STAND. COM. REP. NO. 373

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1648

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1648 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to expand applied and experiential learning opportunities to public school students throughout the State.

     Specifically, this measure establishes:

     (1)  Applied learning high school academies that will link the curriculum of a school to the mission of a particular agency or University of Hawaii campus and the private sector workforce; and

     (2)  A tax credit for businesses providing experiential learning opportunities to students.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Workforce Development Council, and CTA Solutions.  Comments on the measure were also submitted by the Department of Taxation and the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

     Your Committee finds that the State needs to focus efforts and resources on developing a highly qualified and skilled workforce to meet the changing needs of the State.  The establishment of smaller learning communities, including schools within schools and applied learning academies, present an effective method for addressing specific areas of student interest and workforce needs in the community.  Your Committee further finds that these types of programs require both government and community support to succeed and be of benefit to not only students, but also the State as a whole.  However, the Department of Education has indicated that there are currently several smaller learning communities initiatives in existence within the public schools, but the funding necessary for these programs is tenuous.  The applied learning high school academies established by this measure shall become a comprehensive applied learning program that can support and enhance other programs including the Construction Academy as well as agriculture and landscaping career academies.

     Additionally, your Committee heard a related measure that touched on ideas similar to those encompassed in the applied learning academies portion of this measure.  Your Committee believes that it is appropriate to include alternative initiatives into this measure to provide for increased development of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills, and to ensure preparedness of students for post-secondary education and beyond.  As such, portions of the current measure have been replaced to provide for the establishment and funding of new STEM academy programs and initiatives.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the experiential learning opportunities tax credit provision;

     (2)  Establishing the Hawaii Excellence through Science and Technology (HiEST) Academy Program to increase preparedness for post-secondary education and the workforce;

     (3)  Establishing the Robotics and Space Contextual Learning Program to develop science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills;

     (4)  Establishing the Business/Education Internship and Mentorship Program to increase opportunities for high school and college students to gain work experience;

     (5)  Appropriating funds for the HiEST Academy Program;

     (6)  Appropriating funds for the Robotics and Space Contextual Learning Program;

     (7)  Appropriating funds for the Business/Education Internship and Mentorship Program; and

     (8)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1648, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1648, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair