STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1365

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 807

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 807, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the academic plan for each school to include a clear accounting of all resources that will be allocated to address and achieve each measurable outcome, the school's priority improvement strategies and measures to determine progress, and certain assessment scores; and

(2) Require the Department of Education to submit an annual report to the Legislature and the Board of Education on the academic and financial plan of each school, grouped by complex area.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hui for Excellence in Education. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Our Revolution Hawaii, Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that there is a greater need for transparency and accountability from the Department of Education. Your Committee further finds that establishing clear guidance for what should be included in a school's academic plan will better inform the Legislature, Board of Education, and communities of what the school's measurable outcomes are and how resources are allocated to achieve those outcomes.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the academic plan for a school shall include student growth indicators, which may include but not be limited to the school's National Assessment of Educational Progress assessment scores and authentic assessment results;

(2) Removing the requirement that a school's academic plan include the school's year-to-year Strive HI scores;

(3) Requiring that a school's academic plan include:

(A) Information about programs intended to address social and economic conditions that adversely impact student learning;

(B) A breakdown of certain information regarding teacher vacancy data; and

(C) The average class size for all regular education, special education, and content based English language learning, classes, including any plans to reduce class sizes;

(4) Inserting a definition for "authentic assessment";

(5) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

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

Your Committee notes that the amendments made to this measure were based on recommendations offered by the Hawaii State Teachers Association and others.

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. 807, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 807, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair