Hawaii PTSA - Advocacy

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HAWAII STATE PTSA's
2006 ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

Legislative priorities (directives) focus on issues that are most likely to affect children's education and programs in the current legislative session and should be the priority of state legislative advocacy at the present time. They do not preclude action on other legislative issues that may arise that are covered by resolutions or position statements. Legislative priorities may be proposed by the Legislative Committee, other committees or individual board members of the Hawaii State PTSA. They are adopted annually by the Hawaii State PTSA Board of Directors.

Following are the 2005-2006 Legislative Priorities:

KINDERGARTEN READINESS

We Support:

Universally available Preschool for ALL children.
Comprehensive and developmentally appropriate curricula (Pre K-2nd grade) high quality preschool standards.
Kindergarten as a required grade level.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

We Support:

Full funding for (1) full-time PCNC (Parent Community Networking Coordinator) in every DOE school.
Allocate funds to promote the parent involvement provisions of the No Child Left Behind Law (NCLB), and the Hawaii Board of Education (BOE) Policy Statute #2403, to be implemented by school/community councils (SCC) (e.g., PTA, PCNC, DOE, Title 1, Military, other parent groups.)
Funding incentives for business to allow parents to be involved in their children's education (during business hours.) This would include but not be limited to parent/teacher conferences.
Fully fund the implementation and evaluation of effective School Community Councils (SCC) in ALL DOE schools.
Inclusion of parent-involvement and engagement strategies as components of teacher education curriculum.
Under Act 51, school governance shall:
- Empower all segments of the School Community Council in shared decision-making;
- Clearly define the lines of accountability and responsibility;
- Place resources more directly towards students, teachers and the school community served; and
- Be fully funded
Implement Parent Information Resource Centers (PIRC) to support children’s learning through parent involvement, education, and empowerment.
Full disclosure of monies allocated towards all school activities.
Full funding of mandatory training of educator personnel in the National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement, Parent
Involvement Provisions of the NCLB Law (section 1118), and the BOE Parent/Family Involvement Policy (Policy #2403).

HEALTH, SAFETY, AND BUS ISSUES

We Support:

Funding for statewide implementation of a mandatory, comprehensive and, coordinated Physical Education Program (k-12).
Determining appropriate training requirements for safety officers. Establish appropriate officer to student ratio and insure adequate funding to implement.
Enforcement of Smoke Free Campus
School day recess (unstructured free/play time).
Creation and implementation of statewide quality standards regarding the improvement of freshness, choice and nutrition for all school meals (including meat alternatives).
ID cards for lunches with dietary needs
ID bands for diabetes & asthma
Universal ID meal cards intended to eliminate identification of those issued free/reduce meals.
Clean, sanitary and private bathrooms facilities that remain fully stocked with soap, toilet paper and paper towels in all school bathrooms at all times when school is in session.
Strengthening Comprehensive Student Support Services (CSSS) (e.g. Appropriate number of counselors, adequate supervision before, during, after school and recess)
Comprehensive Drug Preventive Programs (Pre K-12)
Bus Safety
- Legislation to require seatbelts in every bus to ensure safety.
- Inspections
- Same side street pick ups
- Drivers with communication tools (e.g. cell phone, etc.).
- Ensure capacity compliance
Continuous regulation of internet safety.
Improve air quality by prioritizing DOE’s 10 year plan for air condition systems in all schools.

PROGRAMS

We Support:

An increase in the number of arts education programs available for all grade levels.
"The P-20 Initiative" - a collaboration of all education systems, including early childhood programs, preschool to grade 12 and higher education, that creates curriculum alignment for a seamless system of education accountability to focuses on improving the knowledge and skills of Hawaii's children.
Curriculum that includes an accurate view of multi-cultural contributions to American and World History
Utilization of schools as learning centers, both for children and adults that extend beyond the school day.
Comprehensive Vocational and technical Programs available to all students.
Class size reduction; reaching no more then, 18 to 1 for k-2, 20 to 1 for 3-8, and 25 to 1 for 9-12.
Before, after and intersession school programs available to ALL children.
Technology
- Purchase & maintenance of technology equipment (e.g. computers, printers, etc.) used to encourage

FACILITIES

We Support:

Immediately addressing the back-log of school repair and maintenance projects and request the following areas be considered a priority:
- Ample playground equipment for all Elementary Schools.
- Creating school environments conducive to learning (e.g. air condition, adequate electricity for technical upgrades, etc.).
- Each school is provided adequate janitorial supplies.
- Planning to provide all middle and high schools with gyms by the year 2010
Expediting new school construction and ensuring that appropriations be adequate to complete schools currently under construction (including books and supplies)
Assistance via reduce rates from utility companies (e.g. HECO, etc.) to improve DOE school infrastructure.

EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALISM

We Support:

Teacher retention programs including loan forgiveness, mentorship and induction, etc., and request that the state legislature provide adequate funding for these programs.
Funding for professional development programs for all of Hawaii’s public school teachers and educational assistants.
Professional Development courses, for school level personnel focusing on parent/family engagement.
With Complex Area Superintendent oversight:
- Implementation of quarterly training programs for School Community Councils (SCC).
- Continous training for new and established School Community Council members.

ACT 51 - "REINVENTING EDUCATION"

We Support:

Removal of the cap on charter schools.

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Hawaii State PTSA members may view our complete legislative program, including all position statements and resolutions, by logging on to our Members Area at http://hawaiiptsa.org/members/index.html and clicking on the "Advocacy" link.