HI SR59

Requests the Department of Education and University of Hawaii System to develop programming and educational supports for educational assistants and long-term substitute teachers to earn teaching degrees and become certified teachers.

Includes stipend funding as a potential educational support to address the prohibitive cost of higher education as a barrier to degree completion.

Requests the Department of Education to establish guidelines and criteria for distributing stipend funding.

Aims to address Hawaii's teacher shortages and improve student learning outcomes by converting educational assistants and substitute teachers into full-time certified educators.

Requires certified copies of the resolution to be transmitted to the Board of Education Chairperson, Superintendent of Education, and University of Hawaii Board of Regents Chairperson.