STAND. COM. REP. NO. 107-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1875
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No.
1875 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish and implement an
educational accountability system that:

     (1)  Covers students, schools as a whole, individual
          educational professionals, and other significant
          partners in the education process;

     (2)  Invokes a full and balanced set of consequences,
          including rewards, assistance, and sanctions; 

     (3)  Requires teachers and administrators to undergo
          continuous professional growth and development; and

     (4)  Is not subject to negotiation under chapter 89, Hawaii
          Revised Statutes (collective bargaining).

     The Governor, the Hawaii Superintendent, the Department of
Education, the Hawaii Business Roundtable, the Chamber Of
Commerce of Hawaii, the Honolulu Navy League, and three
individuals supported this bill. The Board of Education and the
Hawaii State PTSA supported the intent of this bill. The Hawaii
State Teachers Association opposed this bill.


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 107-00
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committee finds that this measure takes several
important steps in amending existing educational accountability
law.  It requires the implementation of an accountability system,
whereas the existing laws only call for the establishment of such
a system; a subtle but important move to stimulate action on this
issue.  The bill also clearly establishes a full range of
responses to the assessment of student and educational employee
performance.  The measure explicitly requires that such responses
not only include rewards and punitive action, but also assistance
to those who fall short of expected goals.  

     In addition, this bill requires educators to engage in
professional growth and development, and it explicitly requires
that professional evaluation results be part of individual
accountability for professional development and knowledge.
Finally, this bill exempts the accountability system from
collective bargaining under chapter 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
giving the Department of Education the ability to more freely
implement the necessary changes.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical,
nonsubstantive changes for purposes of style, clarity, and
consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
1875, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1875, H.D. 1, and
be referred to the Committees on Labor and Public Employment and
Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   KEN ITO, Chair