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. 1671, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, rather than the Department of Education, responsible for the licensing and credentialing of teachers.

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

Your Committee finds that this measure removes an inherent conflict of interest by transferring teacher licensing functions from the employer, the Department of Education, to an independent entity, the Hawaii Teachers Standards Board. This transfer will foster high standards for the preparation, practice, and conduct of teachers, and result in higher academic achievement by students.

Your Committee has amended the measure to provide data that can help identify possible patterns in the types of students who tend to be assigned to out-of-field teachers, provide for monthly updates in employee status and hiring, and clarify the conditions under which emergency hiring can occur.

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. 1671, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1671, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.