There is established an early learning system that shall ensure a spectrum of high-quality early learning opportunities for children throughout the State, from prenatal care until the time they enter kindergarten, with priority given to underserved or at-risk children. The early learning system shall be developed and administered by the executive office on early learning to the extent permissible by law. The early learning system shall:

(1) Be widely accessible and voluntary for both those served and program and service providers;

Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 302L-2

  • At-risk children: means children who, because of their home and community environment, are subject to language, cultural, economic, and other disadvantages that cause them to be at risk for school failure, including children:

    (1) Who are placed through their individualized education programs in a general education setting;

    (2) Who are English as a second language learners;

    (3) Who are in foster care;

    (4) Who are homeless; or

    (5) Whose family income is no more than three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 302L-1

  • Center-based: describes programs in which early learning services are provided in a facility, including private preschools, child care centers, and head start programs, licensed, or excluded or exempt from licensing, by the department of human services. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 302L-1
  • Early learning: means developmentally appropriate early childhood development and education for children from prenatal care until the time they enter kindergarten. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 302L-1
  • Early learning system: means a developmentally appropriate early childhood development and education system for children from prenatal care until the time they enter kindergarten. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 302L-1
  • Office: means the executive office on early learning established pursuant to this chapter. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 302L-1
(2) Be a cohesive, comprehensive, and sustainable system in which:

(A) All existing early learning programs and services, whether publicly- or privately-run, which consist of a variety of early learning approaches, service deliveries, and settings, including center-based programs, family child care programs, family-child interaction learning programs, and home-based instruction programs designed to promote early learning, are coordinated, improved, and expanded;
(B) Public and private resources are maximized; and
(C) The use of public facilities for either publicly- or privately-run early learning programs is maximized;
(3) Provide high-quality early learning experiences with:

(A) Standards-based content and curriculum, and accountability; and
(B) Sufficient numbers of well-qualified educators and administrators who are fairly compensated and have access to continuing professional development;
(4) Offer opportunities for family and community engagement and parent education and support; and
(5) Be sensitive to family choice and cultural diversity.

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