Pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement negotiated for Bargaining Unit (5), provides annual salary step increases for public school teachers and educational officers who have completed a year's satisfactory service and comply with specified requirements.
HB 863 allocates state funds to the Department of Education specifically for teacher-requested classroom supplies, such as books, art materials, or technology. This bill directly affects public school teachers and students in K-12 classrooms, as it provides resources based on educators' identified needs. The key mechanism is a direct appropriation of funds, requiring the Department of Education to distribute these resources to schools upon request. The bill takes effect on July 1, 3000, as stated in the official abstract. It passed committee with amendments in February 2025, moving forward in the legislative process.
Appropriates funds to the Department of Education and State Public Charter School Commission to provide monetary awards to educators who are recognized by the legislature, during education week, for their accomplishments, excellence in teaching, leadership, and service. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Amends the break in service requirement for retirants to six months before they can be rehired as teachers or administrators in teacher shortage areas or in hard-to-fill positions. Prohibits rehired retirants from receiving additional employment benefits. Directs the Department of Education to adopt rules to identify teacher shortage areas and hard-to-fill positions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Authorizes the Department of Education to subsidize all tuition and mandatory fees for a resident student enrolled in a 4-year college campus of the University of Hawaii System with an education program or that offers an education degree for the semester or term that the student enrolls in a State-Approved Teacher Education Program under certain conditions. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD2)
Establishes the Educator Student Loan Repayment Program to provide for the repayment of qualified student loans for certain educators in the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires each public school in the State, including charter schools, to employ, or retain under contract, at least 1 mental health professional for every 250 students enrolled, subject to certain conditions. Requires the Department of Education to submit a progress report to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026. Appropriates moneys for the Department of Education to contract for mental health professionals and to establish an unspecified number of fulltime equivalent mental health professional positions within the Department of Education. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded.
Requires the Department of Education to implement dyslexia sensitive linguistically appropriate universal screenings and evidence-based interventions, offer professional development on structured literacy and evidenced-based interventions, and support pre-teacher programs in training candidates in structured literacy instruction. (CD1)
