HB 2543 Summary

• Expands the Preschool Open Doors Program to serve children ages 3-4 years old (previously 4-year-olds only) who are in the two years prior to kindergarten entry, with priority given to underserved and at-risk children.

• Establishes benchmarks requiring 50% of otherwise unserved 3-4 year olds to have preschool access by December 31, 2027, and 100% access by December 31, 2032.

• Requires parents of kindergarten students in public schools and charter schools to disclose prior early learning program attendance information to help identify geographic areas with greatest need for childcare and preschool services.

• Creates special funds for early learning initiatives: Early Learning Special Fund, Preschool Open Doors Special Fund, Preschool Grant Program Special Fund, and Hawaiian Early Learning Trust Fund; appropriates $5 million for Department of Human Services IT expansion and $5 million for Hawaiian language immersion preschool classrooms at University of Hawaii.

• Transfers administrative authority of state-funded early learning programs in public charter schools from the Executive Office on Early Learning to the State Public Charter School Commission, with specified requirements for classroom quality, teacher qualifications, and developmental assessments.