Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2111 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the establishment of new parent-community networking centers and for the further development of existing centers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the student member of the Board of Education, Department of Education, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Good Beginnings Alliance, founder of the Ohana Project, eight parent-community networking center facilitators, twelve parent-community networking centers, two parents, and a private individual.

Your Committee finds that parent-community networking centers are critical to the systematic implementation of effective parent involvement strategies that relate to supporting student achievement as well as building strong families. The centers have a strong record of leading successful parent, school, and community partnerships at their respective sites. They are a highly cost-effective program and should be supported.

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 S.B. No. 2111 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.