Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1214, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to develop, implement, and administer a program to support National Board Certification candidates in the public schools.

The bill also appropriates funds to reimburse fees, pay bonuses, and subsidize transportation expenses of neighbor island candidates.

Your Committee believes that the most cost-effective way to improve student achievement is to invest in the education of teachers. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, an independent nonpartisan organization, has established rigorous standards for board certification for practitioners who demonstrate high levels of professional accomplishment. A 2000 study by the University of North Carolina found that teachers with National Board Certification significantly outperformed their peers. Presently, twenty-four states and eighty-five school districts recognize National Board Certification as a mark of quality teaching.

Thus far, only five teachers in Hawaii have undergone the arduous process of National Board certification. Your Committee finds that this bill would provide incentives and assistance for many more Hawaii teachers to undertake the same process, thus enhancing teacher professionalism in Hawaii by defining and recognizing highly accomplished practice and by encouraging and supporting candidates for this prestigious level of recognition.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical amendments for purposes of style, clarity, and consistency.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1214, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1214, S.D. 2.