STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1592

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.C.R. No. 218
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R.
No. 218 entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
     A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A STATEWIDE PROGRAM FOR HAWAII'S
     SCHOOLS THAT FOCUSES ON STRONG ACADEMIC STANDARDS,
     ASSESSMENT TESTING, AND ACCOUNTABILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the
Governor to establish a task force to develop a statewide program
for Hawaii's schools that focuses on strong academic standards,
assessment testing, and consequences for both favorable and
unfavorable results by no later than July 31, 1991.

     Rolf Advertising testified in support of the measure.  The
Department of Education (DOE) testified that while it appreciates
the Legislature's interest in standards, assessment, and
accountability, it does not support the measure because the
issues are being dealt with in a bill that is making its way
through the current legislative session.

     Your Committee finds that work on developing educational
accountability in a comprehensive, holistic, and systemic manner
is underway in the DOE.  Five work groups have been convened to
develop actionable plans to refine the Hawaii Content and
Performance Standards, develop assessment and accountability,
develop student support services, modernize administrative

 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1592
                                 Page 2

 
support, and redefine school governance.  The resulting plans of
the five work groups will be integrated to produce one
comprehensive plan.  DOE testified that the first drafts of the
plans are due in mid-May, and the final plan is due in August.

     Your Committee finds that the requested task force could be
useful in monitoring the DOE's progress in the development of
academic standards, assessment testing, and accountability.  Your
Committee respectfully requests that the Committee on Finance
consider changing the requirement that the task force be selected
by the Governor no later than July 31, 1999, to being selected
within thirty days of adoption of the measure so that the task
force will be able to track the DOE's progress in these areas.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 218,
and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Education,



                                   ______________________________
                                   KEN ITO, Chair