STAND. COM. REP. NO.254-02
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: H.B. No. 2014
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2002
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2014 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NEW CENTURY CONVERSION CHARTER SCHOOLS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to enable nonprofit organizations to manage and operate New Century Conversion Charter Schools (Charter Schools); provided that:
(1) The board of directors of the nonprofit organization shall serve as the Charter School's local school board;
(2) One nonprofit organization may manage multiple Charter Schools;
(3) A nonprofit organization that manages a Charter School shall contribute $1 for every $4 allocated per-pupil by the Department of Education (DOE) for the operation and maintenance of the Charter School; and
(4) The cap on new Charter Schools is deleted and replaced with an unspecified figure.
The College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Business Roundtable, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Aha Punana Leo, Inc., Kokua Kalihi Valley, and several individuals submitted testimony in support of this bill. DOE and two individuals submitted testimony in support of the intent of this bill but voiced concerns. The Hawaii Government Employees Association and Hawaii State Teachers Association submitted testimony in opposition to this bill. The Hawaii Association of Charter Schools submitted comments on this bill.
Your Committee finds that this bill presents a new way to broaden the scope and effectiveness of Charter Schools. By involving nonprofit organizations, the State will allow entities with experience and resources to ease some of the administrative and financial burden of operating Charter Schools. By requiring these groups to invest their own funds, these Charter Schools will provide an education that is at least as well supported as that of other public schools.
Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Specifying that the required financial contribution of a nonprofit organization to the Charter School it operates does not cover maintenance expenses;
(2) Clarifying that a Charter School operated by a nonprofit organization shall receive state and federal funding that is equivalent to other public schools;
(3) Clarifying that a nonprofit organization may obtain outside services in operating a Charter School;
(4) Specifying that the contribution of $1 for every $4 allocated by DOE is the minimum allowable contribution;
(5) Reinstating the cap on new Charter Schools; and
(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of style and clarity.
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. 2014, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2014, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair |
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