STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3321

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 160

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 160 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO EXPLORE STUDENT AID OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS WHO ATTEND A DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION COMMUNITY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS AND OPT TO ENROLL IN AND COMPLETE THE COMPETENCY-BASED COMMUNITY SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAM TO EARN A HAWAII ADULT COMMUNITY SCHOOL DIPLOMA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Education to explore student aid options for students who attend a Department of Education community school for adults and opt to enroll in and complete the competency-based community school diploma program to earn a Hawaii adult community school diploma.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Education provides the competency-based community school diploma program as an option for adults who do not have a high school diploma to obtain the Hawaii adult community school diploma. Many graduates who complete the competency-based community school diploma program previously relied on federal student aid to attend post-secondary institutions. However, due to federal student aid requirements, the University of Hawaii System is unable to qualify Department of Education community school for adults graduates who successfully completed the competency-based community school diploma program for federal student aid. Therefore, alternative solutions are necessary to allow these graduates the opportunity to further their education.

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.C.R. No. 160 and recommends that it 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