Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 150 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a task force on Asia-Pacific education to be charged with conducting a study of current efforts to teach Hawaii's students about the Asia-Pacific region and developing a strategic plan for incorporating Asia-Pacific studies into the core curriculum and aligning it with Hawaii's content and performance standards.

The Department of Education, the Vice President for International Education of the University of Hawaii, the Board of Governors, the President, and the Director of Education for the East-West Center of the University of Hawaii, the Director of the East-West Center's AsiaPacificEd Program, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, the Hawaii Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Kapiolani Community College, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and eight individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that due to the State's close proximity and obvious ties to the Asia-Pacific region, it is incumbent upon our State to gain the requisite cultural and economic knowledge and expertise of that region in order to main Hawaii's competitive edge over the rest of the nation. Your Committee also finds that it is necessary to adequately educate our students in the areas of Asia-Pacific languages, cultures, government, and economic policies to prepare them for success in the global economy, within which the Asia-Pacific region plays an integral part.

Your Committee determines that increased efforts have been made over the years to develop and support education in Asia-Pacific studies. However, it now becomes necessary to assess the current status of those efforts, to evaluate the available educational resources and their utilization, and to develop a strategic plan for the augmentation of existing efforts to establish Asia-Pacific studies as a part of the school curriculum on par with other core subjects.

Additionally, your Committee determines that in an effort to avoid the imposition of additional work for or an undue burden on the Department of Education, the East-West Center of the University of Hawaii will provide staff for and coordinate the work of the task force.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 150 and recommends its adoption.