STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1306

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1268

       H.D. 3

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Education and Economic Development and Taxation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1268, H.D. 3, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INNOVATION IN EDUCATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to increase innovation in education by establishing programs designed to fill current workforce needs in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math.

 

     Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Establishes the Hawaii Excellence through Science and Technology (HiEST) Academy Program to increase preparedness for post-secondary education and the workforce and provides funding therefor;

 

     (2)  Establishes the Fostering Inspiration and Relevance through Science and Technology (FIRST) Pre-academy Program and provides funding therefor;

 

     (3)  Establishes the Robotics and Space Contextual Learning Program to develop science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills and provides funding therefor;

 

     (4)  Establishes the Business/Education Internship and Mentorship Program to increase opportunities for high school and college students to gain work experience and provides funding therefor;

 

     (5)  Establishes the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Certificate Program and provides funding therefor;

 

     (6)  Establishes a professional development program to provide practicing elementary, middle, and high school teachers of science and mathematics with opportunities to increase their knowledge and understanding in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects and provides funds for such professional development;

 

     (7)  Appropriates funds for STEM stipends under the U.S. Department of Labor's Transition to Teaching Program;

 

     (8)  Establishes the Eminent Scholars Program; and

 

     (9)  Establishes the State Akamai Investment Matching Special Fund and appropriates moneys therefor.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Governor of Hawaii; the Department of Education; the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the University of Hawaii; the Workforce Development Council; the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools; CTA Solutions; Benefit Capital Financial Services, Inc.; the High Technology Development Corporation; the Waimanalo Hawaiian Homes Association; the American Society of Civil Engineers; the Coalition of Hawaii Engineering and Architectural Professionals; Applied Marine Solutions; the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; SEE/RESCUE Corporation; 3D Innovations, LLC; and seven individuals.  Comments on the measure were also submitted by the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

 

     Your Committees find that both education and workforce development are necessary in order for Hawaii to not only survive but also excel in today's economy.  Concerted efforts must be made to educate and train our students for challenging careers in this global society where science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines have become prominent.  This measure addresses many aspects involved in developing a comprehensive approach to promoting the STEM disciplines, including establishing STEM academies, growing and fostering a STEM teaching workforce through the provision of stipends and scholarships, and providing additional work experience opportunities for students. 

 

     However, your Committees also understand that existing efforts to educate and grow a highly qualified and skilled workforce must also continue to be supported to meet all of the changing workforce needs of the State.  Current efforts include the establishment of smaller learning communities, including schools within schools and applied learning academies, as well as scholarship and other programs such as the B-Plus Scholarship Program and GEAR UP Hawaii, which present effective methods for addressing specific areas of student interest and workforce needs in the community.  Your Committees believe that these and other programs should not be superseded by, but should instead be pursued in conjunction with, STEM-specific programs. 

 

     To support and enhance existing career academy programs, your Committees believe that a comprehensive Applied Learning High School Academy Program should be established to link the curriculum, including STEM subjects, of a particular school with the mission of a particular agency or University of Hawaii campus to support workforce development in Hawaii.

 

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Including a new part that establishes the Applied Learning High School Academy Program and appropriating funds therefor;

 

     (2)  Codifying the Hawaii Excellence Through Science and Technology Academy Program, the Fostering Inspiration and Relevance Through Science and Technology Pre-academy Program, the Robotics and Space Contextual Learning Program, the Research Experiences for Teachers Program, and the Professional Development Program as a new part in chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

 

     (3)  Altering the Hawaii Excellence Through Science and Technology Academy Program to be a component of the Applied Learning High School Academy Program;

 

     (4)  Changing the Research Experiences for Teachers Certificate Program to the Research Experiences for Teachers Program and removing any references to licensing, certification, or step increases relating to certification under the program;

 

     (5)  Specifying that the Fostering Inspiration and Relevance Through Science and Technology Pre-academy Program, the Robotics and Space Contextual Learning Program, and the Research Experiences for Teachers Program shall be administered by the College of Engineering of the University of Hawaii;

 

     (6)  Clarifying that part of the mission of the Fostering Inspiration and Relevance Through Science and Technology Pre-academy Program, with respect to middle schools, shall be to prepare students, beginning in the sixth grade, for entry into the Hawaii Excellence Through Science and Technology Program;

 

     (7)  Clarifying that one of the goals of the Fostering Inspiration and Relevance Through Science and Technology Pre-academy Program shall be to serve students between sixth and eighth grades with contextual learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines;

 

     (8)  Clarifying that the appropriation for the Applied Learning High School Academy is for planning and start-up grants for the program;

 

     (9)  Including an appropriation for the operations of Applied Learning High School Academies; provided that the funds shall be allocated on a per pupil basis;

 

    (10)  Clarifying that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism shall coordinate with the Department of Education in the establishment and implementation of the business/education internship and mentorship program;

 

    (11)  Removing the State Akamai Investment Matching Special Fund and the Eminent Scholars Program;

 

    (12)  Changing the effective date of the measure from July 1, 2034, to July 1, 2007; and

 

    (13)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity and style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Economic Development and Taxation that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1268, H.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1268, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Economic Development and Taxation,

 

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair