STAND. COM. REP. NO. 685

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1221

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1221 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TEACHER STANDARDS BOARD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify wording regarding the delegation of powers to the Executive Director of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to timely approve license and permit applications; and

(2) Include comprehensive reporting of data from the Department of Education, State Public Charter School Commission, and charter schools of the number of classrooms without a licensed teacher during the school year.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board, Hawaii State Teachers Association, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii continues to suffer from a shortage of qualified teachers. Currently, individuals who meet all of the requirements for a teaching license or permit have to wait for the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to meet and affirm their license. This measure ensures that individuals who meet all requirements and receive approval from the Executive Director of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board are issued teaching licenses or permits in a timelier manner.

Your Committee further finds that the Department of Education and State Public Charter School Commission currently report the number of emergency hire teachers in public school classrooms. This measure adds an additional reporting requirement of the number of classrooms without a licensed teacher for a quarter or more of the year, assisting the Legislature, preparation programs, and schools in knowing the actual need for closing the teacher recruitment and retention gap.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1221 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair