STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2332

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2937

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2937 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal the sunset date for the exemption of laboratory school programs of the College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo from state English-medium standards, assessments, performance ratings, staff qualifications, and staff training requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning; University of Hawaiʻi System; Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu Iki Lab Public Charter School; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; ʻAha Pūnana Leo, Inc.; Kūpuna for the Moʻopuna; and twenty-four individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that Act 315, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, established Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani, the College of Hawaiian Language, at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Since its inception, Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani now includes four kindergarten through grade twelve public charter schools and ʻAha Pūnana Leo's Hawaiian language medium preschools. As a leader in the establishment of professional development for Hawaiian language medium school teachers, including training in proficiency of Hawaiian language, pedagogy, assessment, family engagement, and curriculum, Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani was designated as the inaugural National Native American Language Resource Center to continue its critical work, in partnership with ʻAha Pūnana Leo, of developing standards, curriculum, teacher training, and assessments for Hawaiian language medium education and Native American Language communities nationwide. This measure ensures the continuity of ongoing work by Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani while ensuring affiliated teachers and staff are appropriately educated, trained, assessed, and reviewed accordingly.

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. 2937 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair