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. 3005 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish within the Department of Education (DOE) an educational accountability system for Hawaii's public schools that focuses on student learning of the statewide standards and the completion of standards based graduation requirements which promote academic excellence, student safety and well being, and civic responsibility.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association and the Hawaii Business Roundtable. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by DOE.

Your Committee finds that since Hawaii's public schools consistently rank among the worst in the nation, it is appropriate to establish a system of education accountability so that the teachers and administrators who are failing our students can be identified and replaced with better personnel.

This measure reflects the findings of the Collaborative established pursuant to Act 238, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000. Your Committee finds that although the Collaborative did not submit legislation for consideration, their work provides the framework for this important legislation.

Your Committee has amended this measure to correctly state that the new definitions apply to all the new sections added by 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3005, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3005, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.