STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1103

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 149

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education and Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 149 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MODIFY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS BY REQUIRING FIFTY HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE FROM ALL STUDENTS AS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Board of Education to:

     (1)  Modify public high school graduation requirements by requiring fifty hours of community service from all students as part of the Department of Education's Civic Responsibility requirement; and

     (2)  Report its findings and recommendations to the 2010 Legislature.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one private organization and one individual.  One state agency submitted testimony in opposition.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that community service programs not only present students with the chance to participate in unique, real‐world learning experiences, but also teach them the value and importance of civic responsibility and engagement.  In addition, these programs bring schools together with local nonprofit organizations and state departments for the benefit all parties involved, providing the community with much‐needed volunteer support and the students with the opportunity to connect with and give back to their communities.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to clarify that, if appropriate, this requirement may be modified, based on the student's Individualized Education Program or Personalized Educational Plan.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 149, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 149, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair