STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1772

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 92

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 92 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A CURRICULUM TO INCLUDE PARENTING CLASSES TO ASSIST YOUNG ADULTS IN ACQUIRING PARENTING SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to establish a curriculum that includes parenting classes to assist young adults in acquiring parenting skills and understanding parenting responsibilities.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education and Oahu VOICES.  Comments on the measure were submitted by the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii's children are our most precious resource and their protection and well-being is important to the State's future.  Currently, many young adults are embarking on the journey of parenthood at an age when they lack the appropriate knowledge and skills for understanding and executing their parenting responsibilities.  Your Committees believe that the Department of Education should provide some guidance and education to assist these young adults in gaining the requisite knowledge of the skills necessary for fulfilling parental responsibilities for their children. 

     This measure requests the Department of Education to include in its curriculum parenting skills focusing on infant and toddler care.  Although the Department currently offers a Graduation Reality Dual Role Skills (GRADS) program for students who are or will imminently become parents, your Committees believe that all students would benefit from a course or a component of a course that addresses parenting issues. 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Human Services and Public Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 92 and recommend its adoption.

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

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair