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HB1272
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1272
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to a hawaii teacher registered apprenticeship program
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that the State's public
schools have been facing severe teacher shortages for years with little support
to address this issue.
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The department of
education, along with the Hawaii teacher standards board as sponsor, seeks to
create and bolster the state teacher apprenticeship program through mentor
training, creating mentor apprenticeship curriculum, monitoring, and providing
coordination for the creation of multiple pathways for apprentices to become
teachers.
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The legislature further finds that
the lack of apprenticeship programs to assist future teachers in obtaining the
necessary licenses and gaining workforce experience contributes to poor
retention, lack of diversity, and lack of more recruitment in local communities
for individuals to become teachers in state public schools.
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Hawaii needs a structured teacher registered
apprenticeship program to boost retention, diversity, and recruitment among the
State's teachers in public schools.
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The
department of education will need positions to manage, create, and evaluate
metrics for federal and state reporting requirements of such a teacher
registered apprenticeship program.
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The purpose of this Act is to
establish and appropriate funds for a teacher registered apprenticeship program
to support, recruit, develop, and retain teachers for Hawaii's public schools.
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SECTION 2.
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Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part III, subpart D, to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:
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�302A-
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Hawaii
teacher registered apprenticeship program.
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(a)
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The board shall develop and implement a
Hawaii teacher registered apprenticeship program, the purpose of which shall be
to recruit, retain, and increase the number of teachers throughout the State.
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(b)
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The board shall work with the department of
labor and industrial relations to develop the program.
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The board may work with board-approved
institutions of higher education that are authorized Hawaii post-secondary
education programs with a physical presence in the State and other education
stakeholders approved by the board for the purposes of the Hawaii teacher
registered apprenticeship program.
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(c)
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An individual may apply for participation in
the Hawaii teacher registered apprenticeship program if the individual:
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(1)
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Is currently
employed as an educational assistant or teacher assistant at a public school or
public charter school in the State; or
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(2)
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Is newly hired
to begin working as an educational assistant or teacher assistant at a public
school or public charter school in the State for which the individual is
applying for participation in the program.
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(d)
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The board, in compliance with department of
labor and industrial relations and federal teacher registered apprenticeship
regulations, shall determine the requirements for acceptance and completion of
the Hawaii teacher registered apprenticeship program.
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(e)
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The board shall issue a teaching license to
an applicant who successfully completes all of the Hawaii teacher registered
apprenticeship program requirements and meets all other teaching licensing
requirements.
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(f)
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The board shall determine mentor
qualifications and requirements in compliance with federal Department of Labor
regulations, including mentor professional development, length of time
apprentices are required to be in their classrooms, and meetings to update the
educational providers and the board with assistance apprentices may need.
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Mentors shall receive a stipend of $4,000
when requirements established pursuant to this subsection are met.
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SECTION 3.
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There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $426,848 or so much thereof as may
be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 to establish the Hawaii teacher
registered apprenticeship program pursuant to section 302A- ,
Hawaii Revised Statutes; provided that the funds appropriated shall be used as
follows:
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(1)
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$200,000 for
stipends for mentors in the program;
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(2)
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$116,712 for one
full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) business manager officer II position; and
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(3)
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$110,136 for one
full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) institutional analyst II position.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for
the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 4.
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New statutory material is underscored.
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SECTION 5.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Hawaii
Teacher Standards Board; Hawaii Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program;
Appropriation
Description:
Establishes
the Hawaii Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program, to be administered by the
Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.
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Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.