Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1091 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide charter schools with a more equitable funding mechanism by:

The Office of the Governor submitted testimony in support of this bill. The Department of Education (DOE), Hawaii Government Employees Association, and Halau Ku Mana New Century Public Charter School submitted testimony in support of the intent of this bill. The Hawaii State Teachers Association submitted testimony in opposition to this bill. The Board of Education, Voyager Public Charter School, and Halau Lokahi Public Charter School submitted comments on this bill.

Your Committee finds that this bill will allow charter schools to receive an allocation that more accurately reflects their per-pupil needs. Currently, determining an adequate allocation for charter schools is difficult as charter schools receive a per-pupil amount, while regular public schools receive teacher positions as needed without regard to a specific teacher's salary. This bill improves upon the current formulation to ensure that charter schools are funded equitably.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

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. 1091, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1091, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.