STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1517

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 598

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 598, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish an Online Learning Task Force.

     The task force is required to develop a systematic plan to expand opportunities for online learning to enhance the learning experiences of students throughout the State.

     The Department of Education submitted comments in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that since 1996 the Department of Education has been operating E-School, an online supplementary program that provides core, elective, and advanced placement credit courses for high school students statewide that are based on the Hawaii content and performance standards.  Your Committee also finds that access to knowledge has expanded exponentially due to the availability of the Internet, which has enhanced the learning experiences of many students.

     Your Committee further finds that thirty-eight states either have policies in place for online education or offer a state-led online learning program, or both.  This measure expands online education opportunities designed to meet the increasing demands of students, teachers, and parents.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 598, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair