STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3497

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1941

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1941, 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 require the Department of Education to establish grant programs to provide funds for the planning and implementation of community schools through a two-year pilot program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Mahiku A‘o Mai, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawai‘i Afterschool Alliance, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that community schools can be a critical educational resource in the State. These schools understand the unique challenges facing their communities, which results in educational experiences that are tailored to the actual needs of the surrounding community. As noted in testimony, these schools also help organize and deploy existing community resources, serving as a beacon for self-improvement, prosperity, and hope. Your Committee further finds, however, that community schools have not yet fully realized their potential as an educational resource in the State. Accordingly, this measure will strengthen communities statewide by establishing a pilot grant program to promote the development and expansion of community schools.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing references to "sustainable community schools" with "community schools";

(2) Clarifying the definition of "applicant";

(3) Inserting definitions for "eligible school" and "school leadership team" based on language from the body of the measure;

(4) Inserting a definition for "pillars of community schools";

(5) Inserting a new section to clarify the types of grants awardable under the pilot program and maximum funding amounts;

(6) Clarifying the term of planning grants and implementation grants and extending the term of the pilot program from two to five years;

(7) Replacing references to "request for proposal" with "application process";

(8) Streamlining and clarifying the application requirements for planning grants;

(9) Inserting maximum funding amounts for planning grants and implementation grants;

(10) Clarifying submission, content, and timing requirements for community school plans;

(11) Requiring the school leadership team to issue recommendations on a quarterly basis;

(12) Replacing references to "operational grant" with "implementation grant";

(13) Clarifying the entity responsible for hiring coordinator and director positions;

(14) Deleting the requirement to implement certain federal funding and services;

(15) Clarifying allowable uses of the implementation grant;

(16) Streamlining and clarifying application requirements for implementation grants;

(17) Streamlining and clarifying reporting requirements, and clarifying the identity of entities responsible for submission and approval of reports;

(18) Streamlining and clarifying evaluation criteria for pilot program;

(19) Inserting an appropriation of unspecified funds for purposes of funding the pilot program and grants;

(20) Inserting a repeal date of June 30, 2027; and

(21) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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. 1941, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1941, 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