Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2032 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Office of School Redesign as part of the Department of Education and to appropriate $500,000 for the Office of School Redesign.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the University of Hawaii, the Office of School Redesign, and the Hawaii Educational Policy Center.

Your Committee finds that there is a direct connection between school size and how student view their learning experience. Small learning communities can be designed to help students feel that they are part of a defined group, that they are connected to caring and supportive adults, and that their individual learning styles are being addressed. This measure will create the Office of School Redesign which will provide technical support to public high schools and help develop and implement small learning communities within large high schools throughout the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2032 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.