STAND. COM. REP. NO.  346-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1675

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1675 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve public education in Hawaii by:

     (1)  Requiring all public secondary schools, except charter schools and multi-track public schools, to implement a school year that includes 990 student instructional hours, beginning with the 2014-2015 school year;

     (2)  Eliminating the requirement that all public schools, except charter schools and multi-track public schools, implement a school year of 180 days, which must include 1,080 student instructional hours for both elementary and secondary school grades, for the 2016-2018 school years; and

     (3)  Allowing the definition of "student instructional hours" to be determined by the Board of Education.

The Department of Education and a concerned individual supported the measure.  IMUAlliance supported the measure with amendments.  The Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hui for Excellence in Education, Witt Counseling Service, and two concerned individuals opposed the measure.

     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 H.B. No. 1675 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair