STAND. COM. REP. NO. 445

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1149

       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 Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1149 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to improve statewide performance standards for the Department of Education schools.

     Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Updates membership and reporting schedules for the Performance Standards Commission;

     (2)  Removes references to specific federal laws and the current testing grades in anticipation of possible changes in the federal laws;

     (3)  Requires greater focus on the use of alternative assessments based on student performance;

     (4)  Requires a more concerted effort for the development of a "growth model" for Hawaii public schools; and

     (5)  Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Educational Policy Center to take the lead in the development of alternative assessments and to continue to provide expert analyses and commentary to assist policy makers.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and the Hawai‘i Educational Policy Center.

     Your Committee finds that the education of Hawaii's children is of the utmost importance to the future of the people of Hawaii.  The State must endeavor to provide keiki with not only an education, but with the highest quality education that can be provided that meets their needs accordingly.  Your Committee further finds that, currently, the Department of Education may not be utilizing the most appropriate assessment tools necessary to meet the specific needs of the students in Hawaii.  To address the issue, the Performance Standards Review Commission was convened in 1997 to assess the effectiveness and implementation of performance standards every four years.  In its most recent report to the Board of Education, the Performance Standards Commission determined that the current performance standards did not require modification at this time.

     Your Committee determines the assistance of an independent organization to analyze and spearhead the development of appropriate assessments is necessary to truly benefit the students of Hawaii.  A collaborative effort should be undertaken by interested parties, including the Department of Education, to develop a more comprehensive "growth model" for Hawaii public schools. 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing amendments made to the Performance Standards Review Commission's composition and reporting duties;

     (2)  Deleting provisions removing references to specific federal laws and the current testing grades;

     (3)  Removing the provision requiring greater focus on the use of alternative assessments based on student performance;

     (4)  Clarifying that funds are appropriated for the Hawaii Educational Policy Center to work with the Department of Education and other educational research organizations to develop alternative assessment tools, including a comprehensive "growth model"; and

     (5)  Authorizing the Hawaii Educational Policy Center to contract with appropriate professionals to assist in the development of alternative assessment tools.

     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. 1149, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1149, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair