HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2410

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to education.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


SECTION 1.  Hawaii's public school system is undergoing many important changes and enhancements to better ensure that our children will be ready to compete in a global arena upon graduation from high school. 

To better promote student success within the internationally-benchmarked common core standards, the department of education, within the parameters of existing support services, needs to ensure earlier detection of existing learning obstacles and implement more focused solutions to encourage the realization of student potential on a daily basis.

     In addition, Hawaii's educators and school administrators need more easily-accessible tools.  A web-based systemic comparison of variables that positively impact student performance, including a comparison of the most effective learning practices, together on one webpage, would be tremendously beneficial.

Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Establish a pilot project to assist students in achieving annual goals under the common core state standards; and

     (2)  Develop a plan to provide web-based data and information for each public school aimed at improving student outcomes.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-     Department website; student performance; pedagogy.  (a)  The board, in collaboration with stakeholders deemed necessary by the department, shall provide on a single webpage on the department's official website, information for each public school, including the following:

     (1)  A description specifying the nature and extent of community involvement at the school;

     (2)  The amount of federal and state fund allocations to the school;

     (3)  A description of the administrative organization;

     (4)  A concise explanation of the results of the smarter balanced state assessment, as available, and other student assessments required by the department;

     (5)  The average student-to-teacher ratio;

     (6)  Test results of the smarter balanced state assessment in English language arts and mathematics for each grade level tested, as available;

     (7)  The school's strategy for achieving common core state standards goals and targets; and

     (8)  The school's internal evaluation or assessment of the school's success in achieving common core state standards at current objective levels, including information concerning any perceived obstacles to such achievement.

     (b)  The board, in collaboration with stakeholders deemed necessary by the department, shall incorporate and maintain the following information on the department's intranet:

     (1)  General information on how an educator can reclassify for pay increases;

     (2)  Teacher support practices by school complex in cases where such practices are not implemented uniformly across the State, including information on teacher training and development, teacher assessment, effective teaching models or techniques, principal leadership style, instructional materials used, and information regarding other tools and techniques the department deems significant in assisting teachers to improve student performance outcomes relating to the common core state standards;

     (3)  A brief and adequate description from the department of general best practices based upon the most recent research on how students learn; and

     (4)  Information on teacher-parent communication practices and other crucial support services from governmental and non-governmental entities.

     (c)  The required information listed in subsections (a) and (b) shall not preclude the board or the department from including additional information deemed necessary."

     SECTION 3.  (a)  The board of education, in collaboration with necessary stakeholders identified by the department of education and the invited participation of the exclusive bargaining agent representing educational officers, shall develop a pilot program, to be implemented by the department of education, to assist students enrolled in kindergarten and fourth, eighth, and tenth grades to achieve the common core state standards at established annual objective goals.

     (b)  The program shall:

     (1)  Commence daily for a total period of time determined by the board, either aggregated together or in segments, within currently established instructional hours; and

     (2)  For each student who does not meet common core state standards, as evidenced by the smarter balanced state assessment and as determined by the public school the student attends:

          (A)  Identify challenge areas, which may include challenges within the school day or other external factors that adversely affect the student's performance;

          (B)  Assist and mentor the student to overcome the student's identified challenges;

          (C)  Follow-up with the student on the student's assignments to help promote assignment completion; and

          (D)  Assist the student, through direct tutorial assistance or otherwise, in content areas in which the student does not meet common core state standards.

     (c)  The pilot program shall be implemented for two school years beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.  The board of education, in collaboration with necessary stakeholders identified by the department of education and the invited participation of the exclusive bargaining agent representing educational officers, shall make necessary adjustments to improve the program after the first year. 

     (d)  If the board of education deems the pilot program successful, the pilot program shall be implemented for all grades beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

     (e)  The board of education shall submit a progress report, including findings and recommendations, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2016 and a final report, including findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation necessary to apply the program to all grade levels on a continuing basis, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2017.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the development and implementation of the pilot program and webpage required by this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  The appropriation made by section 4 of this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made; provided that all unencumbered moneys as of June 30, 2017, shall lapse to the credit of the general fund.

     SECTION 6.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Department of Education; Common Core; Data; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the Board of Education to develop and the Department of Education to implement a pilot program to assist students in achieving annual goals under the Common Core State Standards.  Requires the Board of Education to provide web-based data and information aimed at improving student outcomes.  Effective July 1, 2014.

 

 

 

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