SB1648

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Create a new category of high schools within the department of education that will link the curriculum of a school to the mission of a particular agency or University of Hawaii campus and the private sector work force;

(2) Create a tax incentive for businesses providing experiential learning opportunities; and

(3) Create a comprehensive agriculture and landscape education program in the public schools.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"PART . APPLIED LEARNING HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIES

§ -1 Definitions. Whenever used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Applied learning high school academy" means a department of education high school, or school within a school, with an approved five-year plan to deliver an applied learning curriculum, including project EAST (environmental and spatial technology) programs and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs, linked to the mission of a state agency or University of Hawaii campus, college, program or department, which includes a significant contribution of land, facilities, personnel, or other resources by that agency or campus.

"Department" means the department of education.

§ -2 Applied learning high school academies. (a) The department shall establish and administer an applied learning high school academy program.

(b) The applied learning high school academy program shall be administered by a director who shall:

(1) Collaborate with the director of business, economic development and tourism to assess the workforce needs of the State and devise methods of meeting those needs within the applied learning high school academy program;

(2) Assist schools, complex areas, and districts in establishing applied learning high school academy programs;

(3) Review school applications for approval of applied learning high school academy programs;

(4) Evaluate existing programs;

(5) Incorporate programs within the model, including project EAST (environmental and spatial technology) and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs;

(6) In collaboration with the University of Hawaii, initiate research and studies for the improvement of curriculum materials for specialty areas of applied learning high school academies;

(7) Ensure that the standards and criteria developed under this section satisfy the mandates of federally assisted vocational education;

(8) Develop in-service programs for teachers and administrators;

(9) Assist in teacher recruitment and placement in applied learning high school academy programs;

(10) Serve as a liaison with the representatives of business, industry, appropriate public agencies, and institutions of higher education to facilitate dissemination of information;

(11) Promote links with private sector employers in Hawaii;

(12) Assist in the development of adult and continuing education programs in private industry; and

(13) Establish an advisory task force representing the diverse areas of industry in the State, which shall make annual recommendations on the development of curriculum, staffing, and strategies to establish a source of trained and qualified individuals and strategies for developing the applied learning high school academies program, including youth leadership throughout the public schools.

§ -3 Applied learning high school academies; application and approval. (a) Any community, group of high school teachers, group of teachers and administrators, state agency, or nonprofit organization may submit a letter of intent to the department to convert a department high school to a applied learning high school academy, and develop a detailed five-year plan that shall include in its plan significant support of the high school by the co‑sponsoring state agency or University of Hawaii campus.

(b) Applied learning high school academies may be developed with a focus on agriculture, landscape education, marine science, astronomy, high technology, public health, visitor industries, human resource services, culture and language, environmental sciences, visual arts, performing arts, project EAST (environmental and spatial technology) program subjects, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) program subjects, or other thematic areas of interest to agencies and University of Hawaii campuses.

(c) The plan shall be approved by the director, the high school's school community council, and the complex area superintendent; provided that the evaluation of the application plans shall incorporate the following criteria:

(1) The degree to which the plan strives to provide students with experiences outside the school walls;

(2) Opportunities for juniors to complete a semester-long academic internship in a local business or agency;

(3) Opportunities for seniors to develop substantial projects that enable the students to learn while working on problems of interest and concern in the community; and

(4) Opportunities for ninth and tenth grade students to "shadow" an adult through a workday, perform community service in a group project, or engage in lunches with outside adults on issues of interest.

(d) Upon approval of the five-year plan, the school community council shall have the same independent authority over curriculum of the applied learning high school academy for the five-year period as the charter school local school boards.

(e) The applied learning high school academy's success shall be evaluated by the board of education following each five-year period, and may be renewed."

SECTION 3. Chapter 235, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§235- Experiential learning opportunities tax credit. (a) Each taxpayer subject to the tax imposed by this chapter who provides experiential learning opportunities to public school students for a total of at least twenty‑four hours of experiential learning opportunity time per year may claim a tax credit in an amount equal to $ , which shall be deductible from the taxpayer's net income tax liability, if any, imposed by this chapter for the taxable year in which the credit is properly claimed.

(b) Each taxpayer that provides experiential learning opportunities to public school students shall file documentation with the department of taxation that indicates:

(1) The total number of experiential learning opportunity hours provided to public school students;

(2) The number of public school students involved in the experiential learning opportunities;

(3) The names of the public education institutions in which the students are enrolled;

(4) A description of each experiential learning opportunity provided to public school students; and

(5) The contact information of the taxpayer providing the experiential learning opportunity and the public education institution receiving the opportunities.

The information in paragraphs (1) to (5) shall be a public document.

(c) The director of taxation shall prepare any forms that may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section and may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, including any penalties for failure to comply with this section.

(d) For purposes of this section, "experiential learning opportunity" means any learning opportunity within school hours, after school, on weekends, or during vacations, which allows the learner to attain information and practical skills that are necessary to perform in the work place and provides significant experiences with real outcomes that create measurable learning achievements through participation and reflection."

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, for the applied learning high school academies program established pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1648
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII