MEDIA RELEASE

Senate Bill 1084, a bill that proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the appropriation of public funds for private early childhood education programs to help the State meet its goal of providing an early learning system, advanced today at the State Capitol as Senate and House conferees agreed to move the bill forward.

“Early learning makes a difference and is the most powerful equalizer we have as we work to give every child the opportunity to succeed. Passing this measure out of conference and getting it that much closer to the ballot will allow the people of Hawaii to stand up and show their support for the creation of a high quality publicly funded early learning system,” said Senator Jill Tokuda, chair of the Senate Committee on Education and strong supporter of early childhood education.

“It’s time for Hawaii to join the vast majority of states that publicly fund early learning opportunities for our youngest of keiki. This is a huge step for Hawaii. I think it’s one we should be very proud of; now it’s on to our two other bills (Senate Bill 1093 and Senate Bill 1095) and making sure we get significant resources into the budget to support the program,” Tokuda said.

Senate Bill 1093, which establishes a school readiness program and Senate Bill 1095, which establishes the early childhood education program following the constitutional amendment, reconvene in conference committee at 3 p.m. Friday in the State Capitol’s Conference Room 329.

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