Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Office of School Redesign

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for an office of school redesign in the college of education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2444

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there is compelling evidence, both locally and nationally, that high school students who are in a small school setting tend to reach higher levels of achievement, are more likely to form personal relationships, are more engaged in school activities, and are more likely to attend college or have post secondary plans after graduation.  The legislature finds that there is a direct connection between how a student views the learning experience and school size.  The legislature declares that if our high schools are to provide the best educational opportunities possible for all students, the size issue must be addressed.

     The legislature further finds that today's high schools were designed over sixty years ago to meet the needs of another age.  Even if they work exactly as designed, these schools cannot teach Hawaii's students what they need to know.  The legislature further finds that schools are needed that can meet the needs of the twenty-first century learner.  Learners today will have to depend on their ability to work with others, to problem solve, to apply academic learning to realistic problems, and engage in learning experiences that will have an impact on their lives.

     The legislature declares that it is imperative that the large high schools create smaller learning communities within the larger setting.  Small learning communities must be designed to help students feel that they are part of a defined group, they are connected to a caring and supportive adult, their individual learning style is being addressed, and they are allowed to explore their interests.

     The purpose of this Act is to create an office of school redesign at the college of education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  The office of school redesign shall provide technical support to secondary schools as they engage themselves in redesign efforts to create more personalized learning environments as well as rigorous and relevant curriculum and instruction with a focus on supporting transitions to post secondary education and careers.  The legislature finds that a clear link shall exist between the school redesign initiatives sponsored and supported by the office of school redesign and the three goals in the department of education strategic plan.  The goals play a critical role in providing the system with common understandings and clearly identifies what the department of education considers important.  The three goals are:

     (1)  Improve student achievement through standards-based education;

     (2)  Provide comprehensive support for all students; and

     (3)  Continuously improve performance and quality.

The office of school redesign shall be engaged in a comprehensive effort to provide redesign support, technical assistance, research-based information, and both financial and human resources to all public secondary schools, public charter schools, and independent secondary schools in Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  Office of school redesign; functions.  (a)  There shall be established at the University of Hawaii at Manoa the office of school redesign, to be administratively attached to the college of education.  The affairs and operations of the office shall be administered by a coordinator appointed by and responsible to the dean of the college of education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  The office coordinator shall provide quarterly progress reports on the scope of services being offered by the office of school redesign to an executive committee, consisting of the dean of the college of education of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the superintendent of education, the assistant superintendent of the office of curriculum, instruction and student support of the department of education, and the director of the curriculum research and development group at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

     The executive committee shall establish an advisory board to the office of school redesign.  The advisory board shall represent the various stakeholders in the redesign process, including but not limited to representatives of the public school system, charter and private schools students, parents, community colleges, and business industry.

     (b)  The office shall:

     (1)  Provide services as requested by educational organizations for the planning and development of redesign plans, utilizing the most recent research and practices, and serve and support collaborative communication efforts on school redesign;

     (2)  Serve as a "clearinghouse" for the identification and distribution of national and international "promising practices" to secondary schools through a coordinated communication system and data warehouse;

     (3)  Coordinate professional development activities such as the high school middle school institutes to facilitate secondary school redesign;

     (4)  Develop partnerships with educational departments and organizations engaged in high school redesign to provide supplemental and support services; and serve as a consultant to schools on their redesign efforts; and

     (5)  Coordinate the development of a high school and middle school compact in partnership with the department of education state student activities program.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $300,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the University of Hawaii to establish the office of school redesign as part of the college of education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________