STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3244

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 159

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 159 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONVENE A COMPUTER SCIENCE TASK FORCE TO REVIEW COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAMS IN HAWAII'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TO SUPPORT, STRENGTHEN, AND ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS AMONG EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, INDUSTRIES, AND BUSINESSES TO IMPROVE COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAMS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Education to convene a computer science task force to review computer science programs in Hawaii's public schools and to support, strengthen, and establish partnerships among educational institutions, industries, and businesses to improve computer science programs.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.

Your Committees find that computer related jobs are among the fastest growing fields of employment in the United States. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections for 2010 to 2020, more than half of the anticipated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics jobs will be in computing. However, in 2014, only one hundred fifty-five students in Hawaii graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science. Because students who learn computer science in high school are six times more likely to pursue a post-secondary degree in computer science, it is essential to improve computer science programs in public schools.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 159 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair