STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1910

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 59

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. 59 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR THE ENGLISH LEARNER PROGRAM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING POPULATION OF ENGLISH LEARNER STUDENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Education to prioritize funding for the English Learner Program in public schools to address the increasing population of English learner students.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Education's English Learner Program ensures that students with limited English proficiency have access to educational opportunities while also developing high levels of academic attainment in English through rigorous academic coursework. Mandated by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the English Learner Program provides equity for students to participate in all school activities. While forty-one percent of students in the State were on track to gaining language proficiency through the English Learner Program in 2018, the English proficiency level dropped to twenty-eight percent in 2021 and 2022. Because it is estimated that by 2025, one in four students in public education will be an English learner, this measure urges equitable access to education to provide all students, regardless of English language proficiency, with academic and social opportunities to grow and develop.

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. 59, and recommends its adoption.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair