STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3444

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 58
                                        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. 58, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF
     A SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM FOR HAWAII PUBLIC SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Legislative
Reference Bureau to review the various school choice programs
implemented in other states and design a school choice program
for Hawaii that fosters competition among public schools for both
resources and students.

     School choice generally means allowing parents more freedom,
flexibility, and educational options in deciding where their
children attend school and encompasses a diverse range of
programs, including school-within-a-school, vouchers, statewide
open enrollment, special schools, interdistrict choice,
postsecondary enrollment options, magnet schools, and enrollment
for dropouts.

     Although some of the school choice programs discussed in
this measure already exist within the Department of Education,
your Committee believes that a competitive system of choice is
currently lacking.  For example, although the Department of
Education makes allowances for open enrollment through the

 
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granting of geographic exceptions, the number of geographic
exceptions that can be granted is limited by physical plant
capacity.

     Your Committee believes that a competitive school choice
system could improve the quality of individual schools by
creating an environment where good schools are strengthened and
unproductive schools are forced to improve, in response to
demands for higher academic standards, safer schools, and better
opportunities for parental involvement.

     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. 58,
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

 
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