STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1121

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.C.R. No. 60

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 60 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ADVANCE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR HAWAII'S STUDENTS BY MINIMIZING THE USE OF EXTERNAL CONTRACTS FOR CURRICULA, INSTRUCTION, AND TESTING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Education to advance the quality of educational programming for Hawaii's students by minimizing the use of external contracts for curricula, instruction, and testing for public schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of Hawaii's public school student population requires place-based and culturally appropriate curricula. Your Committee further finds that empowering professionals who are most directly involved with instructional delivery to develop learning materials will ensure that students are provided with educational opportunities that are culturally sensitive and account for different learning styles.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending its title to read, "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO REDUCE THE USE OF EXTERNAL CONTRACTS FOR CURRICULA, INSTRUCTION, AND TESTING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.";

(2) Amending its purpose to urging the Department of Education in consultation with the Board of Education, to develop and implement a plan to reduce the use of external contracts for curricula, instruction, and testing in public schools, including recommendations for additional steps to reduce external contracts;

(3) Including members from the exclusive representative for bargaining unit 6 in the advisory committee that will make recommendations to assist the Department of Education in developing and implementing the plan; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 H.C.R. No. 60, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 60, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair