   
HE'E Position:  
Support


RELATING TO KINDERGARTEN. Amends the compulsory education law to make kindergarten mandatory. 

3/28/2014    H         The committees on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Luke, Nishimoto, Johanson, Cullen, Hashem, Ing, Jordan, Kobayashi, Morikawa, Onishi, Takayama, Tokioka, Woodson, Yamashita, Fukumoto, Ward; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Lowen.

 

WAM   211     3/31/2014 10:00 AM          View

 

 

Position: Oppose with amendments


Requires all public secondary schools to implement a school year that includes nine hundred ninety student instructional hours beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. Repeals the requirement that by the 2016-2018 school years, all public schools implement a school year of one hundred eighty days and one thousand eighty student instructional hours for both elementary and secondary school grades. Clarifies that the definition of "student instructional hours" shall be determined by the board of education. 

3/28/2014    S          The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-31-14 10:00AM in conference room 211.

 

 

 

  

   
HE'E Position: Support


RELATING TO AIR CONDITIONING IN PUBLIC SCHOOL. FACILITIES. Requires DOE and DAGS to develop a cooling master strategy and comprehensive study for the public schools and to report its findings to the 2015 regular session of the legislature. Appropriates funds. 

3/18/2014    H         Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 997-14), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

3/18/2014    H         Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Takai, Tokioka excused (2).

 

 

 

 

 


HE'E Position: Support
 

RELATING TO YOUTH. Establishes the resources for enrichment, athletics, culture, and health (R.E.A.C.H.) program in the office of youth services to provide a standardized framework and funding for after-school programs in public middle and intermediate schools. Establishes a revolving fund to receive fees and other moneys to supplement the costs of administering and operating the program. Appropriates funds for establishing the R.E.A.C.H. program to provide funding for after-school programs in middle and intermediate public schools. Establishes one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position to support the program and appropriates funds for that position.

3/25/2014    S          The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Ige, Kidani, Chun Oakland, Dela Cruz, English, Espero, Kahele, Keith-Agaran, Kouchi, Ruderman, L. Thielen, Tokuda; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Slom; and 0 Excused: none.

 

 

 

  

 
 
HE'E Position: Support  
 
 
RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY. Adjusts the salary cap of the Superintendent of Education.


3/25/2014    S          The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Ige, Kidani, Chun Oakland, Dela Cruz, English, Espero, Kahele, Keith-Agaran, Ruderman, Tokuda; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) L. Thielen ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Slom; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Kouchi.

 

 

WAM   211     4/02/2014 9:20 AM            View

 

 

HE'E Position: Support
 
RELATING TO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. Establishes and funds the Fun 5 Program within the A+ Program in Hawaii's public elementary schools. Appropriation. Effective July 1, 2014.

3/28/2014    S          The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-02-14 9:20AM in conference room 211.


HE'E Position: Support HIDOE's Supplemental Budget Request


RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Description:   To adjust and request appropriations for Fiscal Biennium 2013-15 funding requirements for operations and capital improvement projects of Executive Branch agencies and programs.

 

3/27/2014    S          The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Ige, Kidani, Chun Oakland, Dela Cruz, English, Espero, Kahele, Keith-Agaran, Kouchi, Ruderman, L. Thielen, Tokuda; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Slom ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

3/28/2014    S          Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3140) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.

3/28/2014    S          Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).

3/28/2014    S          48 Hrs. Notice 03-31-14.




HE'E Position: Support
Supporting Mandatory Kindergarten

3/25/2014    H         Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1300-14), recommending referral to FIN.

3/25/2014    H         Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Har, Yamane excused (2).

 

 

HE'E meeting notes posted on http://www.heecoalition.org/resources/hee-meeting-notes/
HE'E email archives on http://www.heecoalition.org/resources/hee-email-newsletter-archive   

 

Mahalo,

Cheri Nakamura 

Coalition Director