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 S.B. No. 531 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that teachers have the time during the school year for classroom planning and curriculum. This measure also appropriates funds for staff and resources to maintain lower teacher-student ratios and allow teachers to focus on classroom instruction.

Your Committee received testimony from the Department of Education in favor of this measure.

Your Committee finds that teacher workloads are tremendous. Teachers are overwhelmed with not only the duties of teaching but also administrative duties, conferences, events, meetings, and other clerical and management chores. Your Committee finds that this measure ensures that teaching shall be the priority for teachers by including curriculum planning and management time in the accountability system and appropriating funds to support this priority.

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 S.B. No. 531 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.