STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1332

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1136

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1136, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure adequate funding for public school students and to increase the efficiency of operations within the school complex areas.  Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Appropriates funds to augment the funds provided under weighted student formula (WSF) allocations for the educational needs of certain disadvantaged students;

     (2)  Authorizes and appropriates funds for complex area superintendents to provide support to school administrators, school community councils, staff, and teachers in the form of training, expertise, and materials necessary for schools to fulfill their responsibilities; and

     (3)  Appropriates funds for junior kindergarten classes with fifteen or fewer students, with priority for underachieving schools and schools with a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced price lunches.

     The Department of Education and Hawaii State Teachers Association testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Deleting the provisions related to augmenting the funds provided under WSF allocations for the educational needs of certain disadvantaged students;

     (2)  Deleting the appropriation of funds for junior kindergarten classes; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 1136, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1136, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair