STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1672

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 56

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 S.C.R. No. 56 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO REVIEW VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND SUBJECT MATTER AREAS FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Board of Education to review various programs and subject matter areas for implementation in public schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Board of Education has a constitutional mandate to formulate statewide educational policy over the public school system set forth by Article X, Section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution. However, for the Department of Education to fulfill its responsibility to provide high quality education to Hawaii's keiki, reliable transportation to and from campuses is needed to allow every student to achieve their academic goals. Providing access to reliable transportation, such as bicycles, through a bicycle grant program will allow more students to commute to school while reducing tardiness and absenteeism.

Your Committee also finds that providing an education fit for twenty-first century issues will prepare students for life experiences in the advent of technological advancements. With the proliferation of social media platforms, artificial intelligence, and constant flows of information, distinguishing between facts and misinformation will allow students to make informed decisions about the world around them. Additionally, media literacy programs, in conjunction with civic education, will allow students to more productively participate in their local communities while also being aware of the digital world and its impact on their personal lives and communities.

Your Committee further finds that some critical life skills and educational opportunities may not be readily available at Department of Education schools. For example, financial literacy and American Sign Language are two subjects that provide greater accessibility for all students in the public school system. However, without experiences that provide direct impact to students, there are seldom opportunities to learn or pursue knowledge and skills in these areas. This measure provides Hawaii's keiki with high quality educational experiences beyond traditional academic curriculum to ensure success for Hawaii's future generations.

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 S.C.R. No. 56 and recommends its adoption.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair