HI SB155

Establishes a network improvement community task force to develop a kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teacher education degree at the University of Hawaii, coordinated through the University of Hawaii Maui College campus.

Task force shall consist of the chancellor of University of Hawaii Maui College, complex area superintendent for Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kulanihakoi-Maui complex area, head of school of Kamehameha Schools Maui, and dean of University of Hawaii at Manoa college of education, with authority to add additional members.

Task force shall generate baseline data on current K-12 STEM teachers, recruit STEM majors to teaching, partner with high-need school complex areas, and develop retention strategies for underrepresented minority teachers.

Task force shall submit interim progress report by twenty days before the 2024 regular legislative session and final report by twenty days before the 2025 regular legislative session, then dissolve on July 1, 2025.

Appropriates funds for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to support the task force operations and one full-time STEM entrepreneur-resident position at University of Hawaii Maui College, and to subsidize study abroad travel and tuition costs for the University of Hawaii Maui College's office of international and regional partnerships.