STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1107

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.C.R. No. 9

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 9 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SUPPORT AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AS A STRATEGY FOR INCREASING ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Board of Education and Department of Education to support and implement community schools as an equity strategy for increasing access to a high‑quality education and addressing COVID-19 learning loss.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawai‘i Afterschool Alliance, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Our Revolution Hawaii, Blue Zones Project, American Diabetes Association, and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that the COVID-19 pandemic will likely increase the number of students considered economically challenged and has contributed to significant learning loss due to limited in-person instruction between teachers and students. Your Committee further finds that community schools provide comprehensive programs and services to meet the unique needs of students and their families and that practices embodied in community schools promote conditions found in high-quality schools nationwide. The support and implementation of community schools will increase access to high-quality education for Hawaii's students and address COVID-19 learning loss.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 9 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair