[§304A-1203]  Hawaii institute foreducational partnerships.  (a)  Reforms to the public school system cannotsucceed without concomitant reforms to the manner in which teachers areeducated.  The purpose of this section is to create a link between the publicschools and university teacher education programs to ensure that teachereducation is focused on the needs of the diverse student populations foundwithin the public school system.

(b)  There is established a Hawaii institutefor educational partnerships.  The institute, in collaboration with thedepartment of education, shall:

(1)  Continually review the system of educatingteachers for the purpose of redesigning the teacher education program of thecollege of education so that it is responsive to the needs of the public schoolsystem in Hawaii;

(2)  Develop innovative strategies to effectuate thechanges in the teacher education program at the school level; and

(3)  Where appropriate, establish university-schoolpartnerships as the mechanisms by which to implement the innovative strategiesdeveloped by the [institute].

The institute shall submit, prior to theconvening of each regular session of the legislature, a report to the board ofregents, the board of education, and the legislature outlining its progress inredesigning the teacher education program and the initiation of anyuniversity-school partnerships. [L 2006, c 75, pt of §2]