Requires public schools to collect information for, and distribute, an annual school report card.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a growing national movement to measure and collect information on school performance for public use. This movement is connected in large part to the trend toward providing parents and students with more choice in public schooling. In Hawaii, that trend has manifested itself in the new century charter school law, which allows for far more school-level control, and also allows students to attend charter schools regardless of their place of residence without obtaining a geographical exception.

The benefit of this freedom is not just that it allows parents and students to select a school that most benefits them, but also that it creates a demand for more accountability, and provides further incentive for schools to perform well. However, there are certain steps that need to be taken for school reforms to take hold and have a significant impact on education in Hawaii.

One major barrier to the beneficial effects of greater choice in schooling is the lack of sufficient information on our schools, provided to the public in an easily digestible manner. It is difficult or even impossible for people to make an educated decision regarding schooling without adequate information about the schools.

This is not just a problem for charter schools in which parents and students actually select a specific school. The lack of adequate and readily available school data makes it more difficult for all schools to be held publicly accountable for their performance. To combat this problem, many states have instituted programs in which schools collect data on their performance for annual dissemination to the public. One such notable "school report card" system is that in Arizona, which also has the country's largest charter school system. In Arizona, schools provide information annually based on a standardized format, that is then distributed by the school and the department of education.

The point of this type of a system should not be to stigmatize schools that do not perform well. The legislature recognizes that school performance is a function of several layers of responsibility. As was noted in recent accountability legislation, our system of education rests on the shoulders of students, parents, teachers, principals, and department administrators alike. However, only through a public mandate will meaningful reforms and improved performance be achieved, and the public can only demand change to the extent of its knowledge. School report cards would empower Hawaii's residents to be a greater part of their local schools by providing specific information on their performance.

Accordingly, the purpose of this act is to establish an annual school report card system for public schools.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- School report cards. (a) Each public school shall collect information annually for a school report card. The school report card shall consist of at least the following information:

(c) Each public school shall distribute that school's annual report card to the parents of all students. Further copies shall be made available by each school to the public at-large. Each school shall present the results of that school's report card at an annual public meeting.

(d) No part of this section shall be construed to affect or change the self-evaluation reporting requirements of new century charter schools as established in section 302A-1186."

SECTION 3. Section 302A-1184, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§302A-1184[]] New century charter schools; exemptions. Schools designated as new century charter schools shall be exempt from all applicable state laws, except those regarding:

(4) School report cards under section 302A- .

New century charter schools shall be exempt from the state procurement code, chapter 103D, but shall develop internal policies and procedures for the procurement of goods, services, and construction, consistent with the goals of public accountability and public procurement practices. However, where possible, the new century charter school is encouraged to use the provisions of chapter 103D; provided that the use of one or more provisions of chapter 103D shall not constitute a waiver of the exemption of chapter 103D and shall not subject the new century charter school to any other provision of chapter 103D. New century charter schools shall account for funds expended for the procurement of goods and services, and this accounting shall be available to the public."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.