Bill Text: HI HB1817 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 1817 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Education; Public School Curriculum

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-21 - Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 3 [HB1817 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-HB1817-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1817
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the department of education lacks a clear and transparent process regarding the development of public school curriculum. The central goals of this measure are to:

(1) Increase transparency in the curriculum development process;

(2) Increase public participation and community involvement in Hawaii's public school system;

(3) Identify controversial issues in the early stages of curriculum development; and

(4) Improve and enhance the education experience.

The legislature further finds that as federal common core education policies take effect, the goal of the department is to transition toward a standardized curriculum for statewide use in all public schools. Consistent with federal goals and standards, state curriculum should not differ dramatically between schools. Therefore, requiring the review and evaluation of new curriculum is unlikely to create an undue burden on the responsible agency.

It is the intent of the legislature to establish a public curriculum review and approval process that will resolve any disputes over whether a given issue is "controversial" in the context of classroom discussions.

The purpose of this measure is to amend Section 302A-321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to require the board of education to review and approve all new or amended curriculum proposed by the department of education before the curriculum may be implemented in public schools.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

"[[]§302A-321[]] Standards-based curriculum. (a) When developing a standards-based curriculum and implementing it in a school or complex, including any school or complex pilot program, at the minimum, the curriculum shall:

(1) Be specific in its standards-based scope and sequence over a school year for each grade level and course;

(2) Be consistent in course content;

(3) Be aligned across all grade levels;

(4) Specifically address the state content and performance standards and related benchmark maps; and

(5) Be implemented in all appropriate classrooms in the school or complex [.], provided that the curriculum has been reviewed and approved by the board.

(b) School complexes may choose to develop an articulated and aligned K-12 standards-based curriculum in one or more of the following core content areas:

(1) Language arts;

(2) Mathematics;

(3) Science; and

(4) Social studies.

(d) School complexes that develop a standards-based curriculum shall use standards-based formative assessment tools to monitor student progress, not less than on a quarterly basis throughout the school year.

(e) School complexes shall develop rigorous classroom-based performance assessments [.] to, among other things, evaluate any new or amended standards-based curriculum that has been reviewed and approved by the board.

(f) School complexes may implement board approved software programs at the school level to help to align school course material with Hawaii content and performance and federal educational standards.

(g) Prior to the implementation of any new or amended standards-based curriculum, copies of the proposed curriculum shall be made available to the public, and shall be subject to the review and approval of the board in a public hearing that complies with the open meeting and notice requirements of chapter 92."

SECTION 3. The board may adopt rules under chapter 91 to implement this Act.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2015.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Education; Public School Curriculum

Description:

Requires the Board of Education to review and approve all curriculum proposed by the Department of Education prior to the curriculum's implementation in public schools.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.