STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2228-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.C.R. No. 112

S.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 112, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO REQUIRE COMPLETION OF COMPREHENSIVE COURSEWORK IN READING, LANGUAGE, AND LITERACY AS A CONDITION FOR GRADUATION FROM ANY STATE-APPROVED EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM LEADING TO TEACHER LICENSURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii System, in collaboration with the Department of Education and other institutions of higher education, to require completion of comprehensive coursework in reading, language, and literacy as a condition for graduation from any state-approved educator preparation program leading to teacher licensure.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committees find that literacy is a foundational skill essential to academic success, workforce readiness, and civic participation. Evidence-based research on teaching methods encompasses cognitive science and neuroscience, emphasizing instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. While there are teacher preparation programs implemented nationwide, they do not require comprehensive literacy coursework required for instructional effectiveness. Your Committees believe that ensuring all teacher candidates are equipped with research- and evidence-based reading instruction practices will improve student literacy and strengthen educator readiness.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 112, S.D. 1, and recommend its adoption.

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

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair

____________________________ ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair