STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3120

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2074

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2074, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KAIAPUNI EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Education for the establishment of Kaiapuni education curriculum specialist II positions and Kaiapuni classroom teacher positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board, Hawaii State Teachers Association, ʻAha Kauleo, Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action, Nā Leo Kākoʻo o Oʻahu, Tahirih Association, The Spoehr Foundation, a Hui Mākua petition signed by one hundred twenty-eight individuals, a Hui Mākua Palapola Nui petition signed by eighty-seven individuals, and seventy individuals.

Your Committee finds that there has been significant growth and increased demand for Hawaiian language medium education in the State. Presently, the State operates twenty-two Kaiapuni schools, for students in grades kindergarten through twelve. However, resources dedicated to supporting Kaiapuni education programming have consistently declined since 2008, which has created staffing and pedagogical challenges. Accordingly, this measure appropriates funds for staffing needs at Kaiapuni schools to provide Hawaii's keiki with additional opportunities for Hawaiian language medium education.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) curriculum specialist II positions; and

(2) Inserting ten full-time equivalent (10.0 FTE) classroom teacher positions.

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. 2074, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2074, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair