STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1214-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2486

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2486, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION DATA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Education to establish a standardized data collection process for public schools, including public charter schools, and complex areas to maintain records and report data to the Department;

(2) Collect and analyze data relating to, among other things, student discipline, school climate, and student achievement; and

(3) Annually report certain information to the Board of Education, Legislature, and public.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Common Cause Hawaii; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hui for Excellence in Education Coalition; American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii; Hawaii Women's Coalition; American Association of University Women of Hawaii; Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; Special Education Advisory Council; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the data collection, analysis, and reporting required by this measure is intended, in part, to preserve protections that may soon be lost if the United States Department of Education acts on its proposal, published on September 19, 2019, in the Federal Register, to cease collecting certain types of data from public schools and public charter schools for the Department's mandatory civil rights data collection. Your Committee further finds that this measure will allow school system personnel and the Board of Education to determine interventions necessary to encourage student success based on accurate data on indicators of student performance.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2486, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair