STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1616

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.R. No. 55

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.R. No. 55 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A K-16 MODEL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to study the feasibility of establishing a K-16 model.

Your Committee heard testimony in support of the measure from the University of Hawaii and in opposition from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds the K-16 model to be a promising, common sense, and cost-effective means of education reform because it aligns K-12 testing, curriculum, and skill development with grades 13-16 at the college level to ensure a seamless continuum of educational service delivery. An appropriate first step to establishing such a system in Hawaii would be to link the student information systems of the Department of Education and the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended the measure by:

(1) Adding general findings at the beginning of the concurrent resolution on the purpose of education;

(2) Requesting the Department of Education and University of Hawaii to study the feasibility, benefits, and costs associated with linking their individual student information systems to create a linked K-16 database; and

(3) Aligning the purposes of the study with the goals of the Department of Education's September 1999 "Strategic Plan for Standards-based Reform: Report of Progress" as they relate to school governance, structure, and organizational development.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 55, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 55, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair