STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3340

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2527

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2527, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the effectiveness of public school educators through a strong performance evaluation system.

Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Requires the Department of Education to establish a performance management program that includes an evaluation component for teachers and educational officers;

     (2)  Conditions the granting of annual salary increments, longevity step increases, and other incentives for teachers and educational officers upon a service rating of "effective" or "highly effective" on an annual evaluation; and

     (3)  Requires teachers entering the service of the Department of Education for the first time to serve a minimum probationary period of three years prior to obtaining tenure.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Business Roundtable and Imua Alliance.  Written comments on this measure were received from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that improved student outcomes are critical to the future of Hawaii, and improving the effectiveness of educators is key to achieving those outcomes.  This measure provides the Department of Education the means to establish a performance management system that cultivates and supports highly effective educators, provides the public with assurances regarding the quality of Hawaii's public schools, and codifies Hawaii's federal Race to The Top commitments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, 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 H.B. No. 2527, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2527, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair