STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3447

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 120

       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 S.C.R. No. 120 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO APPLY TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR A WAIVER OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Board of Education and the Department of Education to apply for a waiver of the No Child Left Behind requirements for 2014.

This measure also requests the Board of Education and the Department of Education to update the Legislature on the status of the waiver application and conduct an informational briefing on the status of the waiver during the 2013 Regular Session.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Imua Alliance and one individual.  Comments on this measure were received from the Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that although Hawaii student achievement levels have increased since 2001, it appears unlikely that Hawaii students will meet the raised standards set for 2014.  Application for a waiver from the requirements is an appropriate course of action to preserve federal funds.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding language that requests the Board of Education and the Department of Education to create a plan to improve student achievement and attain high student outcomes, as required by the waiver application; and

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 120, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 120, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair