STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1806-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 187

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 187 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO BEGIN INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS TEACHER RETENTION IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Education to begin initiatives to address teacher retention in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from KumuKonnect and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Education.

Your Committee finds that teacher retention is vital to maintaining instructional continuity, school stability, and student achievement. Your Committee further finds that improving teacher retention requires deliberate initiatives and an assessment of specific criteria that support teachers' professional experience and long-term commitment to Hawaii's public schools. This measure requests the Department of Education to begin taking certain steps that will address teacher retention to ensure stability in Hawaii's public education system.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding additional findings regarding the Teacher Education Coordinating Committee;

(2) Deleting language that would have requested the Department of Education to establish an advisory board to provide recommendations on strategies to improve teacher retention across the State;

(3) Requesting the Teacher Education Coordinating Committee to submit an update on its strategic plan, including any initiatives or other efforts made that address teacher retention in the State, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

(4) Adding the President of the University of Hawaii and Dean of the College of Education of the University of Hawaii as recipients of certified copies of this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 187, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 187, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair