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. 582, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to establish an academy related to cyberspace entrepreneurs in public high schools.

The bill also appropriates money for such a program and requires appointment of an executive director.

The traditional methods of teaching, and the traditional roster of high school courses, are not engaging a significant portion of high school students in the State, who learn less and less in a society that expects more and more from them. The business world is particularly in need of creative, skilled candidates with significant computer skills. The needs of business, and these disaffected students, diverge instead of converge.

The cyberspace entrepreneurs, an entrepreneurial-technological-business-oriented program in some of the public high schools has produced dramatic and positive changes in these students. Test scores are on the rise, attendance improves, and dedication and perseverance in learning increases. These students are converging with the needs of business and have a fresh, excited future ahead of them. Your Committee finds that it is innovative programs such as this that will allow Hawaii's students to reach for and achieve the goals of this new century. Expanding this program to all public high school students will allow a greater number of students to participate in this successful program.

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. 582, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.