STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1091

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 109

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 109 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE IMMERSION CLASSES IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Education to support the creation of foreign language immersion classes in public elementary schools.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Education and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that although foreign languages are offered in the State's public high schools, there are several benefits to teaching children a foreign language beginning in kindergarten.  The Board of Education should explore the feasibility of establishing foreign language immersion classes starting in elementary school.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requesting the Department of Education to consider, rather than support, the creation of foreign language immersion classes in public elementary schools; and

     (2)  Changing its title accordingly to read: "REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONSIDER THE CREATION OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE IMMERSION CLASSES IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS".

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 109, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 109, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair