STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1579

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 778

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 778, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to further the proper assessment of academic achievement by students in the Ka Papahana Kaiapuni program by requiring the Department of Education to report on the status of the development and administration of Hawaiian-language annual assessments of statewide performance standards that are not mere translations of the English language standards, and to appropriate funds for the development and administration of the assessments.

The Kalihi Palama Hawaiian Civic Club, Kamehameha Schools, King Kamehameha Hawaiian Civic Club, Ewa Puuloa Hawaiian Civic Club, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Education, State Public Charter School Commission, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Hawaii State Teachers Association provided comments.

     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 S.B. No. 778, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair