HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	285
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO EXAMINE THE POLICIES, PHILOSOPHIES, AND APPROACHES OF THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS WITH REGARDS TO TEACHERS, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATION AND TO ADOPT, WHERE APPROPRIATE AND APPLICABLE, SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES TO provide the best possible educational experience FOR THE CHILDREN OF HAWAII.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has one of the highest per capita rates of students that attend independent schools; and

     WHEREAS, many of the independent schools have policies, philosophies, and approaches with regards to teachers, staff, and administration, that differ from the Department of Education; and

     WHEREAS, over the years, complaints about the Department of Education over numerous operational issues have been voiced by teachers, staff, and administrators; and

     WHEREAS, similar complaints have not been voiced by teachers of independent schools, despite the fact that some independent schools pay their teachers less than the public schools, and spend less per pupil than public schools; and

     WHEREAS, a thoughtful examination by the Department of Education of those policies, philosophies, and approaches may assist in improving the performance of the Department of Education; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that the Department of Education is urged to examine the policies, philosophies, and approaches of independent schools with regards to teachers, staff, and administration, and, where appropriate and applicable, adopt those policies in order to provide the best possible educational experience for the children of Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

Department of Education; Independent schools; policies, philosophies, approaches; teachers, staff, administration; examine