STAND. COM. REP. NO. 334

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 55

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 55 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to establish grant programs to provide funds for the planning and implementation of community schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School, Kaimuki Middle School's Voyager Center, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawai‘i Afterschool Alliance, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Parents and Children Together, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Pacific American Foundation, Hawai‘i Ohana Support Network, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that the community school model aims to organize and deploy existing community resources to enable students to thrive and excel. Your Committee further finds that community schools understand the unique challenges facing their communities and help to organize and deploy existing community resources to meet those challenges, resulting in educational experiences that are tailored to the actual needs of the surrounding community. This measure will ensure high‑quality educational opportunities and improved educational outcomes for students through the support and input from families of the students and the local community.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to June 30, 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. 55, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 55, 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