STAND. COM. REP. NO. 134

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 980

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 S.B. No. 980 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to define the term "private school", for the purpose of compulsory education, to mean an education institution that teaches kindergarten through grade twelve and that is licensed or accredited by the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools or the Western Association of Schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools; and Hawaii Council of Private Schools, LLC.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Council of Private Schools is charged with licensing Hawaii private schools to ensure that all of Hawaii's private and parochial schools are healthy, safe, and sustainable institutions providing a sound education program for Hawaii's children. However, licensing requirements for private schools are optional, rather than mandatory. This measure clarifies the definition of "private school" to provide assurances for parents who choose to send their child to a private school that the school meets certain standards in providing a safe learning environment.

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 S.B. No. 980 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair