STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3422

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 142
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred
S.C.R. No. 142, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT
     OF EDUCATION CONSIDER ESTABLISHING A WORK EXPERIENCE,
     COMMUNITY SERVICE, OR SERVICE LEARNING COMPONENT AS A
     REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request that
the department of education to consider establishing a work
experience, community service, or service learning component as a
requirement for graduation from high school.

     Your Committee finds that for many students the shift from
school to work is often made with very little regard for the new
responsibilities involved with the business world.  Self
reliance, learning to follow instructions, careful listening,
promptness, reliability, judgment, and other personal habits are
critical to becoming a successful employee.  Your Committee
further finds that the education of a student, therefore,
encompasses more than mere book learning.  If the educational
system provided alternatives to academic work, some students may
realize the value of what they are exposed to in class.


 
a                                                     SCR142 SD1
 
 
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3422
                                   Page 2


     Work experience, volunteer community service, or service
learning programs can extend the benefits of school work and
bring a different level of awareness to some students.  They may
discover new interests or career paths, or skills they did not
know they possessed.  This enriches their lives and could make
them more valuable members of Hawaii's society.

     Your Committee also finds that this concurrent resolution
requests the Department of Education to submit a report about
these three types of alternative non-academic programs to the
Legislature before the regular session of 2001.  These reports
will help the Legislature to determine the value of these
programs before making any further fiscal commitments.

     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.C.R. No. 142,
S.D. 1, 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                                                     SCR142 SD1