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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR
    THE DELIVERY OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES THAT IS
    CONSISTENT WITH ITS COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEM.



 1        WHEREAS, the number of special education students deemed
 2   eligible for speech and language services increased from 6,668
 3   in fiscal year 1992-1993 to 8,451 in fiscal year 1998-1999; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, the number of special education students deemed
 6   eligible for speech and language services is expected to rise
 7   as more children with special needs are identified; and
 8   
 9        WHEREAS, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
10   and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 guarantee all children with
11   disabilities the right to a free appropriate public education;
12   and
13   
14        WHEREAS, the Department of Education (DOE)has not
15   developed a statewide plan for the delivery of speech-language-
16   hearing services as part of its comprehensive student support
17   system; and
18   
19        WHEREAS, the most serious consequence of not having such a
20   plan has been that speech pathologist caseloads have grown to
21   the point where the quality of services provided to children
22   cannot be maintained; now, therefore,
23   
24        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
25   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
26   of 2000, the Senate concurring, that the DOE is requested to
27   develop a plan for the delivery of speech and language services
28   that is consistent with its comprehensive student support
29   system; and
30   
31        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DOE's plan include
32   recommendations for:
33   
34        (1)  A limit on speech pathologist caseloads that takes
35             into account the type and severity of disabilities
36             and the amount of services required;

 
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 1        (2)  The number of speech pathologists and communication
 2             aides needed to fully implement the plan based on the
 3             caseload limit;
 4   
 5        (3)  A timetable for fully implementing the plan; and
 6   
 7        (4)  A budget for fully implementing the plan based on the
 8             timetable;
 9   and
10   
11        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DOE's plan include a
12   detailed explanation of:
13   
14        (1)  How the recommended case load limit for speech
15             pathologists was determined; and 
16   
17        (2)  How this figure was used to determine the number of
18             speech pathologist and communication aide positions
19             needed to fully implement the plan; 
20   
21   and
22   
23        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DOE include a detailed
24   explanation of:
25   
26        (1)  How the recommended timetable was determined; and 
27   
28        (2)  How this timetable was used to determine the budget
29             for fully implementing the plan; 
30   
31   and
32   
33        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DOE consult with the
34   Hawaii Speech-Language-Hearing Association Public School Caucus
35   during the preparation of the plan; and
36   
37        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DOE submit its plan to the
38   Legislature at least sixty days prior to the convening of the
39   Regular Session of 2001; and
40   
41        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
42   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the
43   Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, and the
44   Chair of the Hawaii Speech-Language-Hearing Association Public
45   School Caucus.