STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1436

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 59

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R. No. 59 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM TO DEVELOP PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTS FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANTS AND LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS TO EARN TEACHING DEGREES AND BECOME FULL-TIME CERTIFIED TEACHERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Education and University of Hawaii System to develop programming and education supports for educational assistants and long-term substitute teachers to earn teaching degrees and become full-time certified teachers.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

     The University of Hawaii submitted written comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii has been experiencing a teacher shortage over the last several years.  Innovative strategies should be considered to remedy the problem.  Your Committee finds that this measure proposes a program that may potentially increase the number of public school teachers in Hawaii.

     Your Committee requests that the Department of Education and University of Hawaii, when considering whether to establish the program contemplated by this measure, evaluate the resources necessary for the program.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 59 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair