Key issues include funding for special education, public preschool, per-pupil funding ratios for rural schools
Posted: December 2, 2022
The Hawaii State Teachers Association encourages the community and our decision-makers to ensure our public schools receive proper funding and resources to foster positive learning experiences for our students. The Hawaii State Legislature is especially critical for education stakeholders to work on improving the quality of education for Hawaii’s keiki.
The 32nd Hawaii legislative session will convene on Jan. 18, 2023. The decisions made during this session will determine how public education will be funded for the next school year. The legislature’s decisions about funding could impact teacher positions, class sizes, music, art, field trips, and more.
Download or view HSTA’s Government Relations priorities below that were determined from member input, including responses to our Government Relations survey that was sent to all members in the fall.
Top 2023 Government Relations priorities
- Create an additional dedicated, sustainable funding source for our public schools.
- Fully fund special education for teaching and support staff positions to meet student needs.
- Revise Act 51 to change per-pupil funding ratios in rural district schools to fulfill essential necessities, including adequate staffing, curriculum, and supplies.
- Expand funding for public preschool.
- Provide teachers with access to affordable rentals and homeownership.
Full 2023 Government Relations priorities
Invest wisely and effectively to meet public school needs
- Create an additional dedicated, sustainable funding source for our public schools.
- Revise Act 51 to change per-pupil funding ratios in rural district schools to fulfill essential necessities, including adequate staffing, curriculum, and supplies.
- Fully fund special education for teaching and support staff positions to meet student needs.
- Fully fund and support English Learners (EL), teachers, and programs.
- Fully fund and support Hawaiian education.
- Advocate for the needs of our BU05 public charter school members and fully fund facilities.
- Create equitable access to free and timely transportation for all students to get to and from school.
Promote quality student learning environments
- Support authentic assessments and parental rights to refuse high-stakes standardized testing.
- Reduce class sizes to improve student learning environments, safety, and opportunities.
- Expand funding for public preschool.
- Provide high-quality physical education and nutritional programs.
- Provide access to mental health education and services, including suicide prevention and awareness, highquality sexual health education, and substance abuse education.
Create an optimal learning environment for our students
- Fund school facility and technology upgrades, including bandwidth.
- Fund and maintain classroom climate control, air quality, and water quality.
Attract and retain highly qualified teachers to Hawaii’s public education system
- Advocate for non-negotiated alternatives to stabilize educators’ financial security.
- Increase funding for public education to attract and retain qualified teachers.
- Provide professional assistance, including mentoring, professional development, and a supportive, rather than a punitive, teacher evaluation system collaboratively created under the flexibility of ESSA.
- Pass legislation to support a paid family leave act and provide a separate bank of funding for maternity and paternity leave.
- Provide teachers with access to affordable rentals and homeownership.
Support democracy and unionization
- Establish a public school teacher (BU05) member on the Board of Education.
- Advocate for an elected Board of Education.
- Support legislation that will protect and strengthen unions and employee rights.