COMMITTEES TO HEAR TESTIMONY ON EARLY LEARNING BILL

WHO:             The House Committee on Lower & Higher Education

                        House Finance Committee

WHAT:          Committees to discuss the Access to Learning bill

WHEN:          Tuesday, February 18

                        2 p.m.

                       

WHERE:       Hawaii State Capitol

                        Room 309

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi –The House Committee on Lower & Higher Education and the House Finance Committee will hold a joint hearing to discuss HB2543 relating to Access to Learning on Tuesday, February 18 at 2 p.m. in room 309 at the State Capitol.

The bill transfers the Executive Office on Early Learning from the Department of Education to the Department of Human Services. Renames the Office as the Learning to Grow Agency. Focuses the jurisdiction of the agency to children who are 3 to 4 years old or will be eligible for kindergarten within two years. Establishes the goal of providing all children who are 3 to 4 years old or will be eligible for kindergarten within two years with access to learning through an early learning program by the year 2030. Appropriates funds.

The bill is part of eight House and Senate bills introduced this session that make up the 2020 joint legislative package to provide real economic benefits for Hawaiʻi's working-class families and

individuals.