STAND. COM. REP. NO.  534

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 224

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 224, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to more accurately assess student achievement in the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program by requiring the Department of Education to develop specified assessments in the Hawaiian language for specified subject areas and grade levels.

 

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Oahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and several individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  An individual provided testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Education Student Assessment Section and a few individuals provided comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Education, with the assistance of the Hawaiian language community, to establish procedures to develop annual assessments for specified subject areas and grade levels for purposes of educational accountability under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;

 

     (2)  Requiring that the annual assessments, among other things, be:

 

          (A)  Aligned with the vision, mission, and programmatic goals of the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program;

 

          (B)  Aligned with applicable state academic content and achievement standards;

 

          (C)  Compliant with federal requirements; and

 

          (D)  Administered annually commencing with the 2015-2016 school year;

 

     (3)  Deleting the appropriations provisions;

 

     (4)  Changing its effective date to upon its approval; and

 

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 224, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 224, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

FAYE P. HANOHANO, Chair