STAND. COM. REP. NO. 773-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2002

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2002, H.D. 1, 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 school community council (SCC) system that is to be implemented at each public school;

(3) Providing DOE with additional fiscal flexibility;

(4) Appropriating moneys to expand the SCBM system and prepare for the implementation of SCCs;

(5) Appropriating moneys for principals' training;

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

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

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

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

The Board of Education, DOE, and ILWU Local 142 supported this bill. The Department of Health, 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, Department of the Attorney General, and several individuals opposed this bill. The Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), Department of Human Resources Development, State Procurement Office, and Hawaii Charter Schools Network submitted comments.

Your Committee has amended this bill by, among other things:

(1) Adding appropriations to:

(A) Reduce the average class size in Kindergarten, first grade, and second grade;

(B) Operate and expand Parent-Community Networking Centers; and

(C) Provide textbooks and other learning materials;

(2) Deleting the Working Group on Interagency Relations;

(3) Deleting the Advisory Group on Student Weighted Funding;

(4) Requiring DOE to convene an interagency task force to address systemic impediments to the effective management of schools;

(5) Clarifying the authority and duties granted to Principals and SCCs, respectively;

(6) Clarifying the composition of SCCs

(7) Transferring the management of school repair and maintenance projects from DAGS to DOE, effective July 1, 2004;

(8) Requiring the DOE to adopt a unified school calendar for all schools except multi-track schools to apply to the 2006-2007 school year;

(9) Changing all references to "student weighted formula" to read "weighted student formula"; and

(10) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for style and clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2002, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2002, H.D. 2.

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

 

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair