Committee on Education Feed

SENATORS KIDANI AND SHIMABUKURO VISIT WAIANAE HIGH SCHOOL PHOTOVOLTAIC AIR CONDITIONING SITE

GreenPath Technologies Donates Solar Air Conditioning to Waianae High

I joined Senator Maile Shimabukuro (at left) in a visit to Waianae High School in her Senatorial District to learn about the new installation of a photovoltaic air conditioning system in a classroom there. With us are students, WHS administrators and representatives from GreenPath.

Last week, Sen. Michelle Kidani (Chair of the Senate Education Committee) and Sen. Maile Shimabukuro visited Waianae High School to learn about a solar air conditioning unit donated to the school by GreenPath Technologies, Inc. The company installed the unit on one of the school's portables at the request of Sen. Shimabukuro.

The air conditioning unit is "off the grid," and therefore does not increase the school's electricity bill. This is a key factor, since the majority of HI's schools would require power upgrades, and incur large increases in their electricity bills, if they were to install traditional air conditioning.

This donation comes at a time when the DOE has been tasked to study how best to address the problem of hot classrooms. The DOE is working on a school cooling report, which they will release to the Legislature in the coming months.

For more information about solar air conditioning, visit the "Fahrenheit_73" Facebook page, or www.greenpath-te

Future Ready Learning presentation to Legislature - February 20, 2015

To scale the Department of Education's digital learning pilot statewide, funds are being sought in the 2015-17 fiscal biennium budget and other sources. The Department briefed a joint session of the Senate and House Committees on Education on February 20 to review results of the 1-to-1 digital device pilot program.

View the Department's presentation

Hawaii's Thoughtful Approach to Learning Time

By Blair Brown | National Center on Time & Learning | Time Matters Blog

It is rare at the National Center on Time & Learning that we are in the position of supporting a proposal for less learning time for students. However, after taking a moment to understand the implications of Hawaii's HB 1675, a bill that scales back required school time for Hawaii's students and which is moving through the legislature now, we do, indeed, find ourselves supporting the measure...

(Read the rest of the article on the Time Matters Blog, or click here to view the PDF.)

HAWAII STATE SENATE CELEBRATES EDUCATION

State Legislature's Annual Education Week to Begin on March 17th

Education will be the focus of an interactive week-long celebration at the State Capitol from March 17-21, 2014. Various educational stakeholders and organizations that make a difference in the lives of Hawaii's students will be participating in the legislature's annual Education Week. Displays, presentations, demonstrations, and rallies in support of education initiatives that highlight the success of our schools and our students will take place throughout the week. During House and Senate Floor Sessions, legislators will also be honoring various individuals and schools receiving awards such as teachers of the year, principals of the year, and other educator awards.

The event is hosted by the Hawaii State Legislature's Senate and House Committees on Education. This year's celebration will include programs and events that encourages our students and the public to visit the State Capitol, engage with policymakers and actively participate in the legislative process.

#EDWK2014 #HILEG

Some highlights include:
• A college fair of Hawaii's community colleges
• Demonstration of robotics, solar cars and welding
• Demonstration of a preschool classroom to learn about early learning programs
• Performances by Mililani Middle School students
• A book sale hosted by the Friends of the Hawaii State Library System
• Displays, presentations and demonstrations of military presence in the schools

Below is a calendar of the events:

MONDAY, MARCH 17
Early Education Day

Preschool Classroom Visitation
Learn about quality and accessibility in community-based early learning programs
Time: 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Place: State Capitol, Room 224 and 225

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DOE UPDATES LAWMAKERS ON 5-YEAR PROGRAM TO REDUCE ENERGY COSTS
Lawmakers discuss SB2424 SB2, master strategy for cooling of public school facilities

The Senate and House Committees on Education and Energy yesterday heard from the Department of Education (DOE) to get an update on Ka Hei, the department's five-year comprehensive sustainability energy program. The goal of the program is to integrate innovative energy technology with meaningful learning experiences, all while reducing energy costs and operational expenses. (The hearing can be viewed at the Senate Webcast Archive Pilot.)

Also in attendance were Chevron Hawaii, University of Hawaii's Hawaii Natural Energy Institute and the Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, State Energy Office.

Much of the discussion focused around renewable energy and technology to create a master cooling strategy for all schools.

Senator Jill Tokuda, chair of the Committee on Education, said that an optimal course of action for cooling should start with the quick but efficient collection of good data related to school cooling needs and challenges to help lawmakers make decisions on how to strategically approach this issue and devise a plan to sustain both the funding and infrastructure moving forward.

"We would be doing the public a disservice by simply appropriating funds without strategically looking at the best possible way to provide the needed infrastructure upgrades while understanding how it fits into our overall facilities master plan and remaining cost-effective, efficient and sustainable," said Senator Tokuda.

Currently moving through the legislative process this session is a measure that addresses the issue of cooling Hawaii schools. Senate Bill 2424 would require the DOE and the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), together with various state entities, to develop a m

SENATE AND HOUSE LAWMAKERS TO HOLD INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING ON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROGRAM
WHAT
Joint Senate-House informational briefing to provide an update on Ka Hei, the Department of Education's five-year comprehensive sustainability energy program.

Given the interest in renewable energy and technology in the effort to create a master cooling strategy for all schools, a discussion of measures such as SB2424 SD2 is expected.

Capitol TV will broadcast this informational briefing live statewide on ‘Ōlelo channel 49.

WHEN
Monday, March 10, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 309

WHO:
The Senate Committee on Education; the House Committee on Education; the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment; and the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection

The following have been invited to speak: Hawaii Department of Education (DOE); Chevron Hawaii; the University of Hawaii's Natural Energy Institute; and the State Energy Office of the Hawaii Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT)

INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING: DOE TO BRIEF SENATE AND HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEES ON THE STATUS OF THE COMMON CORE DIGITAL CURRICULUM PILOT PROJECT
WHAT
Joint Senate-House informational briefing to have the Department of Education (DOE) provide an update on the status of its Common Core Digital Curriculum Pilot Project. In an effort to use new technology for innovative instruction, eight DOE schools have implemented Access Learning, which engages students and aligns with the Department's Strategic Plan for Hawaii Common Core.

The eight schools were given a tablet or laptop for every student and teacher, as well as new curriculum and training on Google Apps for Education. The schools were selected based on their technological readiness, commitment to integrating technology in the classroom and readiness to implement a large school-wide project.

The Access Learning pilot project strives to harness the power of technology to support innovations in teaching and learning by implementing a 1:1 student to computer ratio. It supports the implementation of new digital curricula aligned with the Common Core State Standards, which are new learning standards for language arts and math.

WHEN
Friday, February 28, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 414

WHO:
Department of Education
Senate Committee on Education, Chair Sen. Jill Tokuda
House Committee on Education, Chair Roy Takumi

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE HOLDS INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING ON SCHOOL SECURITY AND SAFETY MEASURES
WHAT/WHO
The Senate Committee on Education will hear from the Department of Education (DOE) about current measures in place that ensure safe and secure schools in Hawaii, and from Friends of Safe Schools U.S.A., a national nonprofit committed to improving safety in and around schools. Friends of Safe Schools U.S.A. will brief senators through teleconferencing technology. The DOE and agency partners will be present to answer questions from the committee.

The purpose of this briefing is to discuss models of best practice that have been instituted system wide and the partnerships between public and private entities locally and nationally focused on creating a conducive learning and work environment for both students and employees.

WHEN
Monday, February 24, 2014 at 1:15 p.m.

WHERE
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 414

SOT/Visuals:
• Interview with Senate Education Chair Jill Tokuda
• Visual of technology (videoconferencing) connecting Hawaii with a national organization that can provide information about other models nationwide supporting safety and education

SENATE OFFERS VIDEOCONFERENCING OPTION FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY STATEWIDE
Beginning this legislative session, all Hawaii residents will now have the chance to testify at hearings before the Senate Committees on Education (EDU) and Technology and the Arts (TEC) without physically being there. In January 2013, the Senate began a pilot project to allow neighbor island residents the opportunity to participate in the legislative process without traveling to Oahu. Understanding that access is also a barrier for Oahu residents, the committees will now pilot the videoconferencing technology statewide.

"Ensuring access and citizen and stakeholder participation is especially important when it comes to issues dealing with public education and our schools," said Senator Jill Tokuda, chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee. "Expanding our use of this type of technology to connect people with policymakers will only strengthen and enhance the quality of legislation produced."

The Hawaii State Senate will launch its Statewide Videoconferencing Pilot Program beginning with the Senate Committee on Education's first hearing on Monday, January 27, 2014 at 1:15 p.m. and continue with hearings from both the Senate Education Committee and the Senate Committee on Technology and the Arts throughout the 2014 Legislative Session.

"It's not uncommon for people to have to sit through a two-hour hearing just to speak for one minute on one measure," added Senator Glenn Wakai, chairman of the Senate Technology and Arts Committee. "If we can reduce the barriers to civic engagement by reducing the cost and time people spend to voice their concerns, we are on our way to creating a better Hawaii."

In its inaugural year, the Neighbor Island Videoconferencing Program was piloted by the Senate Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Technology and the Arts. In its second year, the two committees will continue to pilot this project, increasing the amount of constituents that can be reached and who can tes

Hawaii State Legislature to Receive Overview on Kindergarten Entry Age Transformation
The Senate and House committees on education will be holding a joint informational briefing to receive an overview of the ongoing efforts to support upcoming changes to Hawai‘i's kindergarten entry age.

The briefing will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. in Senate Conference Room 414.

"We are all working hard to make sure our families impacted by this age change have the information and support necessary to make the transition as smooth as possible," said Senator Jill Tokuda, chair of the Senate Committee on Education. "Ensuring that our late born children are taken care of, and having our public and private providers ready to step up to meet their needs will not happen overnight. This has been a multi-agency effort, and I applaud the willingness of all of our early learning stakeholders to be involved in the process."

The following individuals have been invited to participate:
• GG Weisenfeld, Director, Executive Office on Early Learning
• Kathryn Matayoshi, Superintendent, Department of Education
• Pankaj Bhanot, Division Administrator, Department of Human Services, Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division
• Kim Guieb-Kang, Operations Specialist, Hawai‘i P-3 Initiative
• Katherine Murphy, Executive Director, Hawai‘i Association for the Education of Young Children

Kindergarten enrollment transformations will initiate in the 2014-15 school year. As required by Act 178, Session Laws of 2012, a child must be five years old on or before July 31 of the school year to enter kindergarten. Previously, the State of Hawai‘i allowed children to enter kindergarten if they turned five on or before December 31. This change in date aligns Hawai‘i with the vast majority of states