Report Title:

DOE; activities for middle and intermediate students.

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, a complete education consists of many equally important components, and cannot be limited to traditional academic pursuits alone; and

WHEREAS, activities that broaden students' horizons and teach them things they may never learn during the course of their regular school day are essential to creating well-rounded, youths who are engaged in their learning; and

WHEREAS, enrichment activities provided in schools can consist of a nearly endless variety of options, such as expanded academic pursuits, cultural education, computer literacy programs, and outdoor activities; and

WHEREAS, these types of pursuits make students want to go to school, and enhance their ability to learn and apply their knowledge and academic skills more broadly; and

WHEREAS, in Hawaii, our youngest students have the A-Plus program that provides them with enrichment activities, and our high school students have access to a variety of activities including student government, sports, and other fulfilling extracurricular programs; and

WHEREAS, however, our middle and intermediate school students often do not have access to as many of these types of programs in their schools; and

WHEREAS, during these critical years prior to high school, it is very important that students are engaged in their studies, and begin to develop a well-rounded approach to learning that can carry them through the rest of their education; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Education (DOE) is requested to provide adequate enrichment activities to middle and intermediate school students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOE is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2002 outlining DOE's plan to provide enrichment opportunities to middle and intermediate school students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education.