STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1414

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 45

       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.R. No. 45 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE FOR HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to increase student achievement by requesting the Department of Education to develop a comprehensive plan for programs that provide for high achieving students.

     Comments on this measure were submitted by the Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that although the Department of Education must address the educational needs of all public school students throughout the State, the needs of high achieving students should not be overlooked.  Despite the many state and federal mandates to assist remedial or other students, students experiencing high academic achievement should be afforded every opportunity to continue to excel and advance their educational careers.  Your Committee further finds that many public, but not all, high schools support gifted and talented programs that serve a small number of high achieving students.  Testimony presented by the Department of Education indicates that ongoing efforts to expand and continue to provide opportunities for gifted and talented students, through comprehensive or specialized programs or smaller-scale initiatives, are being pursued. 

     This measure is intended to help increase the current number of students in gifted and talented programs by developing a plan for improving current efforts and providing increased opportunities for high achieving students.  Based upon the representations of the Department of Education, your Committee believes that it is appropriate for the Department of Education to report to the Legislature on its current efforts as well as develop future plans and information on the implementation of those plans for achieving a twenty per cent enrollment of students in high achievement programs or courses.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by

     (1)  Requesting the Department of Education to report on current initiatives that provide for high achieving students and to develop a plan and provide information on implementation of the plan for future areas of improvement, including establishing outcomes, strategies, measures, and timelines, with the goal of twenty per cent of public school students enrolling in gifted and talented programs, honors classes, advanced placement courses, International Baccalaureate programs, or other similar programs designed to provide rigorous and challenging curricula;

     (2)  Requesting the Department of Education to make available via the Internet information for parents and students on gifted and talented programs and courses and information on current initiatives for high achieving students; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity and style.

     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.R. No. 45, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 45, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair