STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2979

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 20

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.R. No. 20 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE WITHIN THE COMMITTEE ON WEIGHTS AT LEAST ONE MEMBER WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMUNITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the Board of Education to include at least one individual who is a representative of the special education community on the Committee on Weights.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that students with disabilities requiring special education are diverse and have a wide range of needs that are different from those of the student body as a whole.  Special education teachers are often required to tailor the curriculum to the specific needs of the student.  Currently, special education programs face shortages of resources and qualified teachers.  Representation by the special education community on the Committee of Weights may help to resolve or mitigate these serious issues.

     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.R. No. 20 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair