STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2227

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2451

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2451 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require remote schools to be allocated funds using categorical allotments, rather than the weighted student formula.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by three organizations.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by one state agency.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that despite the equitable distribution of funds intended by enactment of the weighted student formula, small, remote schools can experience disadvantages when the formula allocation fails to provide those schools with the minimum level of resources needed to ensure the availability of courses necessary for graduation.  This measure addresses the problem by adding remote schools to the list of schools that are currently excepted from allocations under the weighted student formula.

 

     Your Committee recognizes that exemptions from the weighted student formula may have fiscal impacts on allocations to other schools and have accordingly amended this measure as follows:

 

     (1)  By narrowing the definition of remote schools to include only high schools located on the islands of Lanai, Molokai, and Niihau, and high schools that are located at least a one-hour drive away from the next nearest high school; and

 

     (2)  By inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to allow further discussion of this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2451, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2451, 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 and Housing,

 

 

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair