STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1366

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 34

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 34, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO EXAMINE THE FISCAL, CURRICULUM, AND OTHER IMPACTS OF A FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK FOR SCHOOL COMPLEXES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to examine the fiscal, curriculum, and other impacts of a four-day school week for school complexes.

     Your Committee received one written comment on this measure.  The written comment may be reviewed on the Legislature’s website.

     Your Committee finds that the implementation of a four-day school week has been adopted in select districts in seventeen other states, and legislatures in six other states have introduced similar proposals.  Experience at Maili Elementary School on Oahu, as well as at schools in other states, has shown that the shorter work week resulted in:

     (1)  Improved teacher recruitment and retention;

(2)  Savings on bus transportation, food service, and utilities;

(3)  Improvements in campus maintenance;

(4)  No adverse impact on student achievement; and

(5)  A positive impact on student attendance. 

Accordingly, your Committee believes that a feasibility study is warranted to examine the fiscal, curriculum, and other impacts of a four-day school week for school complexes in the State.

     Your Committee amended this measure by making technical amendments for clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 34, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 34, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair