STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1116

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.R. No. 9

H.D. 1

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.R. No. 9 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ELEVATE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL EDUCATION IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS BY INCORPORATING MORE DIVERSE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL CLASSES AS CORE REQUIREMENTS THROUGHOUT SECONDARY EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Board of Education and Department of Education to elevate Hawaiian language and cultural education in public high schools by incorporating more diverse Hawaiian language and cultural classes as core requirements throughout secondary education.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Youth Services Network and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Native Hawaiian students represent the single largest ethnic group in Hawaii's public schools and deserve a curriculum that is attentive to the perpetuation of their culture and identity. Your Committee further finds that the only existing core curriculum requirement at the high school level dedicated to promoting the study of Hawaiian culture, history, and language and providing for a Hawaiian education program in public schools, as required by article X, section 4, of the Hawaii State Constitution, is the 0.5 credit Modern Hawaiian History class. Your Committee believes Hawaiian education will be of benefit to students of all ethnic backgrounds by contribution to an understanding and appreciation of Hawaii's unique cultural and historical context.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending its title to read "HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ELEVATE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL EDUCATION IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL CLASSES THAT FULFILL CORE REQUIREMENTS THROUGHOUT SECONDARY EDUCATION;"

(2) Clarifying that the Board of Education and Department of Education are urged to elevate Hawaiian language and cultural education in public high schools by expanding access to Hawaiian language and cultural classes that fulfill core requirements throughout secondary education;

(3) Inserting language requesting the Department of Education's Office of Hawaiian Education to identify public school teachers who have received or would like to receive training in Hawaiian language and culture to increase access to Hawaiian content in secondary schools; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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.R. No. 9, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 9, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair