THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

53

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REquesting the auditor to conduct a fiscal audit and the department of education to conduct a program audit of the department of education's hawaiian studies program.

 

WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Studies Program is a mandate of the 1978 Constitutional Convention that is implemented in grades K-6 in all public elementary schools to assist students to learn, understand, and appreciate Hawaiian culture, history, language, values, and practices; and

WHEREAS, the program utilizes a kupuna (elders) component, which consists of a community resource person who has expertise in Hawaii's cultural heritage and possesses a warm grandparental quality, who assists classroom teachers in the delivery of Hawaiian Studies Program instruction; and

WHEREAS, due to the diminishing support of the State, in order to maintain the integrity of the program, kupuna and makua have organized Ka Lei Papahi o Kakuhihewa, a taro roots organization, to ensure that the Program is a permanent component within the Department of Education system; and

WHEREAS, many of the schools are unable to spare funds, so the kupuna and makua spend many hours preparing lessons without compensation and pay for all of the project supplies as well; and

WHEREAS, many schools do not implement the Hawaiian Studies Program in all grade levels (K-6), and the program curriculum is outdated and requires support and assistance by the Department of Education; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that a fiscal audit of the Hawaiian Studies Program would clarify the funds available for the program; and

WHEREAS, there is evidence that some schools may be paying the kupuna and makua at an education assistant rate rather than the part-time teacher rate, which is approximately half the pay the kupuna and makua are entitled to; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Studies Program kupuna component is a viable part of the perpetuation of the Native Hawaiian language and culture, and the Board of Education's support for the program is an integral part of the Hawaii Content and Performance Standards; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a fiscal audit of the Department of Education's Hawaiian Studies Program, specifically regarding the kupuna component, to clarify the numerous inconsistencies in the delivery and implementation of the Program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the audit shall include a review of the expenditures made for the Program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to cooperate with and provide assistance to the Auditor in the performance of this audit; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to conduct a program audit of the Hawaiian Studies Program, to identify concerns and issues regarding the delivery and implementation of that program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor and the Department of Education are requested to submit findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature regarding their respective audits no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the

Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, and the Auditor.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Hawaiian Studies Program