STAND. COM. REP. NO. 241-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1657

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1657 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require all public schools to implement universal screenings for students in kindergarten through third grade to identify students who are at risk of dyslexia and other learning disabilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; HawaiiKidsCAN; Renaissance Learning; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Literacy Coalition. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that there are insufficient early detection policies and assessment regulations in the State to address students at risk of having dyslexia. Additionally, Hawaii is one of three states that does not have dyslexia-specific laws related to student support. Your Committee notes that students who are not identified as struggling before grade three and not brought up to proficiency have significantly lower rates of success in the future, are four times more likely not to graduate from high school on time, and have higher rates of future incarceration and other negative outcomes. By identifying students at an early age who are at risk of having dyslexia and other learning disabilities this measure works to improve the likelihood of success of young students. Providing young students with scientifically based intervention methods will enable young students to achieve more in an effective and efficient manner.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1657, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1657, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair