STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 852
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 637
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 637, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
(1) Requiring public schools to administer Department of Education approved dyslexia sensitive universal screening as a part of the universal screening process;
(2) Requiring public schools to implement evidence-based interventions, through the Hawaii multi-tiered system of supports, for students who are identified as having dyslexia and students who are flagged as having language and literacy challenges;
(3) Requiring the Department of Education to provide professional development for teachers to increase the implementation of structured literacy instruction; and
(4) Requiring the Department of Education to support pre-service teacher programs in training their general and special education teacher candidates in structured literacy instruction.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities; HawaiiKidsCAN; Hawai‘i State Literacy Coalition; Early Childhood Action Strategy; Special Education Advisory Council; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 637, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,
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____________________________ KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair |
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