THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2573
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to education.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the board of education requires students to take a modern history of Hawaii course to partially satisfy the social studies requirement for graduation from Hawaii high schools.  The board of education leaves it to the discretion of school principals to award waivers to allow out-of-state transfer students, including military transfer students, to substitute a state history course that the student has already taken for the modern history of Hawaii course.  The legislature finds that school principals should allow out-of-state transfer students to make this substitution upon request by the student, especially if failure to satisfy this particular requirement makes it more difficult for out-of-state transfer students to obtain the board of education recognition diploma in comparison to non-transfer students.

     The purpose of this Act is to require principals to waive the modern history of Hawaii requirement upon request by an out-of-state transfer student, including a military transfer student, who has taken and passed a different board-approved state history course, and to ensure that the student shall be eligible to receive the board of education recognition diploma if the student meets all other criteria for the board of education recognition diploma.

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

"§302A‑   State history requirement; out-of-state transfer students, board of education recognition diploma eligibility. School principals shall waive the modern history of Hawaii requirement upon request by an out-of-state transfer student, including a military transfer student, who has taken and passed a different state history course that the board has approved to satisfy that portion of the social studies high school graduation requirement.  If the student's waiver request is approved by the appropriate school principal, that student shall be eligible to receive the board of education recognition diploma; provided that the student meets all other criteria, as determined by the board, to receive the board of education recognition diploma."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

DOE; History Requirement; Out-of-State Transfer Students; BOE Recognition Diploma

Description:

Requires principals to waive the modern history of Hawaii requirement upon request by an out-of-state transfer student, including a military transfer student, who has taken and passed a different board-approved state history course, to enable the student to receive the board of education recognition diploma if the student meets all other criteria for the recognition diploma.

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