STAND. COM. REP. NO. 388-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2284

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2284 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF GROW OUR OWN RESOURCES FOR HAWAIIAN IMMERSION TEACHERS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the shortfall of licensed teachers in public schools, especially in Hawaiian immersion and identified shortage area schools, by establishing and appropriating funds for the Hawaii Teacher Stipend Program, to be administered by the Department of Education, to provide stipends to students enrolled in a University of Hawaii teacher program and who agree to teach in Hawaii's public schools for five years, with preference given for students who commit to teach in a Hawaiian immersion school.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Department of Education; State Public Charter School Commission; Hawaii State Teachers Association; ‘Aha Pūnana Leo; Kamehameha Schools; Ka ‘Aumanu, Nā Leo Kāko‘o o Maui, Inc.; Hui Makua o Pū‘ōhala; Kanaeokana; Aha Kauleo; Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Waimanalo; Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kalama; and numerous individuals. Your Committees received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the College of Education of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that Olelo Hawaii, the Hawaiian language, has been the native language of Hawaii's indigenous people for over two thousand years and has provided the foundation for the establishment and development of Hawaiian society. Your Committees further find that the Ka Papahana Kaiapuni, or the Hawaiian language immersion program, established under Board of Education policy 105-8 in 1986, helped to revitalize Hawaii's native language and create new generations of Hawaiian language speakers. However, despite the many successes of the Hawaiian immersion program, there is still a shortage of qualified teachers, including a lack of Hawaiian immersion special education service providers, which impedes the success and growth of Hawaiian immersion schools. This measure will incentivize and give preference to university students enrolled in teacher education programs to commit to teaching in Hawaiian immersion schools and provide greater access to Hawaiian immersion education to Hawaii's youth in the future.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing the Hawaii Charter School Stipend Program and Hawaii Charter School Stipend Program Special Fund, to be administered by the State Public Charter School Commission, for students enrolled in a University of Hawaii teacher education program and who agree to teach in public charter schools for five years, with preference given for students who commit to teach in a Hawaiian immersion school;

(2) Appropriating funds to be deposited into the Hawaii Charter School Teacher Stipend Program Special Fund and for the establishment and implementation of the Hawaii Charter School Stipend Program;

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

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Higher Education & Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2284, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2284, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair