STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1355

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 398

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 398, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the University of Hawaii System to create additional distance-learning classes in teaching for students who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in education.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System and Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii has long suffered from a shortage of qualified public school teachers, and this shortage continues to worsen as fewer graduates from Hawaii teacher education programs are entering the profession. According to the Hawaii State Teachers Association, the number of graduates joining the Department of Education fell by nearly thirty percent from the 2010-2011 school year to the 2016-2017 school year. Additionally, teachers leaving Hawaii has outpaced retirement as the top reason for attrition in the last three years.

As a matter of statewide concern, your Committee further finds that the University of Hawaii System does not offer undergraduate students who are pursuing degrees in the field of education a sufficient number of classes in their major, especially for those students who enroll in distance-learning classes. This measure ensures that the University of Hawaii increases educational opportunities to students who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in education in hopes to increase the number of qualified teachers entering the profession.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 398, H.D. 1, 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 Higher Education,

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair