HI HB820

Establishes the Executive Office on Early Learning Public Prekindergarten Program to serve children in the year prior to kindergarten eligibility, administered by the Executive Office on Early Learning with partnership from the Department of Education.

Program shall prioritize underserved or at-risk children whose family income does not exceed 250% of the federal poverty level and operate through available classrooms in public schools and public charter schools statewide.

Requires implementation of high-quality standards including positive teacher-child interactions, individual child assessments for instructional planning, family engagement, and alignment with Hawaii early learning and development standards.

Enrollment is voluntary and the Department of Education may grant geographic exceptions for children to attend prekindergarten outside their assigned service area, including based on parental employment location.

Executive Office on Early Learning must submit reports to the legislature prior to regular sessions in 2016, 2017, and 2018 detailing classroom locations, enrollment numbers, waitlist information, costs, and plans for program expansion.