STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1318-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2142

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2142, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPUTER SCIENCE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Education to allow students to fulfill certain graduation requirement courses with computer science courses;

(2) Require the University of Hawaii to accept substituted computer science courses as part of their admission requirements;

(3) Establish and appropriate funds for a Computer Science in Teaching Scholarship Program;

(4) Require the University of Hawaii to develop pathways in computer science for students studying to obtain a degree in education; and

(5) Require teacher licensing and certification requirements to include instruction in computer science.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission, Code.org, HawaiiKidsCAN, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Broadband Hui, and four individuals. Your Committees received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education and University of Hawai‘i at Manoa College of Education. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawai‘i Arts Alliance. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Board of Education.

Your Committees find that computer science skills are foundational to quality academic and career success and that the State must ensure that students have equitable access to computer science courses and credits. Your Committees further find that this measure will promote education and career success by encouraging high school students to learn computer science, providing incentives for future teachers to study computer science, and requiring that certified and licensed teachers receive instruction in computer science.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Including, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, computer science in the list of programs of study through which a student can earn two credits to meet the high school diploma requirement;

(2) Clarifying that in addition to accepting high school courses in world language, fine arts, and career and technical education, the University of Hawaii shall accept computer science courses as part of their admission requirements;

(3) Clarifying that the Computer Science in Teaching Scholarship Program shall award scholarships to students that are earning a degree in teaching and also want to take computer science classes;

(4) Requiring the University of Hawaii to submit pathway programs to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board for computer science licensure approval to provide the opportunity for students completing the pathway to be eligible to add a computer science license to an elementary or secondary teaching license or to acquire an initial teaching license in computer science;

(5) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2051; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Higher Education & Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2142, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2142, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair