HB1119

SECTION 1. The legislature finds Hawaii is the only state in the nation where a single department of education and a single statewide board run all public schools in the state. All other states have school systems broken down into districts within the state, each with their own separate board of education. Hawaii's centralized school board and school system is unlike any other state.

The legislature finds that a centralized school system comes with several drawbacks. For example, every public school, regardless of the differences between them, are required to follow the same set of state regulations and guidelines as it relates to education. This system also leaves little room for flexibility in introducing new teaching approaches, or in trying new instructional programming.

The legislature finds that entrusting the governance of public schools to citizens elected by their respective communities to oversee their school districts is imperative to a well-functioning school system in the state. With this system in place, elected board members can address the unique education-related needs of their respective counties for better tailored improvements in public education.

The purpose of this Act is to amend the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to provide for a local school board in each county that is populated with elected board members, in place of the current Board of Education.

SECTION 2. Article X of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended by adding two new sections to be designated and to read as follows:

"LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS

Section . Public education in the State shall be provided through a decentralized system of independent school districts with schools required to follow and satisfy statewide student performance standards, as provided by law.

There shall be four local school boards, one for each county, to oversee their respective school complex areas. Members of each local school board shall be elected by voters who reside in that county, as provided by law. Each local school board shall:

(1) Formulate county-wide educational policies;

(2) Select principals to manage the schools in the county;

(3) Authorize the principal of each school to make the decisions that affect student performance, educational quality, and use of resources;

(4) Evaluate the principals managing schools in the local school board's county;

(5) Administer programs that the schools are not able to administer alone; and

(6) Establish an open system that allows, to the extent practicable given each school's resources and capacity, the parents, guardians, and caretakers of each public school student to select the school that the student will attend.

EDUCATION STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION

Section . There shall be an education standards and accountability commission, as provided by law, to:

(1) Establish and maintain rigorous academic and data-reporting standards that apply to all school complex areas within the statewide public education system;

(2) Ensure that the school complex areas operate in an open manner;

(3) Publish annual report cards on each school complex area's financial management and overall performance;

(4) Ensure that all state and federal mandates are fulfilled;

(5) Establish a formula for distributing general funds for school operations to all public schools based on the number and needs of students enrolled at each school;

(6) Establish a formula for the distribution of capital improvement project funds to the school complex areas; and

(7) Administer programs that the school complex areas cannot administer alone.

The legislature shall appropriate all general funds for school operations in a single amount to the education standards and accountability commission.

The legislature shall appropriate all capital improvement project funds for school capital improvement projects in a single amount to the education standards and accountability commission."

SECTION 3. Article XVI, section 4, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"OATH OF OFFICE

Section 4. All eligible public officers, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take and subscribe to the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, and that I will faithfully discharge my duties as ............. to the best of my ability." As used in this section, "eligible public officers" means the governor, the lieutenant governor, the members of both houses of the legislature, the members of the [~~board of education,~~] county school boards, the members of the national guard, State or county employees who possess police powers, district court judges, and all those whose appointment requires the consent of the senate."

SECTION 4. Article X, section 2 and 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii are repealed.

[~~"BOARD OF EDUCATION~~

~~Section 2.~~ ~~There shall be a board of education. The governor shall nominate and, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint the members of the board of education, as provided by law.~~

~~POWER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION~~

~~Section 3.~~ The board of education shall have the power, as provided by law, to formulate statewide educational policy and appoint the superintendent of education as the chief executive officer of the public school system."]

SECTION 5. Article XVIII, section 7, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, is repealed.

["1978 BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTIONS

~~Section 7.~~ ~~Members elected to the board of education in the 1978 general election shall serve for two-year terms."~~]

SECTION 6. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

"Shall the statewide appointed board of education be abolished and replace with four elected county school boards?"

SECTION 7. Constitutional material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New constitutional material is underscored.

SECTION 8. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii; provided that, subject to ratification, section 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1119
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII