HB3433

SECTION 1. Article XV, section 4, of the state constitution provides that the State of Hawaii has two official languages, Hawaiian and English. Article X, section 4, states that the State shall promote the study of Hawaiian culture, history, and language, and that the State shall provide for a Hawaiian education program consisting of language, culture, and history in the public schools. There is a Hawaiian language public education system, as well as a Hawaiian language college, to provide for education through the use of the Hawaiian language.

The legislature finds that the study and integration of Hawaiian language and culture can offer Hawaii's youth a valuable understanding of the cultural heritage, learning preferences, and traditions of the State's host culture. The legislature further finds that the learning of Hawaiian language and Hawaiian culture must be deliberately integrated and further encouraged.

The purpose of this Act is to promote, encourage, and integrate the teaching of Hawaiian language and culture in public schools by requiring all high school students to complete at least one year of instruction in Hawaiian studies.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-1128, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) The department shall regulate the courses of study to be pursued in all grades of the public schools it establishes and operates, and classify them by methods the department deems proper; provided that:

(1) The course of study and instruction shall be regulated in accordance with the statewide performance standards established under section 302A-201;

(2) All pupils shall be progressively competent in the use of computer technology; [~~and~~]

(3) The course of study and instruction for the first twelve grades shall provide opportunities for all students to develop competency in a language in addition to English[.]; and

(4) Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, the course of study and instruction at the high school level shall include at least one year of instruction in Hawaiian studies.

The department shall develop statewide educational policies and guidelines based on this subsection without regard to chapter 91.

For the purposes of this subsection, the terms "progressively competent in the use of computer technology" and "competency in a language in addition to English" shall be defined by policies adopted by the board. The board shall formulate statewide educational policies allowing the superintendent to exempt certain students from the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) without regard to chapter 91."

SECTION 3. Section 302B-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

"(c) The local school board shall be the autonomous governing body of its charter school and shall be responsible for the financial and academic viability of the charter school, implementation of the charter, and the independent authority to determine the organization and management of the school, the curriculum, virtual education, and compliance with applicable federal and state laws[.]; provided that, beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, the course of study and instruction at the high school level shall include at least one year of instruction in Hawaiian studies.

The local school board shall have the power to negotiate supplemental collective bargaining agreements with the exclusive representatives of their employees."

SECTION 4. The board of education shall adopt policies to require all high school students, beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, to satisfactorily complete at least one year of instruction in Hawaiian studies, which may include classes in Hawaiian language or Hawaiian culture, or both, as part of the department of education's core curriculum requirements.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	3433
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII