STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1107-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2937

S.D. 1

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 Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2937, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ACCESS TO LEARNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make permanent the exemption of laboratory school programs of the Hawaiian Language College at the University of Hawaii at Hilo from state English-medium standards, assessments, performance ratings, staff qualifications, and staff training requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo; Executive Office on Early Learning, Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu Laboratory Public Charter School, Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu Iki; Kupuna for the Moʻopuna; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies.

Your Committee finds that this measure would ensure the continuation of a laboratory school program, which is currently a Hawaiian-medium program, at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Your Committee also finds that this measure is in alignment with the Early Learning Board's Road Map, which among other things, recommends the permanent exemption provided in this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2937, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2937, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair