Legislative Findings and Intent

I Liheslaturan Guåhan finds that there are benefits to the Department of Education if educator recertification courses are targeted to improve the educator’s teaching methods, language arts and mathematics skills, knowledge of the specific subject matter being taught, ability to use computers and the internet, and to address the educational requirements for special needs students. I Liheslatura further finds that the recertification process for educators employed by the Department of Education requires them to periodically complete college level courses at their own personal expense. The policy is silent, however, on choice and subject matter of such courses and therefore may result in educators completing courses that would not improve their effectiveness. I Liheslatura intends to support educator recertification by offering an option that would provide full financial support for a structured curriculum, via the Dr. Antonio C. Yamashita Educator Corps, designed to improve teaching methods, increase proficiency in language arts and mathematics, increase proficiency in the teaching subject area, increase proficiency in the use of computers and the internet, and to address the educational requirements of special needs students.