THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2470
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATION TO EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, stated, "Ultimately all education reform must be driven by the needs of students.  Students are the primary clients served by the public education system and they must be served well by providing them with access to the tools they need to succeed, a nurturing environment conducive to learning, and supplementary opportunities for growth that facilitate their development."

     Accordingly, especially in light of the instructional days lost due to furloughs, the purpose of this bill is to establish a minimum number of instructional hours per school year for each grade level, beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.

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

     "§302A-   Minimum instructional hours per school year.  (a)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the school year shall consist of a minimum number of instructional hours as follows:

(1) Not less than one thousand eighty instructional hours for kindergarten through grade five;

(2) Not less than one thousand eighty instructional hours for grades six through eight; and

(3) Not less than one thousand two hundred sixty instructional hours for grades nine through twelve.

(b)  This section shall apply to all elementary, middle or intermediate, and high schools, except for charter schools, beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.

(c)  For purposes of this section, "instructional hours" means time during the school day that is devoted to instruction and activities provided as an integral part of the school program, and includes activities such as testing, counseling, field trips, assemblies, parent-teacher conferences, and early dismissal for emergencies; but excludes activities such as lunch, recess, homeroom, passing time, professional development and inservice days, and faculty, departmental, grade-level, and curriculum meetings."

     SECTION 3.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

Report Title:

School Year; Minimum Instructional Hours

Description:

Establishes a minimum number of instructional hours per school year, which varies by grade level, beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.  Effective July 1, 2020.  (SB2470 HD1)

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