STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1875-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.C.R. No. 144

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 144 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AND HAWAII P-20 PARTNERSHIPS FOR EDUCATION TO DEVELOP CLEAR PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS IN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ACADEMIES TO SEAMLESSLY CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Education, University of Hawaii Community Colleges, and Hawaii P‑20 Partnerships for Education to develop clear pathways for students in Department of Education career and technical education academies to seamlessly continue their education in career and technical education programs at University of Hawaii Community Colleges.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges; Hawaiʻi P-20 Partnerships for Education; and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

Your Committees find that students participating in career and technical education programs learn vital skills they need to attain high‑skill, high-wage careers in high-demand occupational fields. Your Committees further find that the Department of Education offers its students up to thirteen broad continuing and technical education pathways. Your Committees note that, although the University of Hawaii also offers a wide array of continuing and technical education pathways for community college students, there is a lack of clear coordination between Department of Education and University of Hawaii educational systems. Your Committees believe that the development of clear pathways for students in Department of Education Career and Technical Education Academies to seamlessly continue their education in career and technical education programs at University of Hawaii Community Colleges is needed to ensure growth in the State's future labor force.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Higher Education & Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 144 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair