HCR175 HD1

WHEREAS, due to frequent moves and deployment, military personnel and their families face numerous barriers in ensuring the educational success of their children; and

WHEREAS, moving and changing schools can be very difficult for children in military families and is often exacerbated by the fact that educational requirements can vary greatly across states, school districts, and individual schools; and

WHEREAS, it is vital to find methods to smooth transitions between schools for military children to help ensure that they receive an appropriate education; and

WHEREAS, several states are currently considering legislation for the enactment of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children to facilitate the educational success of children in military families; and

WHEREAS, prior to adoption of the Compact, the State should closely examine several issues, including the Compact's provisions, the Department of Education's current practices related to handling the educational requirements for military children, and other states' practices in handling education issues relating to military children; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Education is requested to establish a task force to study the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and related issues in order to determine the appropriate approach for the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in establishing the task force, the Department of Education is requested to include:

(1) Two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

(2) Two members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3) Two members to be appointed by the Governor, at least one of which is requested to be a member of the Hawaii National Guard;

(4) Two members to be appointed by the Superintendent of Education;

(5) The Chairperson of the Board of Education, or the Chairperson's designee;

(6) One representative from The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Military Affairs Council; and

(7) One representative from the Joint Venture Education Forum; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to select a chairperson from its membership; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to:

(1) Review and analyze the provisions of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children;

(2) Review and analyze the Department of Education's current practices and procedures regarding issues related to military children in public schools;

(3) Determine which provisions of the Compact have been implemented or are intended to be implemented by the Department of Education;

(4) Determine which provisions of the Compact are worthy of implementation but may require time or resources;

(5) Determine which provisions of the Compact are unacceptable, and propose any amendments necessary;

(6) Communicate with other state legislatures that have adopted the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children or are contemplating action; and

(7) Recommend changes to the Department of Education's current practices and procedures to improve services provided to military children in public schools, particularly those necessary to ensure smooth transitions between schools and equal access to educational opportunities despite movement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to make a good faith effort to make its proceedings and work products accessible and available to the general public; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the task force are requested to serve without compensation except that the Department of Education is requested to reimburse members of the task force for any expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Educational Policy Center is requested to provide administrative support and to assist the task force in preparing its report and proposed legislation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Adjutant General, the Chairperson of the Military Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, the Co-Chairs of the Joint Venture Education Forum, and the Director of the Hawaii Educational Policy Center.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	175
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII