STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1415

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 67

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. 67 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE P-20 COUNCIL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO REPORT ON EARLY COLLEGE AWARENESS PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to support the pursuit of higher education by Hawaii students by requesting the P-20 Council and the University of Hawaii to report on early college awareness programs for elementary and middle school students.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the Hawaii P-20 Initiative, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, the Oahu Filipino Community Council, the United Filipino Community Council, and the Filipino Coalition for Solidarity.

     Your Committee finds that the development of an educated and highly-qualified workforce in Hawaii is predicated upon the preparation and education of our youth.  The availability and support for programs that encourage post-secondary education is vital to growing a workforce to meet the evolving future needs of the State.  Your Committee further finds that the State must explore methods for providing exposure to and opportunities for pursuing post-secondary education programs, particularly for younger students from low-income and underrepresented communities.

     Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii system currently supports many early college awareness programs that can benefit the young students in the State.  However, the current programs must be evaluated and continuing efforts must be made to ensure that middle and elementary school students are afforded every opportunity to participate in early college education programs.  Your Committee determines that the Hawaii P-20 Council, sponsored by the University of Hawaii, the Department of Education, and Good Beginnings Alliance, is an organization that is dedicated to implementing learning achievement in Hawaii and can provide valuable guidance to the Legislature on methods for improving and expanding current early college awareness programs.

     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. 67 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair