STAND. COM. REP. NO. 304

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 743

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 743 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows

The purpose of this measure is to optimize learning conditions and early educational opportunities for Hawaii's children.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association and an individual testified in support of this measure. The Department of Education (DOE) expressed strong concerns about the measure.

Research shows that there is a statistically significant increase in the incidence of learning disabilities in students born in the latter half of the year. Additionally, research indicates that having smaller class sizes from kindergarten up through the third grade is more effective in the development of children's educational skills than maintaining smaller classes only up through the second grade.

In order to provide for classes that are more homogenous with respect to students' social and emotional development and academic readiness, this measure:

(1) Delays the entrance of later-born children to kindergarten by advancing the cutoff date for the minimum entrance age of five years, from December 31 to October 1 for the 2002 to 2003 school year, and from October 1 to July 1 for the 2003 to 2004 school year; and

(2) Requires the DOE to establish pre-kindergarten programs to assist with the educational transition of those children who will not meet the minimum age requirement until after the cutoff date, but before the end of the calendar year.

This measure also mandates a student-to-teacher ratio no greater than twenty to one in grades kindergarten to three beginning July 1, 2004.

Your Committee finds that this measure will enhance the ability of Hawaii's students to learn and achieve academic success, and will yield cost savings for the State as a result of fewer children entering specific learning disability programs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that requires the DOE to maintain pre-kindergarten programs after the 2003 to 2004 school year since it is not the Legislature's intention to establish pre-kindergarten as a permanent, ongoing program;

(2) Deleting language that amends section 246-32, Hawaii Revised Statutes, since that section refers to the assessment of real property taxes which is no longer a State function; and

(3) Making technical amendments to reflect preferred drafting style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 743, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 743, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair