STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2178

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2069

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 S.B. No. 2069 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF 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 three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) curriculum specialist II positions and ten full-time equivalent (10.0 FTE) classroom teacher positions for Ka Papahana Kaiapuni schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Malama Makua, Hui Makua O Pūʻōhala, Native Hawaiian Education Council, Nā Leo Kākoʻo, a petition from Hui Mākua signed by sixty-three individuals, a petition from Hui Mākua Palapala Noi signed by nineteen individuals, a petition signed by thirty-nine individuals, and two hundred three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the demand for Hawaiian language immersion education has experienced significant growth in the last decade. Presently, twenty-two Ka Papahana Kaiapuni schools offer Hawaiian language immersion education for students in grades kindergarten through twelve. However, additional teaching and staffing resources are needed to provide high quality educational experiences for Ka Papahana Kaiapuni students, as demand for Hawaiian language immersion education has outpaced teaching and operational support. Presently, there are one hundred fifty-two teachers and four curriculum specialists who support the Hawaiian language immersion education programs across the State. Therefore, this measure increases opportunities for prospective students interested in Hawaiian language immersion education while ensuring adequate staffing for new and existing schools.

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 S.B. No. 2069 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair