Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 60 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for an additional twenty full-time equivalent school assessment liaison positions for the Department of Education.

In addition, this measure requires the Department of Education to submit a report to the Legislature concerning the effectiveness of school assessment liaisons in helping schools to meet the adequate yearly progress benchmarks required by the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001".

Your Committee on Education previously received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education and the Hawaii Government Employees Association. The Hawaii State Teachers Association supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee finds that school assessment liaisons promote the use of quality classroom assessment and provide professional development and technical assistance to teachers and principals. School assessment liaisons are a vital element of the Department of Education's effort to assist schools in improving student achievement, especially for low-achieving students, and meeting the benchmarks required by the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001". Your Committee also finds that this measure will enable the Department of Education to provide each school complex in the State with the services of one school assessment liaison.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 60 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.