STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1776

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 17

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 17 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO STUDY THE EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Education to study the educational implications of the special needs of preschool age children with developmental disabilities.

     The Hawaii Down Syndrome Congress, the Aloha Place, and twelve individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The State Council on Developmental Disabilities submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.  The Department of Education submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committees find that there is a need to improve the coordination of IDEA-mandated special education and related services with respect to the appropriateness of a disabled child's developmental age, not just chronological age, due to a biological risk factor such as Down syndrome or Trisomy 21.  This measure urges the Department of Education to study the educational implications of the special needs of preschool age children with developmental disabilities and develop guidelines for the assessment, intervention, and education of this population.  The Department of Education is also urged to develop developmental goals and criteria for preschool readiness, including appropriateness for developmental age and chronological age.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 17 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Education,

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair