STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2143

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2476

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2476 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to allow children who are home schooled to participate in extracurricular activities at the public school they would otherwise be required to attend.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by twenty-four individuals.  Testimony in opposition of the measure was submitted by the Department of Education. 

     Your Committee finds that extracurricular activities, including athletics, play an important role in the holistic development of a child.  The public school system, as well as the Department of Human Services, affords students the opportunity to participate in numerous before- and after-school activities that enhance their development as contributing members of our communities.  Your Committee further finds that home schooling is a popular and viable option for many parents.  Accordingly, home schooled students need to have a well-balanced education, similar to public schools students.  However, home schooled students lack the same academic and recreational enrichment provided by extracurricular activities available to public school students.  This measure remedies that inequity by providing home schooled students access to extracurricular activities of the public school at which they would otherwise attend.

     Your Committee acknowledges the Department of Education's concerns regarding this issue and hopes that continued discussion will bring resolution for all parties.  Given the similar rights afforded to charter school students, and associated success, pursuant to section 302B-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, your Committee believes that home schooled students may also benefit from similar treatment.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity and to reflect preferred drafting 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. 2476, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2476, 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