STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1315

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 153

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 153 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A WORKING GROUP TO DISCUSS THE ROLE OF THE AUTHORIZER, ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS, THE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, AND WHETHER OR NOT LEGISLATION IS REQUIRED TO EFFECTUATE ANY DESIRED CHANGES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the convening of a working group to discuss the role of the Hawaii public charter school authorizer, its relationship with charter schools, the accountability for the use of public funds, and whether or not legislation is required to effectuate any desired changes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission has faced questions on the role of the authorizer and its relationship with charter schools. There is a need to clarify the purpose and intent of charter school authorizers. Your Committee also notes that the need for transparency and accountability for the use of public funds must be balanced with the authority for the charter school to educate our keiki. This measure will convene a Charter School Authorizers Working Group to address these problems.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that a representative of a conversion and Hawaiian immersion school be included in the working group; and

(2) Clarifying that any legislative recommendations should include national best practices as applicable to Hawaii's public charter school system and focus on positive student outcomes in public education.

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 S.C.R. No. 153, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 153, S.D. 1.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair