STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1651

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.R. No. 90
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R.
No. 90 entitled:

     "SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING A STUDY OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
     SERVICES TO FEDERALLY CONNECTED CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this Resolution is to request the Board and
the Department of Education to identify the full cost of
educating federally-connected children with disabilities.

     Your Committee finds that the rising cost of providing
special education for Hawaii students is a heavy burden on the
state economy.  Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act authorizes additional payments to local school
districts based on the number of federally-connected children in
the system that have disabilities.  Identification of the full
cost of educating these children will maximize the federal impact
aid paid to the State.  

     The Resolution also requests the Board and the Department to
assess whether the students are making progress toward
predetermined goals, and to report on how funds are used for the
special education program, teacher salaries, and equipment for
the children, including assistive devices.  This knowledge will
enable the Legislature, Board, and Department to accurately
assess the state of special education in Hawaii.

 
a                                                     SR90
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1651
                                   Page 2


     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 90, and
recommends its adoption.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
a                                                     SR90