STAND. COM. REP. NO.2231
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: S.B. No. 2211
S.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2002
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2211 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEACHER EDUCATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Education to fully reimburse the tuition of College of Education graduates who teach in the public schools for at least six years.
Your Committee heard testimony in support of the measure from the Department of Education.
Your Committee finds that this measure could be an effective tool for recruiting and retaining public school teachers in this time of teacher shortage.
Your Committee has amended the measure by:
(1) Broadening the scope of the measure from the College of Education to any state-approved teacher training program;
(2) Establishing a ceiling of tuition reimbursement as those verifiable tuition expenses up to a limit no greater than that of regular session University of Hawaii tuition;
(3) Clarifying that this benefit is available only to graduates of Hawaii high schools, as those with ties to and familiarity with Hawaii and its unique culture are more likely to be retained as teachers for an extended period; and
(4) Adding a provision stipulating that this benefit cannot be used in conjunction with any other forms of tuition assistance (such as waivers or scholarships), except for the Hawaii Educator Loan Program.
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. 2211, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
|
____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair |
||