STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2111

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2184

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 S.B. No. 2184 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DIGITAL LEARNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a digital learning center within the Department of Education; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the staffing and administration of the center.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, National Federation of the Blind Hawaii, Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that digital learning will continue to be a critical component of education in the twenty-first century. Your Committee further finds that digital learning has the potential to promote the equitable delivery of high-quality educational offerings to students statewide. Your Committee additionally finds that the Department of Education needs a comprehensive and dedicated operation to manage the quality and delivery of digital learning services.

Accordingly, this measure is necessary to promote the equitable delivery of high-quality digital learning tools and services to students statewide.

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 S.B. No. 2184 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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