STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3136

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 57
                                        




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education and Technology, to which was
referred S.C.R. No. 57 entitled: 

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO
     REVIEW AND ASSESS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S DEVELOPMENT
     OF EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATEWIDE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to
review and assess the Department of Education's development of
educational standards for public schools to ensure that Hawaii's
standards for competency in basic educational skills are in line
with standards across the nation.

     The Department of Education (DOE) submitted testimony in
concurrence with this measure.

     Your Committee finds that an external review of the DOE's
"Hawaii Content and Performance Standards" is extremely important
and fundamental to ensuring that high quality standards are
developed for and achieved by Hawaii's students.

     The DOE's testimony raised concerns about the
appropriateness of having the Auditor conduct the review and
assessment of Hawaii's education standards.  Your Committee,
however, believes that the Auditor is able to address the DOE's
concerns by exercising, in its discretion, the ability to seek an
outside consultant to conduct the review and assessment.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3136
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     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.C.R. No. 57 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee
on Ways and Means.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

 
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