STAND. COM. REP. NO. 290

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1659

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1659 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to enable the Department of Education charter schools to receive federal grant monies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Education and Governor.

Your Committee finds that in order to ensure that a parent or guardian is part of the team to determine programs and services for a student with a disability attending a public charter school, section 302A-1188, Hawaii Revised Statutes, must be aligned with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The alignment will further ensure that the State will continue to receive federal grant monies to assist each student to receive an appropriate education.

After further discussion, your Committee has amended this measure by providing that if the new century charter school is unable to provide required services, the department shall provide the services according to the student's individualized educational program or parents. Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1659, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1659, 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 Military Affairs,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair