The legislation aims to allocate $15 million in funding to hire 150 primary promise intervention teachers and 80 literacy instructional aides. These educators will work in small groups to assist approximately 9,000 students identified as needing additional support. The bill mandates that the Department of Education assess schools to identify those with the lowest literacy rates and disproportionately low reading levels among students, ensuring that resources are focused where they are most needed. The intent is for every student in the program to exit third grade reading at grade level.
House Bill 2047 seeks to address the concerning literacy levels among third grade students in Hawaii, where over 25% are reported to read below their grade level. The bill recognizes that approximately 12,500 students in kindergarten through third grade are literacy-challenged and outlines a strategy to provide them with necessary instructional support. With additional challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and remote learning, the bill proposes the implementation of the Primary Promise Pilot Program, designed to facilitate intensive literacy instruction for at-risk students through targeted staffing.
Despite its well-defined objectives, there may be points of contention surrounding the bill, particularly regarding the efficacy and ongoing funding of the program after its initial three-year pilot. Stakeholders might debate the long-term sustainability of such financial commitments and the potential for ongoing assessments to affect local school budgets. Additionally, the requirement for small group instruction could raise questions about teacher availability and the ability to adapt to the varying educational needs of diverse student populations.