SB783

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	783
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to education funding.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Reinventing Education Act of 2004 (Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004) established a weighted student formula to allocate moneys to schools according to the different costs of educating students with different needs. Despite the intended equitable distribution of funds, the weighted student formula has placed small and remote schools at a disadvantage. For example, in the case of Hana high and elementary school, the budgetary shortfall has resulted in the loss of several well-qualified teachers and has threatened the school's ability to offer minimum course requirements for students to earn high school diplomas. As of 2005, six schools were excepted from weighted student formula allocations. The legislature further finds that small and remote schools should be adequately funded to retain the minimal personnel and resources necessary to deliver a quality education to students.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to improve the fiscal equity for small and remote schools by requiring the department of education's committee on weights to consider any inequities of negative consequences of its weighted student formula on small and remote schools.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-1303.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§302A-1303.5 Committee on weights. (a) There is established within the department of education the committee on weights to develop a weighted student formula pursuant to section 302A-1303.6. The committee may:

(1) Create a list of student characteristics that will be weighted;

(2) Create a system of weights based upon the student characteristics that may be applied to determine the relative cost of educating any student;

(3) Determine specific student weights, including their unit value;

(4) Determine which moneys shall be included in the amount of funds to be allocated through the weighted student formula;

(5) Recommend a weighted student formula to the board of education;

(6) Perform any other function that may facilitate the implementation of the weighted student formula; and

(7) Meet not less than once every odd-numbered year, to review the weighted student formula and, if the committee deems it necessary, recommend a new weighted student formula for adoption by the board of education[.];

provided that the committee, when developing its weighted student formula recommendations, shall consider any inequities or negative consequences of its weighted student formula funding recommendations on small and remote schools, report these inequities or negative consequences to the board, and provide funding adjustment recommendations to ameliorate these inequities or negative consequences.

(b) The composition of the committee on weights shall be determined by the board of education based on recommendations from the superintendent of education and dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa college of education and include principals, teachers, and other members with the appropriate professional skills, experiences, and qualifications needed to facilitate the work of the committee. The superintendent or the superintendent's designee shall chair the committee on weights.

(c) The committee on weights may form advisory subcommittees to obtain input from key stakeholders as determined necessary by the committee.

(d) The members of the committee on weights shall serve at the pleasure of the board of education and shall not be subject to section 26-34. Members of the committee on weights shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

(e) For the purposes of subsection (a), "small and remote school" means a public school except for a public school governed by chapter 302D, that is:

(1) Located at least a one-hour drive away from the nearest public high school;

(2) Located in a county with a population of less than two hundred thousand persons;

(3) An elementary school with a student enrollment of less than two hundred students; or

(4) A secondary school with a student enrollment of less than four hundred students."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________