§302D-39 Public early learning and preschool programs; administrative authority. (a) The commission shall have administrative authority over all state-funded early learning programs and private partnership-funded preschool programs in public charter schools except for special education and Title I-funded prekindergarten programs.
(b) The early learning programs in charter schools shall enroll no more than a maximum of twenty children per classroom who are three- or four-years-old on or before July 31 of the school year, as aligned with the department's kindergarten age entry requirements.
(c) Subject to the availability of funding, the commission shall implement an application process for schools to establish an early learning program.
(d) Each early learning program and preschool program shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The availability of a classroom and outdoor play area that meet department of human services requirements for the health and safety of three- and four-year-old children and is exempt from section 346-161 as a public preschool provider;
(2) The commitment of the principal to implementing an early learning program, including through active participation in professional development sessions offered through the commission, and promoting continuity and alignment between and across other early learning programs in the community and other grade levels in the school to ensure the positive outcomes of children are sustained;
(3) The inclusion of students with disabilities based on individualized education program placement; provided that:
(A) The in-classroom ratio of students with disabilities shall be based on the inclusion of children with disabilities in proportion to the general population of the school;
(B) Subparagraph (A) does not anticipate or permit imposing caps or quotas on the number of children with disabilities in a program or not individualizing services for children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq., as amended);
(C) The department shall collaborate with the charter school to coordinate services for students with disabilities who are placed in the classroom offered through the program; and
(D) Funding for all costs associated with the implementation of the individualized education program of students shall be provided through the department;
(4) Enrollment in the program shall be free and voluntary;
(5) The enrollment shall not exceed twenty children per classroom; and
(6) The incorporation of standards that are research-based and developmentally-appropriate practices associated with improved educational outcomes for children, such as:
(A) Positive teacher-child interactions that shall be evaluated through observations conducted by the commission using a research-based tool at least twice a year, for the purposes of professional development; provided that the observations shall not be used for the purposes of teacher evaluation;
(B) The early learning environment shall be assessed using a tool that measures its effectiveness and shall be conducted at least two times per school year by a certified observer who is employed or contracted by the commission; provided that the teaching staff shall use the assessment data and feedback to improve the quality of the learning environment; provided further that observations shall be used for the purposes of professional development and shall not be used for the purposes of teacher evaluation;
(C) Use of individual child formative assessments that are used for ongoing planning relating to all areas of child development and learning including cognitive, linguistic, social emotional approaches to learning, and health and physical development;
(D) Family engagement in partnership with charter schools, including conducting outreach for enrollment and engagement of families in their children's education in recognition of families' role as their child's first and most important teacher;
(E) Alignment with the Hawaii early learning and development standards, department standards, state content and performance standards, and general learner outcomes for grades kindergarten to twelve to facilitate a seamless educational experience for children;
(F) Requirements that any teacher shall have coursework in early childhood education pursuant to Hawaii teacher standards board licensing requirements for a prekindergarten teacher or be enrolled in a state-approved teacher education program and be working toward satisfying the Hawaii teacher standards board licensing requirements; and
(G) Requirements that any educational assistant has a current child development associate credential, coursework for a certificate that meets the requirements for child development associate credential preparation, or be enrolled in and working toward completing a program that prepares the individual to obtain the credential.
(e) The commission shall monitor the implementation of the educational experience for children.
(f) The commission shall provide support to incorporate the standards developed pursuant to subsection (d), including support related to teacher-child interactions, early childhood learning environment, individual child assessments, and family engagement.
(g) Teaching staff participating in a program established pursuant to this section shall participate in coaching and mentoring and professional development opportunities offered through the commission; provided that the commission shall cover the associated travel and substitute teacher costs, contingent upon funding availability. The commission may extend this support, excluding travel and substitute teacher costs, to individuals who are not participating in the program to promote alignment between all grade levels, programs, and settings.
(h) School leaders shall attend professional development sessions related to P-3 (preschool to grade three) alignment offered through the commission. The commission shall cover the costs associated with travel and substitute teacher expenditures, contingent upon the availability of funding. The commission may extend this support, excluding travel and substitute teacher costs, to individuals who are not participating in the program to promote alignment between all grade levels, programs, and settings.
(i) The commission shall work with each charter school to develop and annually update a written three-year plan that promotes, within the school and community, alignment of and transitions between learning experiences, and report on the progress made toward the plan by the end of the school year.
(j) The commission shall coordinate with other agencies and programs to facilitate comprehensive services for early learning.
(k) The commission shall promote the development of a cohesive, comprehensive, and sustainable early learning system. The commission shall coordinate with other early learning providers, including those providing the programs and services, to promote alignment between prekindergarten and elementary school programs and to support children and their families in making successful transitions from prekindergarten into kindergarten.
(l) The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for the purpose of this section.
(m) The commission shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session regarding state-funded early learning programs in charter schools. The report shall include, as related to each type of program:
(1) The number and location of classrooms;
(2) Sources of funding for each classroom;
(3) Aggregated data reflecting the quality of teacher-child interactions relating to emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support;
(4) Aggregated data reflecting the quality of the early learning environment and the teacher-child interactions that maximize the learning opportunities of the environment; and
(5) Aggregated student outcomes related to all areas of child development and learning, including cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional approaches to learning and health and physical development, as assessed using a formative assessment tool selected or approved by the commission.
This reported data shall be compiled from the previously state-funded school year. [L 2020, c 46, pt of §3]