S.R. No. 49 - Summary

• Urges the Executive Office on Early Learning to examine and consider implementing a sliding scale tuition or fee schedule for state pre-kindergarten programs

• Identifies Hawaii's high child care costs as a barrier to access, noting annual tuition at many facilities exceeds University of Hawaii at Manoa in-state tuition

• Notes that child care costs for two children often equal one full-time working parent's annual after-tax income, causing some parents to leave the workforce

• References the Executive Office on Early Learning's public pre-kindergarten program (launched 2014-2015) and the Preschool Open Doors program serving families at or below 300% and 250% of federal poverty guidelines respectively

• Directs transmission of a certified copy of the resolution to the Director of the Executive Office on Early Learning