STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1089

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1540

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1540 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to achieve consistency between state and federal standards for teachers by making permanent the statutory provisions that:

     (1)  Limit the maximum employment period for teachers hired on an emergency basis by the Department of Education to three years; and

     (2)  Require unlicensed teachers hired on an emergency basis prior to July 1, 2008, to attain licensure within four years of the date of employment.

     Your Committee finds that the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 set forth various requirements that have created confusion and contradictions regarding the requisite qualifications of teachers under state and federal standards.  This measure makes permanent the statutory provisions established under Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, to better align Hawaii's teacher licensure requirements with the criteria for highly qualified teachers under the No Child Left Behind Act.

     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 H.B. No. 1540, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair