STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2234-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.C.R. No. 196

S.D. 1

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 S.C.R. No. 196, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A PROPOSAL FOR A TIERED, COORDINATED, AND STANDARDIZED BELL SCHEDULE FRAMEWORK FOR DEPARTMENT SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to develop a standardized bell schedule framework for Department schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that the State has established minimum instructional hour requirements to ensure that all public school students receive adequate and equitable educational opportunities. Your Committee further finds that inconsistency in school start and end times across Department schools can create challenges for students, families, and school operations, including transportation coordination, staffing efficiency, and access to extracurricular and community‑based programs. Your Committee believes that a standardized bell schedule framework, organized by school level while maintaining flexibility within instructional hour requirements, may promote greater predictability, equity, and operational efficiency across the public education system.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding additional findings regarding school bus service disruptions in the State and that improved coordination of school bell schedules can be a practical strategy to maximize limited transportation resources;

(2) Clarifying that, in developing the standardized bell schedule, the Department of Education is requested to:

(A) Consult affected stakeholders, including collective bargaining representatives;

(B) Comply with applicable collective bargaining agreements; and

(C) Consider adopting the framework at the complex area or regional level, rather than requiring site-based consensus at each individual school; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 196, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 196, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair