STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3163

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 44

       S.D. 1

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. 44 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES FOR PROJECT-BASED LEARNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

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

     (1)  Convene an advisory committee to identify best practices for project-based learning; and

     (2)  Provide resources, training, and support to schools and educators for project-based learning opportunities.

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

     Your Committee finds that project-based learning fosters critical thinking, communication and language skills, collaboration, and creativity while motivating students to explore new things.  Project-based learning also facilitates higher quality learning in many different kinds of students by allowing students with different learning styles to approach the subject matter in the way best suited to their style of learning.  Increased support and the use of best practices for project-based learning would benefit Hawaii's students and lay a foundation for stronger communities throughout the State.  Your Committee further finds that the Department of Education has taken steps to implement project-based learning, and that an advisory committee is not necessary for the Department to identify best practices.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing the establishment of an advisory committee and instead request the Department of Education to identify best practices for project-based learning;

     (2)  Amending its title to reflect the removal of the advisory committee; and

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

     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. 44, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 44, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair