STAND. COM. REP. NO. 623

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1553

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1553 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to ensure the quality of education for Hawaii's public students by making permanent the temporary statutory provisions that:

 

     (1)  Reduced from four years to three years the maximum employment period for unlicensed teachers hired on an emergency basis by the Department of Education; and

 

     (2)  Require unlicensed teachers hired on an emergency basis prior to July 1, 2008, to attain licensure within four years from the date of employment.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Christine K. Sorensen, Dean, College of Education, University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 

     Your Committee finds that by reducing the maximum employment period for unlicensed teachers hired on an emergency basis, this measure seeks to bring the Department of Education's hiring practices in compliance with federal standards and ensure that all education professionals, including emergency hires, are held to high standards.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1553, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1553, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair