STAND. COM. REP. NO.1504
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: S.C.R. No. 120
S.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 120, S.D. 1, entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND BOARD OF EDUCATION TO IDENTIFY THE FULL COST OF EDUCATING FEDERALLY CONNECTED CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AS ALLOWED BY THE FEDERAL IMPACT AID FORMULAS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request the Board of Education and the Department of Education to provide a report on the history of federal impact aid funds received by the State of Hawaii.
Specifically, this measure requests the Board of Education and the Department of Education to:
(1) Identify the full cost of educating federally connected students with disabilities as allowed by the federal impact aid formulas;
(2) Determine if federally connected students with disabilities are making progress toward predetermined academic, behavioral, and other annual goals;
(3) Provide a report on how funds were used toward special education programs, teachers salaries, and equipment, including assistive devices;
(4) Identify all public educational institutions:
(A) That are located on U.S. Department of Defense facilities; or
(B) That are attended predominantly by students residing on federal property;
(5) Pursue separate appropriations for the construction and maintenance of public educational institutions, as allowed under federal law; and
(6) Transmit their report to Hawaii's congressional delegation with a recommendation that the U.S. Department of Defense be apprised of the report's significant findings and proposed remedies.
In addition, this measure urges the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation to join in a concerted effort to provide full funding for federally connected students in Hawaii and to minimize the financial impact of federally connected students to Hawaii's public education system.
According to a study conducted by the Legislative Reference Bureau in 1993, impact aid is essentially an attempt by the federal government to reimburse the states for the loss of some of their tax base through the military presence. The U.S. Department of Education does not operate dependent (Section 6) schools for the military and civilian family members of personnel stationed in Hawaii.
The Department of Education commented on this measure.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 120, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair |
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