THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2057

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a gap exists between the skills that students in the State have upon graduation from high school and the skills that employers in the State are seeking.  Business leaders in Hawaii's expanding industries report that it is often difficult to recruit local applicants who have necessary skills and experiences.

     The legislature further finds that educational programs specializing in career readiness and technical skills can be effective in preparing students in Hawaii to enter the State's job market.  Educational initiatives at schools within the State have been established to develop students' technical skills and prepare them to enter the workforce.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a statewide policy that supports those students who want to receive career and technical skills education.  To effectuate this statewide policy, this Act supports the expansion of the numbers of students receiving career and technical skills education by giving students an exception to attend these programs in schools outside of the service area in which those students reside.

     SECTION 2.  Section 302A-101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

     ""Career and technical education program" means a program operated by a school that primarily focuses on learning and skill development in students through the practical application of academic and technical skills and knowledge."

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV, subpart C, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-    Career and technical education programs; enrollment.  (a)  Any school having a career and technical education program shall enroll all students who submit a timely application for participation in the program and who:

     (1)  Reside within the school's service area;

     (2)  Were enrolled in the school during the previous school year; and

     (3)  Reside outside the school's service area;

provided that if enrolling all students pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) will cause the enrollment of the school to exceed the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or building, the school shall enroll all students described in paragraphs (1) and (2) and fill the remaining capacity, if any, of the program, class, grade level, or building by selecting eligible students described in paragraph (3) through a lottery system.

     (b)  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this section."

     SECTION 4.  Section 302A-1143, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§302A-1143  Attending school in what service area.  A person of school age shall be required to attend the school of the service area, as determined by the department, in which the person resides, unless:

     (1)  The person is enrolled in a Hawaiian language medium education program or charter school;

     (2)  A geographic exception to attend a school in another service area is requested and granted at the discretion of the department; [or]

     (3)  Out-of-service-area attendance is mandated by the department or by federal law[.]; or

     (4)  The person is enrolled in a career and technical education program under section 302A-  ."

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

 

Report Title:

Department of Education; Career and Technical Education; District Exceptions

 

Description:

Gives a preference to students who live within the service area of a school or who enrolled in the school the previous school year who apply for participation in a career and technical education program offered by that school; establishes enrollment in a career and technical education program as a new exception to the requirement to attend school within the service area in which they reside.

 

 

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