HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2486
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 2

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 furlough days negotiated for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years are an unacceptable solution to the budgetary shortfall.  Although other states face similar or worse budgetary situations, Hawaii has become the state with the fewest number of days of classroom instruction as a result of the furloughs.  The legislature further finds that establishing a mandatory minimum number of days of classroom instruction per school year, which many states have already implemented, would raise the standard of, and reflect a commitment to, quality education for Hawaii's children.

     The purpose of this Act is to require all public schools, including charter schools, to implement a minimum of two hundred days of classroom instruction or an equivalent number of instructional hours per 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 number of classroom instruction days; public schools. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, all public schools shall implement a school calendar that provides not less than two hundred days of classroom instruction, or an equivalent number of instructional hours, per school year.  The two hundred days of classroom instruction, or an equivalent number of instructional hours, shall not include state holidays provided by law, professional development days, and other non-instructional days negotiated pursuant to chapter 89."

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 302B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302B-    Minimum number of classroom instruction days; charter schools. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, all charter schools shall implement a school calendar that provides not less than two hundred days of classroom instruction, or an equivalent number of instructional hours, per school year.  The two hundred days of classroom instruction, or an equivalent number of instructional hours, shall not include state holidays provided by law, professional development days, and other non-instructional days negotiated pursuant to chapter 89 or section 302B-9."

     SECTION 4.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2099.

Report Title:

Education; Minimum Classroom Instruction Days

Description:

Requires all public schools, including charter schools, to implement a minimum of two hundred days of classroom instruction, or an equivalent number of instructional hours, per school year.  Effective 1/1/2099.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.