HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	147
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Requesting the department of education to report to the LEGISLATURE on the number of public school playgrounds that include playground equipment accessible to students with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.

WHEREAS, playgrounds provide students with opportunities to socialize and engage in physical activity; and

WHEREAS, playgrounds benefit child development in a variety of ways beyond physical wellness, such as expanding social, emotional, and imaginative skills; increasing confidence; improving coordination; and advancing critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities; and

WHEREAS, however, traditional playground equipment is often inaccessible to children with disabilities, which deprives children with disabilities of the same benefits their peers without disabilities enjoy; and

WHEREAS, there are numerous benefits of accessible and inclusive playgrounds, including providing recreation for students with disabilities, enabling them to socialize and make new friends, and help their peers without disabilities learn to understand differences; and

WHEREAS, in December 2022, the Department of Education announced an $18,000,000 partnership with a nonprofit to improve and replace public school playground equipment across the State; and

WHEREAS, as part of this initiative, the Department is aiming to repair, replace, or add approximately one hundred playgrounds across the State; and

WHEREAS, creating an inclusive playground environment for all children in the State's public schools is critical to ensuring all students get a chance to benefit from unstructured play; and

WHEREAS, identifying how many playgrounds across the Department's public schools and charter school are accessible to students with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities is an important first step toward this goal; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Education is requested to report to the Legislature on the number of public school playgrounds that include playground equipment accessible to students with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report is requested to include:

(1) The name and location of each public school whose playground includes accessible playground equipment;

(2) The name and location of each public school that has been identified as part of the Department of Education's initiative to repair, replace, or add playgrounds; and

(3) Any opportunities to construct new accessible playground equipment or convert existing playground equipment as part of this initiative; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit its report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Education.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Department of Education; Public Schools; Playgrounds; Accessible Playground Equipment