SB1155 SD1

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1155
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

making an appropriation for education.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii continues to have a critical shortage of trained teachers within the public school system. Research indicates that teacher quality is one of the most influential factors in student achievement. Standards‑based reform has a greater chance of success when teacher quality is addressed simultaneously. In an effort to provide quality education for its students, the department of education continues to recruit highly qualified teachers from within the State of Hawaii and the continental United States. As more "baby‑boom" teachers in Hawaii and across the nation retire, the task of recruiting highly qualified teachers becomes more challenging each year.

One way to address the teacher shortage is with programs like the Hawaii teacher cadet program, through which high school students interested in educational careers may be specifically targeted and their skill sets enhanced towards becoming an educator. Such programs provide students with information, field experiences, and insights into teaching in Hawaii schools, and can guide and support Hawaii's future teachers to ensure success in the profession.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the Hawaii teacher cadet program to address the teacher shortage in Hawaii.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007‑2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to the Hawaii teacher cadet program fund.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the Hawaii teacher cadet program fund of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the Hawaii teacher cadet program to provide programs for students that promote teaching as a career choice.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act; provided that the Hawaii alliance for future teachers shall match the amount of the funds appropriated for the purposes of this Act, pursuant to section 302A-401.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.