STAND. COM. REP. NO. 267-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2150

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2150 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds to the Department of Education to employ at least one full-time equivalent teacher for each grade level in grades kindergarten through six in state public schools with one hundred fifty students or less, excluding charter schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, the Complex Area Superintendent of the Castle-Kahuku Complex Area, KEY Project, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that small schools provide more individualized attention to students and greater student engagement opportunities that support student achievement. However, small schools must maintain minimum administrative and support services to operate their schools while balancing limited fiscal resources that place constraints on the allocation of resources.  Your Committee further finds that some small schools in Hawaii do not have the funds to hire at least one teacher per grade level. This measure will require the Department of Education to employ one teacher for each grade level in grades kindergarten through six and provide funding for the hiring of those teachers.

Your Committee notes that during the public hearing on this measure, there was discussion about small schools in which there may be no students enrolled in a specific grade level and whether this measure as heard by your Committee would still require the Department of Education to hire a teacher for that grade level.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Education to employ at least one full-time equivalent teacher specifically for each grade level that has five or more students in grades kindergarten through six in each small school; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2150, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2150, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair