Section 8-54-1 - Statement of purpose(a) All of Hawaii's public school children deserve to be taught by teachers who are qualified to practice the profession of teaching. The provision of quality education for all public school children is a critical function of state government. The highest standards must be applied to the training of teachers, the screening of applicants for employment and the continued employment of teachers. Teacher standards strengthen the school system's accountability to the public by ensuring that qualified teachers are employed in the public school system.(b) The purpose of this chapter is to set the standards by which public school teachers shall be licensed and relicensed. These standards shall be established by the Hawaii teacher standards board.[Eff 6/13/97; comp 7/18/98; comp 12/20/01; am and comp 8/13/04] (Auth: HRS § 302A-803) (Imp: HRS §§ 302A-801 to -808)[am and comp 10/27/11; am and comp 10/30/14] (Auth: HRS § 302A-803) (Imp: HRS §§ 302A-801 to -808)