HI SB1095

Establishes a statewide early childhood education program within the early learning system to prepare three- and four-year-old children for school, with priority given to four-year-olds and underserved or at-risk children.

Program shall provide services in either Hawaiian or English and address children's physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional development through research-based, developmentally appropriate practices.

Parents or legal guardians must share program costs through copayments on a sliding fee scale based on need and fulfill family participation requirements; enrollment is voluntary and children already eligible for public elementary school are ineligible.

Office of early learning may contract with private and public providers meeting established Hawaiian or English language education standards and must align curriculum with Hawaii early learning and development standards and grades K-12 content standards.

Appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 and takes effect July 1, 2030, upon ratification of constitutional amendment SB1084 permitting public funding of private early childhood education programs.