STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3518

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 194

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 194 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO MEET THE CRITERIA NECESSARY TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE CHEERLEADING AS A TITLE IX SPORT IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Education to meet the criteria necessary to officially recognize competitive cheerleading as a Title IX sport in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the vast majority of Department of Education high schools have cheer teams, yet cheer is not currently officially recognized as a Title IX sport in Hawaii. Failing to recognize competitive cheerleading as an athletic opportunity prevents the Department from utilizing Title IX as a critical gender equity tool to address disparities in sports participation, resource allocation, and representation for female students. This measure expands athletic opportunities and gender equity efforts to align with best practices in promoting equality, inclusion, and the visibility of female athletes.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.C.R. No. 194, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 194, S.D. 1.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair