STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1119

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 11

H.D. 1

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 H.B. No. 11, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Board of Education to develop statewide performance standards to be culturally relevant, historically and scientifically accurate, and nondiscriminatory;

(2) Require a standards-based curriculum and its related educational materials to be nondiscriminatory;

(3) Establish certain requirements for school complexes when developing standards-based curricula; and

(4) Require reports to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Education.

Your Committee finds that to advance the fundamental democratic principles of equality, liberty, and justice for all, a quality school system must deliver instruction that is historically and scientifically accurate and free from discrimination. This measure will prepare students to participate in the advancement of a more equal society through the development and adoption of educational content that is culturally relevant, nondiscriminatory, and inclusive of the historical injustices endured by marginalized populations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that performance standards adopted by the Board of Education may be culturally relevant, historically and scientifically accurate, and nondiscriminatory;

(2) Specifying that when developing a standards-based curriculum and implementing it in a school or complex, the curriculum may be historically and scientifically accurate and nondiscriminatory with regard to race, ethnicity , sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, color, religion, ancestry, or disability; and

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

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 H.B. No. 11, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 11, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair