STAND. COM. REP. NO. 311

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 242

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 242, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the offering of computer science education in Department of Education schools.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes the computer science special fund to be administered by the Department of Education for the provision of computer science grants to eligible entities;

(2) Requires that the Department of Education submit to the Board of Education and Legislature an annual report regarding the computer science special fund;

(3) Establishes a timeline for elementary, middle, and intermediate schools to offer computer science courses or content;

(4) Requires that the Superintendent of Education submit to the Board of Education and Legislature annual reports of the computer science courses and content offered during the preceding school year; and

(5) Requires that, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, each public charter school serving elementary, middle, intermediate, or high school students offers computer science courses or content at a certain frequency.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Code.org, HawaiiKidsCAN, Microsoft Corporation, TechNet, and three individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic has exemplified and catalyzed the global shift towards a digital economy and increased the public's reliance on digital technology for basic tasks. Accordingly, your Committee believes that it is important to ensure that elementary, middle, intermediate, and high school students throughout the State are prepared for an increasingly digital world.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the Superintendent of Education's annual reporting requirements; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 242,

S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 242, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair