STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1936

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 116

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 116 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE COMMITTEE ON WEIGHTS TO RECOMMEND, AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT, A WEIGHTED STUDENT FORMULA THAT GIVES GREATER CONSIDERATION TO SMALL AND REMOTE SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Urge the Committee on Weights to make a recommendation to the Board of Education for a weighted student formula that gives greater consideration to small and remote schools; and

(2) Urge the Board of Education to adopt the recommendations made by the Committee on Weights.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Waiahole Elementary School, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hui for Excellence in Education, and nineteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, also known as the Reinventing Education Act of 2004, established a weighted student formula to provide equitable distribution of funds to schools based on enrollment, student needs, and the unique characteristics of the school and its students. While the weighted student formula has achieved some success in providing more transparent and decentralized funding, small and remote rural schools still face difficulties with achieving full, necessary funding. This measure strives for equity in school funding to ensure all students, regardless of their location, receive a high-quality public education.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Urging equal consideration, rather than greater consideration, to small and remote schools in the weighted student formula;

(2) Inserting language that acknowledges the weighted student formula's consideration of English language learners, special education, and economically disadvantaged students;

(3) Inserting language that requests the Committee on Weights to consider creative ways for remote schools to work together and share resources; and

(4) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 116, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 116, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair