STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3561

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 105

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.R. No. 105 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO UNIFY THE MCKINLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS AND WAIPAHU COMMUNITY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS INTO A SINGLE STATEWIDE ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM TO BE KNOWN AS THE HAWAII STATE COMMUNITY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Education to unify the McKinley Community School for Adults and Waipahu Community School for Adults into a single statewide program.

Your Committee did not receive any testimony on this measure.

Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committee posted and made available for public review a proposed S.D. 1, which deletes the contents of the measure and inserts language to request the University of Hawaii System, in collaboration with the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board and other institutions of higher education, to require all candidates enrolled in state-approved educator preparation programs leading to teacher licensure to successfully complete at least one comprehensive course in the science of reading.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the proposed S.D. 1 from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that additional efforts to promote and address literacy are necessary to resolve gaps in literacy instruction and reading proficiency in local schools. Ensuring teacher candidates are well-prepared to support all K-12 learners in high-quality literacy and reading instruction, such as through robust coursework on the science of reading, is a proven strategy to improve learning outcomes. This measure seeks to improve educator readiness and instructional effectiveness, thereby supporting student achievement statewide.

Your Committee acknowledges the concerns raised in testimony by the University of Hawaii System that, while the science of reading is an important body of research, it is not a single, unified, or settled framework. The University further testified that a one-size fits all solution to literacy challenges may not best reflect local realities, as preparing effective teachers requires engagement with a broader body of knowledge on literacy as an interdisciplinary field, and tailoring concepts to local contexts would better serve the State's many multilingual learners. Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to address this matter.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the proposed S.D. 1 and further amending the measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have requested the University of Hawaii System, in collaboration with the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board and other institutions of higher education, to require all candidates enrolled in state-approved educator preparation programs leading to teacher licensure to successfully complete at least one comprehensive course in the science of reading;

(2) Inserting language that requests the University of Hawaii System, in collaboration with the Department of Education and other institutions of higher education, to require all candidates enrolled in state-approved educator preparation programs leading to teacher licensure to successfully complete comprehensive coursework in reading, language, and literacy;

(3) Clarifying that the reading, language, and literacy coursework requirement is requested to include instruction in certain areas, including research- and evidence-based reading development and instruction;

(4) Specifying that completion of the comprehensive reading, language, and literacy coursework is requested to be a mandatory condition for graduation from any state-approved teacher education program and for recommendation for teacher licensure in the State;

(5) Deleting language that would have requested the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to align licensure standards with the comprehensive science of reading course requirement;

(6) Amending the individuals entitled to receipt of certified copies of the measure;

(7) Amending legislative findings to reflect its amended purpose; and

(8) Amending its title accordingly.

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.R. No. 105, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 105, S.D. 1.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair