STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2579

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2451

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2451, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require funding allocations for remote schools to be determined by categorical allotments rather than the weighted student formula.

     Your Committee finds that the weighted student formula has placed small remote schools at a disadvantage by failing to provide those schools with adequate funding.  Your Committee also finds that as a result, the funding shortfalls threaten the schools' ability to provide students with the courses necessary for graduation.  This measure addresses the problem by exempting remote schools from allocations using the weighted student formula and providing that those schools shall be allocated funds by categorical allotments.

     Your Committee amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2451, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2451, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair