HIDOE and the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board applaud Governor David Ige’s signing of House Bill 1070 into law. Act 116 will provide $600,000 in both fiscal years 2019-20 and 2020-21 for teacher stipends for the “Grow Our Own Teachers” initiative to cover annual licensing fees for new and untenured teachers.
HONOLULU – The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) and the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) applaud Governor David Ige’s signing of House Bill 1070 into law. Act 116 will provide $600,000 in both fiscal years 2019-20 and 2020-21 for teacher stipends for the “Grow Our Own Teachers” initiative. The funds will cover annual licensing fees for new and untenured teachers to help reduce their costs while working towards becoming fully-licensed teachers.
“By supporting our prospective educators through initiatives like the “Grow Our Own Teachers” program, we are on a path to developing our teaching corps from within,” said Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Covell, Office of Talent Management. “Hawaii is one of only a small handful of states nationwide to provide such progressive funding aimed at paving the way to education careers and strengthening the depth of our teaching talent pool.”
Act 116 will also provide $1.27 million in funding for HTSB in Fiscal Year 2019-2020 for operational costs and six permanent staffing positions.
“The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board is grateful to the Governor, Senate, and House Education Committees for their support for this bill which honors the importance and professionalism of Hawaii's teachers as they are prepared and become licensed,” said HTSB Executive Director, Lynn Hammonds. “This is an innovative and well-deserved step in elevation and recognition of the profession of teaching by our state.”
The HTSB has served the state as the licensing board for Hawaii teachers, school counselors, and school librarians since its inception in 2003, when it began oversight of approvals of educator preparation programs, licensure, and professional development. All public school teachers, counselors, and librarians must be licensed or permitted through the HTSB.
For the full text of Act 116, please click here.