HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	96
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

URGING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO adopt administrative rules to ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO GRANT SCHOOL ACADEMIC CREDIT TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO SERVE ON nonprofit BOARDS, ADVISORY COUNCILS, OR COMMISSIONS.

     WHEREAS, a representative democracy depends on an informed, prepared, and willing citizenry, capable of playing an active role in government; and

     WHEREAS, participation in representative democracy can be instilled in our youth through public education; and

     WHEREAS, for decades, people have become increasingly disengaged from the civic and political institutions of our country, an attitude that results from experiences starting at a young age; and

     WHEREAS, youth participation appears to be increasing in the areas of volunteerism, community service, and religious activity, but youth awareness of social issues has decreased due to fewer opportunities for political discussions and a weaker connection between youth and the community; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that schools have a mission to "advance the endowment of human nature itself, so that each succeeding generation finds itself further along the road towards peace, social justice, and environmental sustainability in a society guided by creativity, compassion, and curiosity," as expressed in the Reinventing Education Act of 2004, Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004; and

     WHEREAS, despite the Department of Education's efforts to promote academic achievement, civic responsibility, and holistic development in students, only a few high schools have integrated civic learning into their curriculum; and

     WHEREAS, the youth of Hawaii have demonstrated a desire to engage and connect with their community and the world around them beyond what academic disciplines can offer; and

     WHEREAS, participation on nonprofit boards, advisory councils, and commissions is a form of community service and political engagement that helps students develop attitudes, skills, and abilities that cannot be learned through the academic disciplines or curricular programs; and

     WHEREAS, students who participate on nonprofit boards, advisory councils, or commissions can develop the skills, conduct, and attitudes needed to collaborate, build consensus, and work toward common goals with others -- skills essential to supporting and sustaining a vibrant representative democracy and a society guided by the principles of productivity and interdependency; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the Board of Education is urged to adopt administrative rules to allow the Department of Education to grant elective school academic credit to high school students who participate on nonprofit boards, advisory councils, or commissions; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests that the elective school credit these students receive apply toward their graduation requirements; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

School Credit; Service on Boards, Advisory Councils, Commissions