STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2706

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2535

       S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2535, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSTRUCTIONAL TIME,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate standardized scheduling among public schools in the State.

     More specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Requires the Department of Education to devise up to four bell schedules for elementary, middle, and high schools to standardize instructional periods across all schools, with the exception of charter schools and multi-track public schools;

     (2)  Requires each school to choose one of the available bell schedules for each grade level; and

     (3)  Amends the definition of "student instructional hours" for elementary and secondary schools.

     Written comments in opposition to this measure were submitted by the Hawaii State Teachers Association and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that schools throughout the State have developed and implemented a number of individual bell schedules.  Your Committee also finds that this measure will authorize the Department of Education to develop and implement consistent standardized bell schedules.  Your Committee believes that standardized scheduling will allow for coordinated planning and learning opportunities for students and school staff.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical nonsubstantive amendment for the purpose of 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. 2535, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2535, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair