Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1669, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Hawaii teacher standards board to develop, implement, and administer a support program for National Board Certification candidates in the Department of Education, increase the bonus for certified teachers to $5,000 for each year certification is valid, and appropriate funds.

Your Committee heard testimony in support of the measure from the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Education, University of Hawaii, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Hawaii Congress of Parents, Teachers and Students, and Hawaii Business Roundtable.

Your Committee finds that teachers are fueled by the intrinsic reward of making a difference in the lives of their students. However, over time, this spark and enthusiasm can fade. Tangible incentives for teachers such as would be provided for in this measure will help reduce burnout, improve retention, and enable teachers to advance within their profession while still remaining in the classroom.

Your Committee has amended the measure by stipulating that, if a salary bonus for National Board Certified public school teachers is negotiated as a part of the collective bargaining agreement, qualified teachers will not receive an additional bonus from the Hawaii Teachers Standards Board during the term of the collective bargaining agreement.

Your Committee has further amended the measure by specifying that $1,250 of candidate application fees shall be reimbursed to candidates upon the submission of evidence to the Hawaii Teachers Standards Board of an initial application to the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards and that the remaining $1,250 of candidate application fees shall be reimbursed to candidates upon the submission of evidence to the Hawaii Teachers Standards Board of a complete application submittal to the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1669, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1669, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.