STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1331

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.R. No. 96
                                        S.D. 1




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education and Technology, to which was
referred S.R. No. 96 entitled:

     "SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO
     RECONSIDER ITS TIMETABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN TO
     MOVE SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO
     INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request that the
Department of Education reconsider its timetable for further
implementation of the Middle School Concept Plan, and that the
Legislative Reference Bureau conduct a study on the Department of
Education's plan.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Life
of the Land and many concerned parents and students.  Testimony
in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of
Education.

     Your Committee finds that this measure and its companion,
S.C.R. No. 210, S.D. 1, as well as S.C.R. No. 70, S.D. 1, and its
companion, S.R. No. 97, S.D. 1, address community concerns about
the Department of Education's middle school policy and
implementation plan.  Your Committee believes that the Department
of Education must reform its middle school policy.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to:


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1331
                                   Page 2


     (1)  Amend the title to read as follows:
          "REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT
          A STUDY ON THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S PLAN TO MOVE
          SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO
          INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS"; and

     (2)  Delete the request that the Department of Education
          reconsider its timetable for the implementation of its
          middle school plan.

     As amended, this measure requests the Legislative Reference
Bureau to conduct a study on the Department of Education's middle
school plan.  This study shall also include an examination of the
feasibility of alternative educational plans, such as the
combination of intermediate schools with elementary schools.

     Your Committee notes that S.C.R No. 70, S.D. 1, and its
companion S.R. No. 97, S.D. 1, both request the Department of
Education to suspend the implementation of the middle school
plan, and to consult with parents, students, and community
members when developing any future middle school policy.  It is
the intent of your Committee that the Department of Education
carefully review the findings of the Legislative Reference
Bureau, as prescribed in this measure, before further
implementation of any middle school plan.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education and Technology that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of
S.R. No. 96, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached
hereto as S.R. No. 96, S.D. 1.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

 
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