HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	341
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the Department of Education of the state of Hawaii to develop an improved method for calculating Hawaii's dropout rates using a four year drop out period.

     WHEREAS, according to independent estimates, Hawaii ranks 41^st in the nation in graduation rates, and this results in a negative impact on the state in a wide range of areas; and

     WHEREAS, approximately 5,900 students did not graduate from Hawaii's high schools in 2007; the lost lifetime earnings in Hawaii for that class of dropouts alone are more than $1.5 billion; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii would save more than $92.7 million in health cares costs over the lifetimes of each class of dropouts had they earned their diplomas; and

     WHEREAS, if Hawaii's high schools graduated all students ready for college, the state would save almost $13.7 million a year in community college remediation costs and lost earnings; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's economy would see a combination of crime-related savings and additional revenue of about $18 million each year if the male high school graduation rate increased by just 5%; and

     WHEREAS, in order to come up with solutions to the drop out problem, state decision makers must have accurate, reliable, and concrete data on the situation; and

     WHEREAS, current numbers on Hawaii's graduation rates are unreliable as different sources report conflicting numbers, and Hawaii's DOE does not use a four year drop out period; and

     WHEREAS, the State reported a graduation rate of 80% while US DOE reported Hawaii's graduation rate as 72.6%, and an independent analysis estimated the rate as 64.1%, as reported by the Alliance for Excellent Education in their graduation rate estimate differences; and

     WHEREAS, the US DOE and the independent analysis used different method of calculation, but the same information as the Hawaii DOE; and

     WHEREAS, three essential steps have been identified as being key to effectively deal with the drop out problem; and

     WHEREAS, the first step is the need to understand the drop out problem in the school system, and identify the resources the system is devoting to ending it; and

     WHEREAS, the second step is developing a strategic dropout prevention, intervention and recovery plan that focuses the school system's resources, efforts, and reforms at the key points where and when students fall off the path to high school graduation; and

     WHEREAS, the third step is to gather the human and financial resources needed for a comprehensive and sustained campaign and develop the evaluation, accountability and continuous improvement mechanisms needed to maintain it; 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 of the State of Hawaii is requested to develop a new method for calculating Hawaii's dropout rates using a four year drop out period; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this new method take into account factors used by federal and independent groups to come up with their graduation rates; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED this data will be key and instrumental for essential step number one, as described above; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, and the Governor of the State of Hawaii.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Drop out rate information; improve