STAND. COM. REP. NO. 476-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2002

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2002 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to improve educational outcomes in public schools by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Education (DOE) to apply a student weighted formula in allocating operating moneys to all public schools;

(2) Replacing the current School/Community-Based Management (SCBM) system with a mandatory elected school-based board (SBB) system that is to be implemented at each public school;

(3) Appropriating moneys to expand the SCBM system and prepare for the implementation of SBBs;

(4) Appropriating moneys for principals' training;

(5) Requiring DOE to convene a working group with other state agencies to address implementation of the student weighted formula and impediments to the efficient management of schools; and

(6) Requiring DOE to submit a detailed plan for implementation of the student weighted formula.

The Board of Education, DOE, ILWU Local 142 and numerous individuals submitted testimony in support of this bill. The Hawaii State Teachers Association and Hawaii Government Employees Association supported the intent of this bill. The Office of the Governor, Department of Budget and Finance, and several individuals opposed this bill. The Hawaii Educational Policy Center, Hawaii Charter Schools Network, and Hawaii Association of Independent Schools submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that this bill addresses some of the most critical issues facing Hawaii's public education system. By empowering principals, bringing more funding and spending authority down to the school level, establishing a better community support system, and enabling DOE to be freed from systemic restraints, this bill takes great strides to improve student outcomes.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by, among other things:

(1) Replacing SBBs with school community councils (SCCs);

(2) Defining the duties and providing for the implementation of SCCs;

(3) Establishing the Advisory Group on Student Weighted Funding to address issues relating to the implementation of the student weighted formula;

(4) Establishing the Committee on Weights within DOE to determine student weights;

(5) Creating a National Board Certification Incentive Program for public school teachers; and

(6) Providing for the orderly transfer of various functions from state agencies to DOE

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. 2002, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2002, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

 

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair