| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State's public schools have been facing a severe teacher shortage for years with little support to address this issue. The teaching workforce in Hawaii is now increasingly made up of out-of-state teachers, creating a classroom environment where teaching faculty do not adequately reflect the socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of Hawaii's students. The legislature further finds that the lack of apprenticeship programs to assist teachers in obtaining the necessary licenses and gaining workforce experience contributes to poor teacher retention, lack of diversity, and lack of recruitment of local teachers in public schools. Hawaii needs a structured teacher apprenticeship program to boost retention, diversity, and recruitment among the State's public school teachers. The purpose of this Act is to establish a registered teacher apprenticeship program to support, recruit, develop, and retain teachers for Hawaii's public schools. SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III, subpart D, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§302A- Hawaii registered teacher apprenticeship program. (a) As the sponsor of a registered teacher apprenticeship program, the Hawaii teacher standards board shall develop the Hawaii registered teacher apprenticeship program in compliance with and with the approval of the department of labor and industrial relations. The purpose of the program is to help recruit and increase the number of teachers throughout the State by utilizing an apprenticeship model for training. The program shall provide for an applicant who successfully completes the program to obtain a teaching license issued by the Hawaii teacher standards board. (b) The Hawaii teacher standards board may work with Hawaii teacher standards board‑approved institutions of higher education who are authorized Hawaii post-secondary education programs with a physical presence in Hawaii, the department of labor and industrial relations, and other educational stakeholders approved by the Hawaii teacher standards board for the purposes of the Hawaii registered teacher apprenticeship program. (c) An individual may apply for participation in the program if the individual: (1) Is an employee of an accredited public school or public charter school in the State; or (2) Is hired to begin working for a school approved or accredited by the department for which the individual is applying for participation in the program. (d) The Hawaii teacher standards board, in compliance with the department of labor and industrial relations and federal teacher apprenticeship regulations, shall determine requirements for acceptance and completion of the program by an applicant. (e) The Hawaii teacher standards board shall issue a teaching license to an applicant who successfully completes all of the Hawaii registered teacher apprenticeship program requirements and meets all teacher licensing requirements. (f) The Hawaii teacher standards board shall determine mentor qualifications and requirements in compliance with federal Department of Labor regulations. Mentors shall receive a stipend of $3,000 when requirements established pursuant to this subsection are met." SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish the Hawaii registered teacher apprenticeship program pursuant to section 302A- , Hawaii Revised Statutes. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $ or per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that: (1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and (2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act. SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2024. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State's public schools have been facing a severe teacher shortage for years with little support to address this issue. The teaching workforce in Hawaii is now increasingly made up of out-of-state teachers, creating a classroom environment where teaching faculty do not adequately reflect the socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of Hawaii's students. The legislature further finds that the lack of apprenticeship programs to assist teachers in obtaining the necessary licenses and gaining workforce experience contributes to poor teacher retention, lack of diversity, and lack of recruitment of local teachers in public schools. Hawaii needs a structured teacher apprenticeship program to boost retention, diversity, and recruitment among the State's public school teachers. The purpose of this Act is to establish a teacher apprenticeship program to support, recruit, develop, and retain teachers for Hawaii's public schools. SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III, subpart D, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§302A- Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program. (a) There is established the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program to be administered by the Hawaii teacher standards board to create pathways for individuals to enter the teaching profession in the State. (b) To participate in the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program, an individual shall meet the following minimum eligibility requirements to become an apprentice teacher, the individual shall have: (1) Received an associate degree from an accredited postsecondary institution in the State; (2) Earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the degree program for the degree received in accordance with paragraph (1); (3) Successfully passed a background screening by the department; and (4) Been accepted into program by the Hawaii teacher standards board. (c) As a condition of participating in the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program, an apprentice teacher shall: (1) Commit to spending the first two years of the program in the classroom of a mentor teacher using team teaching strategies as identified by the Hawaii teacher standards board; (2) Fulfill the on-the-job training component and any additional requirements and standards; (3) Obtain a teacher's license pursuant to section 302A‑805; and (4) Be hired by the department as an education paraprofessional; provided that the compensation for the apprentice teacher shall be in accordance with the current salary schedule negotiated for bargaining unit (6). (d) An apprentice teacher may change schools after the first year of apprenticeship if the current school the apprentice teacher is employed at has agreed to fund the remaining year of the apprenticeship. (e) A teacher serving as mentor in the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program shall mentor an apprentice teacher using team teaching strategies and shall, at a minimum, meet the following requirements: (1) Have at least seven years of teaching experience in the State; and (2) Satisfy any other requirements as established by the department and Hawaii teacher standards board. (f) Subject to legislative appropriation, a mentor teacher may receive a bonus; provided that fifty per cent of the bonus shall be paid to the mentor teacher after: (1) The first year of mentoring an apprentice teacher; and (2) Completion of the Hawaii teacher apprentice program with the same apprentice teacher. (g) Upon completion of the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program, the apprentice teacher shall be eligible for hire as a teacher by a department school or public charter school in the State. (h) The Hawaii teacher standards board may impose additional requirements for completion of the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program." SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish the Hawaii teacher apprenticeship program pursuant to section 302A- , Hawaii Revised Statutes. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $ or per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that: (1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and (2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act. SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2024. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ |
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