STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1391

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.R. No. 54

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R. No. 54 entitled:

 

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, TO PREPARE A STUDY THAT EXAMINES AND PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS ON IMPROVING THE RETENTION OF TEACHERS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to address the shortage of public school teachers within the Department of Education.

 

     More specifically, this measure requests that the Legislative Reference Bureau, in consultation with the Department of Education and University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education, prepare a study that examines and provides recommendations on improving the retention of teachers within the Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association and the Hui for Excellence in Education.  Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee finds that there is a systemic shortage of public school teachers within the Department of Education, which is exacerbated by multiple factors, including a limited pool of qualified applicants and the challenge of retaining teachers once employed.  Your Committee further finds that the retention of highly qualified teachers in public schools is critical to achieving long-standing educational goals and academic standards set by the State.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 54 and recommends its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair