STAND. COM. REP. NO. 404

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 553

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 553 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require remote schools to be allocated funds using categorical allotments, rather than through the weighted student formula;

     (2)  Define a remote school as any public school that is a high school located at least a one-hour drive away from the next nearest high school, or a high school located on the island of Lanai, Molokai, or Niihau; and

     (3)  Specify the minimum number of teachers for Hana High and Elementary School.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Education Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that the weighted student formula was intended to make funding for public education more equitable, transparent, and decentralized.  Your Committee further finds that the weighted student formula has had the unintended consequence of limiting academic programming for children in small and rural schools because such schools have additional logistical constraints due to their sizes and remote locations that the formula does not take into account.  Your Committee additionally finds that this limiting effect is especially severe at Hana High and Elementary School.  This measure will ensure that small and remote schools are given the level of resources that they require rather than the insufficient resources that they might receive under the weighted student formula alone.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 553 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair