Bill > HB1272

This bill establishes a Hawaii Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program administered by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to address the state's ongoing teacher shortages. The program will allow current or newly hired educational or teacher assistants in public schools to apply for a pathway to becoming a licensed teacher. Participants must work with the board and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to meet specific program requirements, with the goal of recruiting, retaining, and increasing the number of teachers statewide. The bill provides for mentors to receive a $4,000 stipend and includes provisions for mentor qualifications and professional development. To support the program's implementation, the bill appropriates $426,848 for fiscal year 2025-2026, which will cover mentor stipends ($200,000), a full-time business manager position ($116,712), and a full-time institutional analyst position ($110,136). The program aims to create multiple pathways for apprentices to become teachers, with a focus on improving teacher retention, increasing diversity, and supporting recruitment from local communities. The apprenticeship program will be developed in collaboration with higher education institutions and other approved education stakeholders, with the board ultimately issuing a teaching license to participants who successfully complete all program requirements.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1272&year=2026