STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3210

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 147

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Economic Development, Environment, and Technology, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 147 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PARTNER SCHOOL COMPLEX AREAS WITH NEIGHBORING INDUSTRIES TO CREATE K-12 COMPLEX AREA CAREER PATHWAYS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the Department of Education to:

     (1)  Partner school complex areas with neighboring industries to create K-12 complex area career pathways; and

     (2)  Plan, design, and construct an applied technology center at a complex specializing in complex career pathways.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii State Teachers Association, IMUAlliance, and one individual.

     Your Committees find that skilled employment related to science, technology, engineering, and math are in demand, and that the demand is expected to increase in the future.  Research indicates that highly-skilled job openings are likely to expand in many fields, including agriculture, cybersecurity, and technology.  Although these job openings require skilled applicants, many of them do not require a college degree.  Your Committees further find that Hawaii's high schools are well situated to give students the opportunity to learn skills that will make those students more valuable to local employers upon their graduation.  This measure will help provide those opportunities to Hawaii's students.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Economic Development, Environment, and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 147 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Economic Development, Environment, and Technology,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair