HE'E Meetings
HE'E Meeting with HSTA, Wednesday, February 25, 2015, 4:00-5:30pm, The Learning Coalition, 841 Bishop Street #301 (Validated Parking at Ali'i Place at 1099 Alakea Street)
Please join us for a conversation with HSTA Executive Director Wilbert Holck on legislation for the 2015 session. We are excited about the opportunity to have this open discussion. Please RSVP if you have not already done so to cheri@heecoalition.org. We look forward to seeing you there!
HE'E Planning Meeting, Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 9:00-11:00am, The Learning Coalition, 841 Bishop Street (Validated Parking at Ali'i Place at 1099 Alakea Street)
We will continue to update members on the progress of the 2015 Legislative Session.
Legislative News
Thank you to all HE'E Voting Members who voted on last vote for SB258/HB759 on development of a cooling master strategy for public schools. HE'E position of support was approved and the bills have been added to our follow list.
There is another bill that HE'E is considering supporting and is in the process of asking voting members to cast their votes. For questions about the bill or HE'E's position, please feel free to contact cheri@heecoalition.org.
SB64 Description: Makes appropriations for positions and the continued implementation of the preschool open doors program and for subsidies for the program.
HE'E Proposed Position: Support
Support Rationale:
- In 2013, HE'E supported legislation to create Preschool Open Doors, the statewide school readiness program
- Historically, Coalition has been concerned about the late-born four year olds, who have not been able to attend public Kindergarten from the 2014-2015 year; Preschool Open Doors prioritizes late born four-year olds
HE'E Member News
Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation is sponsoring a free screening of the inspirational documentary 'Ike: Knowledge is Everywhere produced by local filmmaker Matt Nagato Thursday, February 26th from 5:30 p.m. at YWCA Richards Street Fuller Hall. Throughout its personal and emotional segments, 'Ike is a celebratory film about the power of compassion, collaboration and community to help improve Hawaii's educational system. To reserve your seat please click here.
Teach for America (TFA) is also sponsoring a free screening of 'Ike: Knowledge is Everywhere, Sunday, March 1st 1:00-4:00PM, at Punahou School's Dillingham Hall as it kicks off Cool Schools Month, a time to raise awareness for the good work being done to improve public education in Hawaii. Directly after the movie there will be a Q&A session with the Director Matthew Nagato, which will followed by fellowship and light pupu and drinks. You can RSVP for your free tickets here.
Also as part of Cool Schools Month, TFA is
inviting elected officials and community leaders to school visits to learn about the exciting work happening at the following schools:
These visits will provide the opportunity to hear from principals, visit classrooms and interact with students and teachers. Hope you will join us along with other community leaders in this peak into our schools. Please RSVP for your visit(s) here.
To conclude the month TFA will be hosting a fundraising dinner event that will benefit Teach For America Hawai'i. The event with take place at the Howard Hughes IBM building on Tuesday March 31. Additional information can be found on the event website here.
Learning First Hawai'i, a new teacher advocacy group, has created a unique opportunity for teachers who have a passion for improving teacher professional development. Teachers admitted to the Professional Development Policy Fellowship (PDPF) will meet with experts and officials working in areas around PD implementation, conduct readings on PD best practices from around the country, collect feedback from colleagues, and share ideas on how to improve teacher PD. At the end of the research and data collection phase, fellows will be guided through the process of collating their recommendations and will collaboratively write an advisory white paper on the topic of teacher professional development. This paper will be presented to various education stakeholder groups including parent, community, advocacy, policy, and early childhood education groups as well as the Hawaii State Teachers Associationand the Department of Education.
This is a paid opportunity for teachers. Upon completion of the program requirements, fellows will be given a $600 stipend.
Click HERE to access our webpage detailing the fellowship and the application process.
HE'E TRACKING OF LEGISLATIVE BILLS AS OF FEBRUARY 23, 2015
Any bill status can be looked up on http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/
To submit testimony, please see instructions on Capitol webpage here.
We encourage members to attend and participate at hearings. If you have questions about the process, please contact cheri@heecoalition.org
|
Hearing Date
|
Bill
|
Description
|
Remarks
|
| SB64 SD SD2
| RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.
Description: Makes appropriations for positions and the continued implementation of the preschool open doors program and for subsidies for the program |
| 2/20/2015 | S | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 2) and referred to WAM. |
|
| SB258 SD1
Status and Testimony
HE'E
Position:
Support
| RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Description: Requires the department of education and department of accounting and general services, in consultation with the Hawaii state energy office of the department of business, economic development, and tourism and the Hawaii natural energy institute of the University of Hawaii, to conduct a comprehensive study and develop a master strategy for the cooling of all public schools. Requires the findings to be reported to the legislature. Appropriates funds for the comprehensive study of cooling needs and development of a master strategy for cooling all public schools. Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for projects that demonstrate efficient methods of air conditioning classrooms.
|
| 2/20/2015 | S | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
|
| HB759 HD1
Status and Testimony
HE'E
Position:
Support
HEE Testimony
| RELATING TO COOLING SYSTEMS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES.
Description: Requires DOE and DAGS, in consultation with the State Energy Office of DBEDT and Hawaii Natural Energy Institute of UH, to develop a cooling master strategy and comprehensive retrofitting study for public schools and to report findings to the Legislature. Authorizes general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for efficient classroom-cooling demonstration projects. (HB759 HD1)
|
| 2/20/2015 | H | Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Ito excused (1). |
|
| SB822 SD1
Status and Testimony
HE'E Position
Support
HE'E Testimony |
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
Description: Applies the requirement for all public secondary schools to implement a school year that includes 990 student instructional hours to all school years beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. Repeals the requirement that by the 2016-2018 school years, all public schools implement a school year of 180 days and 1,080 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 in consultation with the exclusive representatives of the appropriate bargaining units.
|
| 2/18/2015 | S | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
|
|
|
HB14 HD1
HE'E Position: Support
|
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
Description: Applies the requirement for all public secondary schools to implement a school year that includes 990 student instructional hours to all school years beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. Repeals the requirement that by the 2016-2018 school years, all public schools implement a school year of 180 days and 1,080 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 in consultation with the exclusive representatives of the appropriate bargaining units.
|
| 2/20/2015 | H | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Jordan, LoPresti, Tupola voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Ito excused (1).
|
|
| SB843
Status and Testimony
HE'E Position: Support
HE'E Testimony
|
RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
Description: Amends or repeals provisions of Chapters 302A and 302L, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as related to early childhood education, for housekeeping and other purposes.
|
| 2/18/2015 | S | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. |
|
| SB844 SD1
Status and Testimony
HE'E Position: Support
| RELATING TO PUBLIC EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
Description: Establishes the executive office on early learning pre-kindergarten program to be administered by the executive office on early learning which may partner with the department of education. Appropriates funds to establish the executive office on early learning pre-kindergarten program. (SD1)
|
| 2/20/2015 | S | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
|
|
|
HB821
HE'E Position: Support
|
RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
Description: Amends or repeals provisions of Chapters 302A and 302L, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as related to early childhood education, for housekeeping and other purposes.
|
| 2/12/2015 | H | Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and C. Lee excused (1). |
|
|
HB820 HD1
HE'E Position: Support
|
RELATING TO PUBLIC EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
Description: Establishes the Executive Office on Early Learning Prekindergarten Program to be administered by the Executive Office on Early Learning and provided through Department of Education public schools and public charter schools.
|
| 2/20/2015 | H | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Ito excused (1). |
|
| SB847
SD1
Status and Testimony
HE'E Position: Support
HE'E Testimony |
RELATING TO TEACHERS.
Description: Authorizes an additional per year bonus for teachers who maintain current national board certification and teach at a school in a focus, priority, or superintendent's zone under the National Board Certification Incentive Program.
|
| 2/18/2015 | S | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
|
|
HB11
HD1
HE'E Position: Support
|
RELATING TO TEACHERS.
Description: Authorizes an additional per year bonus for teachers who maintain current national board certification and teach at a school in a focus, priority, or superintendent's zone under the National Board Certification Incentive Program.
|
| 2/20/2015 | H | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Ito excused (1). |
|
| SB374 SD1
Status and Testimony
HE'E Position: Support
HE'E Testimony |
RELATING TO DUAL CREDIT PROGRAMS.
Description: Replaces the running start program and jump start program with dual credit program; amends definition of "eligible student" to include all high school students; replaces standardized test to determine college readiness with an assessment approved by the college. Appropriates moneys.
|
| 2/18/2015 | S | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
|
|
HB95
HE'E Position: Support
|
RELATING TO DUAL CREDIT PROGRAMS.
Description: Replaces the running start program and jump start program with dual credit program; amends definition of "eligible student" to include all high school students; replaces standardized test to determine college readiness with an assessment approved by the college. Appropriates moneys.
|
| 2/12/2015 | H | Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and C. Lee excused (1). |
|
|
SB858
HE'E Position:
Support
|
RELATING TO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.
Report Title: Afterschool Programs; Elementary-School Students; Appropriation ($)
|
| 2/12/2015 | S | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. |
|
|
SB866
HE'E Position:
Support
HE'E Testimony |
Appropriates moneys for the After-School Plus (A+) Program.
|
| 2/17/2015 | S | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. |
|
|
SB126 SD1
HE'E Position:
Oppose
|
RELATING TO EDUCATION
Reconstitutes the board of education to consist of eleven rather than nine members, one each from the seven department of education districts (Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Honolulu, Central, Leeward, and Windward), and four at-large members. Requires that at least two at-large members have business management experience and at least two members have public education experience; provided that one member have experience as a school principal. Allows the board members, rather than the governor to choose a chairperson. Increases the number of nonvoting public high school representatives to the board from one to two students. Increases the term of office for members of the board of education from three to four years, makes terms run concurrently with the term of the appointing governor, and eliminates term limits. Terminates the membership of the current board on June 30, 2015. Effective 6/30/15.
Companion:
|
| 2/12/2015 | S | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
|
|
SB850
HE'E Position: Support
|
RELATING TO FACILITIES FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS.Appropriates funds for the state public charter school commission to allocate to charter schools for facilities projects. Requires annual reporting to the legislature.
|
| 2/12/2015 | S | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. |
|
| HB232
Status and Testimony
HE'E Position: Support
| RELATING TO FACILITIES FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS.Appropriates funds for the state public charter school commission to allocate to charter schools for facilities projects. Requires annual reporting to the legislature.
|
| 2/20/2015 | H | Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Ito excused (1). |
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