Updated October 14, 2014 3:10 a.m.
Original Post 2014-10-10 07:10 PM
INFORMATION FOR HSTA MEMBERS
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HSTA Informational Videos
VIEW VIDEOS by clicking on the links.
There are three informational videos.
CLICK HERE to VIEW Video #1 Preschool for All » (pdf)
PRESCHOOLFORALL.mp4
CLICK HERE to VIEW Video #2 Equal Opportunity » (pdf)
EQUAL_OPPORTUNITY.mp4
CLICK HERE to VIEW Video #3 Privileged Few » (pdf)
PRIVILEGED_FEW.mp4
View informational videos by clicking on the links above.
The video links are available in mp4 format.
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ConAm Q&A - Answers to your questions on Constitutional Amendment #4
CLICK HERE to Read Questions and Answers Regarding Constitutional Amendment #4 » (pdf)
What is the Constitutional Amendment on Private Preschool Funding?
You will be asked to vote on a constitutional amendment, proposed by Governor Neil Abercrombie, that will be included on the November 4 General Election ballot. If approved, the amendment would allow public, taxpayer money to be used to fund private preschools.
Everyone agrees that attending preschool can benefit Hawaii’s children. But don’t be fooled. The amendment will NOT create preschool opportunities for everyone. It will only be a drain on limited public education resources and will not really serve our neediest parents or children.
“The HSTA and Hawaii’s public school teachers want to ensure that all of our children are treated fairly and equitably. And, unfortunately, the Abercrombie Plan does neither.”
– Wil Okabe, Teacher and HSTA President
September 19, 2014
Learning Matters encourages NO on ConAm#4
Go to the Learning Matters Web site HERE>>>
Vote NO to education inequality
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May 28, 2014 - 3:12 a.m.
HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER
Read Ige takes stand against amendment on funding option for preschools » (pdf)
The gubernatorial candidate raises concerns about fair play by private institutions
Ige takes stand against amendment on funding option for preschools
The gubernatorial candidate raises concerns about fair play by private institutions
By Derrick DePledge
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 28, 2014
LAST UPDATED: 02:39 a.m. HST, May 28, 2014
STAR-ADVERTISER
Sen. David Ige said Tuesday he opposes a constitutional amendment that would allow public money to be spent on private preschool.
In a stark policy difference with Gov. Neil Abercrombie, state Sen. David Ige said Tuesday he opposes a constitutional amendment that would allow public money to be spent on private preschool.
The constitutional amendment, which goes before voters in November, is a critical element in Abercrombie’s plan to eventually offer preschool to all of the state’s 17,200 4-year-olds at a cost of more than $125 million a year. The state would use a combination of public and private preschool options so parents would have choices.
“I understand and support the importance of early education,” said Ige, who is challenging Abercrombie in the Democratic primary. “In this case I just think that the plan is not well conceived. There are insufficient private providers. They’re not in the communities that they’re most needed. And the cost is overwhelming.”
Ige, who had been undecided on the issue, said he also has philosophical concerns about taxpayer money going to private preschools. He said he would instead restart a junior kindergarten program at public schools that is being eliminated this year.
“We would be assured that all children would be treated fairly,” he said. “Private schools don’t play by public school rules.”
State-funded preschool is a dominant theme in Abercrombie’s re-election campaign. The governor told delegates at the Democratic Party’s state convention last weekend that early childhood education would be his top priority if he wins a second four-year term.
Abercrombie has chided Ige and others for not fully embracing his initiative. “If preschool can make the difference between good and great for all our children, how can we say ‘no’?” the governor asked in a campaign advertisement.
Sixty-two percent of voters interviewed for a Hawaii Poll in February said they favored the constitutional amendment.
Many at the state Legislature, however, have been lukewarm. Research has shown that children can benefit from high-quality early education programs, but many lawmakers want to see more details from the state before they commit. Other studies have indicated that some programs, such as the federal Head Start program for children from low-income families, have short-term results that diminish over time.
While Ige and other lawmakers have not been willing to advance Abercrombie’s preschool initiative until the constitutional amendment is settled, they did agree to an extra $6 million last year to expand Preschool Open Doors, a child care program, and $3 million this year for preschool for about 420 low-income children at 18 public schools.
The state Constitution now prohibits public money from being used for private eduction, since private schools do not have to provide equal access for all children.
The Hawaii State Teachers Association, which has endorsed Ige, is driving the opposition to the constitutional amendment. The teachers union warns that it could lead to a private voucher program and has urged lawmakers to expand preschool only at public schools with public school teachers.
“I do support early education, but I’ve decided that I’ll be voting ‘no’ on the constitutional amendment,” Ige said.
August 19, 2013 - 2:21 a.m.
The advocates for a state-funded early-learning system are learning that persuading voters to authorize the use of public money for private preschools may not be a slam-dunk proposition. If a constitutional amendment seeking to enable that is to pass, they have a lot of work ahead to help raise the comfort level around this idea.
August 19, 2013
HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER
EDITORIAL - OUR VIEW
Read Preschool initiative lacks needed details » (pdf)
The advocates for a state-funded early-learning system are learning that persuading voters to authorize the use of public money for private preschools may not be a slam-dunk proposition. If a constitutional amendment seeking to enable that is to pass, they have a lot of work ahead to help raise the comfort level around this idea.
On Thursday the Good Beginnings Alliance, an interest group that supports early-childhood development and school readiness, released the results of a poll conducted by QMark Research. The general concept of free or subsidized preschool is gaining in favor, according to the survey, with 82 percent now supporting the idea compared with 74 percent a year ago.
However, as the concept moves closer to reality, people feel less sure of their position. Only 52 percent said they support the constitutional amendment that will be put before voters next year.
The ballot question will be: “Shall the appropriation of public funds be permitted for the support or benefit of private early childhood education programs that shall not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex or ancestry, as provided by law?”
The question itself seems straightforward enough, but judging by the range of testimony submitted last session, people have myriad concerns, said state Sen. Jill Tokuda, who chaired the Senate Education Committee.
For example, she said, they want to know how it will be phased in and at what cost, whether it would be treated as a voucher program, how the church-state separation would be maintained and whether any preschool programs would be directly administered as state programs.
All valid concerns, given the potentially huge commitment of public funds.
During the last legislative session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1084 to put that language on the ballot and enacted a short-term “school readiness” bill, SB 1093, to take care of an immediate concern for “late-born” children too young to enter kindergarten at public schools. The junior kindergarten program available at some schools is being canceled come next school year.
To accommodate such children for the near term, the Legislature opted for a limited expansion of an existing school-readiness program called Preschool Open Doors. Designed as a voucher program to subsidize preschool for poorer children, it now would be available to assist families with children turning 5 too late to qualify for kindergarten.
What was left on the legislative conference-committee table was SB 1095, which would have created a permanent early childhood education program. Taxpayers are rightly wary of committing a great deal of money — estimates put that at more than $125 million a year — before they see all the nuts and bolts.
The state has not yet made the case why jumping into the deep end of a full-scale statewide program, complete with its own bureaucracy, would be a wiser course than growing the system more gradually and organically, through targeted expansions of Preschool Open Doors.
Rules for qualifying as a Preschool Open Doors program are being tightened to make sure state funds are well spent; if there’s to be a larger-scale initiative, the public deserves to know how the state will screen preschools to ensure rigorous standards.
“What I would like to see happen is come back with a version of the early-learning measure (SB 1095) that addresses many of the questions and puts to rest fears people have,” Tokuda said.
She’s right. And unless that happens, getting an amendment passed is going to be too heavy a lift.
September 10, 2014
HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER
Read Campaigns court voters on funding for preschools » (pdf)
An alliance and the teachers union are on opposite sides of the ballot measure
HAWAII NEWS NOW
SEE VIDEO AT: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/26492632/should-public-funding-go-to-private-preschools
Read Should public funding go to private preschools? » (pdf)
The question on the November 4, 2014 General Election ballot will read as follows:
“Shall the appropriation of public funds be permitted for the support or benefit of private early childhood education programs that shall not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex or ancestry, as provided by law?”
GOTV - GET OUT THE VOTE
Hawaii State Office of Elections
http://hawaii.gov/elections
General Election: November 4, 2014 Polling Place Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Deadline to register to vote:
Voter Registration Deadline General: October 6, 2014 - Mahalo for registering to vote!
Absentee Application Deadline General: October 28, 2014
You must register to vote: http://hawaii.gov/elections/forms/voter_pab_application_english.pdf