STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3413

                                   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 Ways and Means, 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 statewide to ensure that
Hawaii's standards for competency in the basic educational skills
are on par with the standards of other states.

     Despite complaints from the National Education Association
that the Fordham Foundation's analysis of state education
standards and accountability measures is "based on a tortured set
of criteria, that is designed to paint a picture of public school
failure" and "completely out of line with more objective
analyses, such as that published by Education Week in January
1999", your Committee finds that Hawaii's educational standards
may, indeed, be lacking.  In January 2000, Education Week gave
Hawaii a grade of "D+" for its standards, assessment, and
accountability; in January 1999, it gave the State a grade of
"D-".  In January 2000, the Fordham Foundation gave Hawaii a
grade of "D-"; in July 1998, it gave the State a grade of "D+".

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3413
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     While your Committee is uncertain how to interpret the
different directions of change observed by Education Week
("positive") and the Fordham Foundation ("negative") over time,
the meaning of a "D" grade is clear.

     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. 57
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

 
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