STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1410

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 56

       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.C.R. No. 56 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO REPORT ON THE RETENTION AND CHANGE IN ASSIGNMENT OF TEACHERS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to seek resolution to the teacher shortage problem in Hawaii by requesting the Department of Education to report on the retention and change in assignment of teachers within the Department of Education.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and one individual.  Comments on the measure were submitted by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii is plagued by a teacher shortage problem.  The Department of Education must explore methods for recruiting and retaining qualified teachers to support our public school system.  Your Committee further finds that in order to resolve the problem, it is important to ascertain the nature and scope of the problem so as to craft meaningful strategies that maximize current resources and efforts.  In 2000, the Hawaii Educational Policy Center conducted a study on the teacher retention problem and, although informative, the study provided only a glimpse of the entire picture and now contains outdated information.  Your Committee believes that a comprehensive report is necessary to assist the Department of Education, the Legislature, and other interested parties in finding ways to effectively address the current problem. 

     However, based on testimony provided, your Committee determines that the Hawaii Educational Policy Center, as an objective agency that is independent from the Department of Education, is the appropriate body to prepare the report, which should also be expanded to provide additional information.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requesting the Hawaii Educational Policy Center to prepare a report on the effectiveness of the current status of teacher preparation and mentoring induction programs; and

     (2)  Including in the report the following:

          (A)  Data on demographics on teacher characteristics and school characteristics; and

          (B)  Department of Education policies relating to teacher transfers, Department of Education reports to the United States Department of Education on addressing the No Child Left Behind law requirements, collective bargaining relating to teacher transfers and seniority, and descriptions of Institutions of Higher Education programs and related costs for preparing teaches, including accreditation reports and reviews.

     Your Committee has also amended the title of the measure to reflect the change of agency requested to conduct the report.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 56, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 56, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair