STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1142

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 120

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Education and Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 120 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO EVALUATE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR TEACHING READING IN HAWAII SCHOOLS AND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH APPROPRIATE IMPLEMENTATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Board of Education and Department of Education to evaluate the comprehensive plan for teaching reading in Hawaii schools and to move forward with appropriate implementation.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Maui Police Department, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Special Education Advisory Council, Hawaii Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, Learning Disabilities Association of Hawaii, and twenty-five individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Education and the Dyslexia Tutoring Center of Hawaii, Inc.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

 

     Your Committees find that pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 110, Regular Session of 2010 (SCR 110), a working group was established to address dyslexia awareness and literacy instruction as they relate to teacher preparation programs, teacher licensure requirements, professional development for educators, and reading programs in public schools.

 

     Your Committees commend the members of the dyslexia working group that came together as part of SCR 110 and dedicated countless hours toward the recommendations presented.

 

     Continuing on the Department of Education's various efforts to address dyslexia and other literacy challenges for students in Hawaii's public schools, your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing language relating to the Department of Education's testimony to the Education Committee of the House of Representatives on February 6, 2013;

 

     (2)  Adding language to clarify that the Department of Education is continuing to address the working group's concerns;

 

     (3)  Requesting the Board of Education and Department of Education to, among other things, promote greater awareness of dyslexia and evaluate methods for providing support to students with dyslexia and other literacy challenges rather than specifically evaluating, among other things, the implementation of the working group's report;

 

     (4)  Requesting the Department to report on its efforts to provide comprehensive support services for students with dyslexia and other literacy challenges, rather than requiring the Department to provide specific data and information based on the working group's report;

 

     (5)  Requesting the Department to include in its report:

 

          (A)  The number of schools with licensed reading teachers, licensed reading specialists, and licensed literary specialists, including the number of individuals in each position by grade level and subject matter;

 

          (B)  A discussion of best practices and complex area-based support; and

 

          (C)  The Department of Education's plans and capacity needs to replicate its efforts to address dyslexia and literacy challenges statewide;

 

     (6)  Removing the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau from the list of entities to which a certified copy of this measure will be transmitted;

 

     (7)  Amending its title to read:  "REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO EVALUATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PLAN TO PROMOTE GREATER AWARENESS OF DYSLEXIA AND PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA AND OTHER LITERARY CHALLENGES"; and

 

     (8)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 120, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 120, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Higher Education,

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

 

____________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair