STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1486

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 413

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 413, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION INNOVATION GRANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the education innovation grants program within the Department of Education to support school-level innovation;

(2) Establish the education innovation grants special fund;

(3) Authorize the Board of Education to administer the education innovation grants program and special fund; and

(4) Appropriate funds for the education innovation grants program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that there is a public benefit from school-level innovation, beginning with the development of exemplary leadership and elevation of the teaching profession. This exemplary leadership will reflect school-level and community-based input and recognize visionary educational practices. Teachers will be empowered to adopt educational practices that support global learner outcomes based upon individual assessments rather than standardized testing. This measure encourages innovation in Department of Education schools that support global learner outcomes and recognize cultural context.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 413, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 413, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair