STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2064

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2824

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2824 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the minimum qualifications for members of the Board of Education to:

(1) Require more industry and workforce relevant experience; and

(2) Clarify that the Board of Education's best practices should align with those of organizations such as the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), to the fullest extent practicable.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from HawaiiKidsCAN, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the field of education is changing rapidly to meet the needs of the local and global workforce and communities. In order to bolster Hawaii's economy and stem the local brain drain of talent leaving the State, your Committee understands that it is important for Hawaii's students to attain quality work-based learning opportunities and connections to local employers prior to graduation.

Your Committee finds that the Board of Education serves an important policy-making function for the Hawaii education system. As schools expand their career readiness programs and partnerships with employers, the board will need to have a comprehensive understanding of policy related to these areas. Your Committee further finds that the NASBE recommends, among other things, that board members represent all students and families, maintain student achievement as a north star, view all decisions through an equity lens, make clear decisions, and remain future-oriented.

Accordingly, you Committee finds that Hawaii's education system will benefit from a greater diversity of backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives on the Board of Education, and that individuals serving on the board should conduct themselves in accordance with best practices from expert organizations, such as NASBE. Your Committee further finds that amending the qualifications as proposed by this measure will diversify the composition of the Board of Education and help bring an industry and workforce perspective to the development and implementation of education policy in public schools in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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. 2824, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2824, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair