STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1357

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: S.B. No. 1272
                                     S.D. 2
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No.
1272, S.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL ATTENDANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to change the age at which a
child may attend kindergarten from five years of age on or before
December 31 of the school year to five years of age on the first
day of the school year, unless the child meets readiness
standards determined by the Board of Education.

     An individual submitted testimony in support of the bill.
The Board of Education testified in support of the intent of the
bill, expressing a preference for H.B. No. 1088, H.D. 2, which
allows the Board of Education to determine the minimum age for
kindergarten and first grade entrance.  The Department of Human
Services and the Hawaii State Teachers Association commented on
the bill.

     Your Committee agrees with the Board of Education and has
amended the bill by deleting its contents and replacing it with
the substance of H.B. No. 1088, H.D. 2.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
1272, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1357
                                 Page 2

 
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1272, S.D.
2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Education,



                                   ______________________________
                                   KEN ITO, Chair