STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3651

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2607

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2607, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to promote computer science education in the State.

Specifically the measure:

(l) Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a statewide computer science curricula plan for public students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, ensuring that each public high school offers at least one computer science course each year; and

(2) Authorizes the Department of Education to contract or agree with other entities to develop and implement computer science teacher development programs.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; Code.org; Dev League Inc.; HawaiiKidsCAN; Microsoft Corporation; OCC Legislative Priorities Committee, Democratic Party of Hawaii; and three individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that promoting computer science education in the public schools through a statewide computer science curricula plan and teacher training will prepare Hawaii's public school students to be competitive in college and the modern workplace.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2607, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2607, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair