Bill Text: HI SB3156 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 3156 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating To Education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-03-09 - Referred to LHE/HSH, FIN, referral sheet 36 [SB3156 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SB3156-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3156
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part . statewide transition success network

§302A-A Short title. This part may be cited as the Hawaii Transition Success Network Act.

302A-B Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society. Preparing students having disabilities for success after high school experiences in postsecondary education, vocational training, and employment in an integrated setting at a competitive wage is an essential element of our state policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals having disabilities.

Currently, not all students having disabilities may receive the full range of appropriate services and support in high school to prepare them for a successful transition to opportunities after high school. The Hawaii two-track option for exiting high school can limit the opportunity for high school students to access job-preparation and job-related experiences, especially those with developmental or intellectual disabilities. Some high school students having disabilities, when exiting high school, fail to meet set eligibility criteria, preventing them from accessing publicly-funded services that could contribute to transition success. The lack of adequate resources and coordination among a variety of state agencies and community organizations within some schools may limit the high school student having a disability from a full range of services for a successful transition after high school.

The legislature further finds that the State needs to have high expectations for high school students having disabilities, especially those having developmental or intellectual disabilities, and ensure their access to the general education curriculum in the regular classroom, to the maximum extent possible, in order to meet developmental goals that have been established for all children and be prepared to lead productive and independent adult lives. The State also needs to:

(1) Strengthen the role and responsibility of parents and other family members, by partnering with them in the education of their children at school and at home, through a proactive investment in family engagement by schools and communities;

(2) Coordinate what is contained in this part with other improvement efforts related to high school students having disabilities;

(3) Provide appropriate special education and related services and aids and support in the regular classroom, to high school students having disabilities; and

(4) Offer ethnic and culturally appropriate interventions when assisting high school students having disabilities make a successful transition after high school.

To ensure the graduation rates for high school students having disabilities at public schools and public charter schools, the State needs to provide effective transition services to promote successful post-school employment or education.

The purpose of this part is to:

(1) Establish a statewide transition success network for high school students having disabilities at public schools and public charter schools; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the establishment of the statewide transition success network.

§302A-C Statewide transition success network; established. (a) The department, through the board and its superintendent, shall establish and administer the statewide transition success network.

(b) The superintendent shall:

(1) Disburse funds according to section 302A-D;

(2) By October 1, 2021, appoint a statewide transition coordinator to collect and monitor progress on high school needs assessments and transition plans for high schools authorized under this part, address technical assistance requests from complex area transition centers, and manage the state level advisory council;

(3) By January 1, 2022, designate the existing interagency planning group as the statewide advisory council consisting of representatives from the complex area transition centers' advisory councils, community organizations, employers, families, and school personnel with interest in, responsibility for, or experience in assisting high school students having disabilities to make successful transitions after high school to postsecondary education or employment; and

(4) Beginning in 2021, use the annual footsteps to transition fair to highlight the activities and results accomplished by the statewide transition success network.

(1) Establish a transition center by school year 2021-2022;

(2) By October 1, 2021, appoint a coordinator to assist high schools in the school district implement their transition plans described in subsection (d), oversee the consideration of the implications of annual needs assessment described in paragraph (6), for the purpose of assisting high school students having disabilities prepare for and have successful transitions to postsecondary education or employment at a competitive wage in an integrated setting, and manage the district transition center advisory council;

(3) By January 1, 2022, allow the community children's council to also function as the advisory council for the purpose of this part consisting of representatives from high school designated liaisons, state agencies, community organizations, employers, families, and school personnel with interest in, responsibility for, or experience in assisting high school students having disabilities to make successful transitions after high school to postsecondary education or employment. Within the advisory council, there shall be an interagency coordinating committee to assist high schools in the district implement their school plans described in subsection (d);

(4) Direct the coordinator of the transition center to work with high schools in its district to implement a transition plan for each high school described in subsection (d);

(5) Direct the coordinator to work with the university of Hawaii center on disability studies to support students at integrated work sites; provided that the university of Hawaii center on disability studies shall provide job coaches and serve as an intermediary between the schools and the businesses that will work with students having disabilities; and

(6) Each year, beginning in school year 2021-2022, undertake a needs assessment of the transition issues of importance to families and educators by November 1 and share the results with high school principals and advisory councils within two months.

(d) Each high school shall:

(1) By March 31, 2022, submit its plan for participation in the statewide transition success network to its district transition center coordinator for the following school year to be reviewed for consistency with this part; and

(2) According to the timing provided for in paragraph (1), develop an annual transition plan that reflects benefits and opportunities for all students in that school who have disabilities; provided that the plans include:

(A) The number of students having disabilities who are individualized education programs, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. section 791) plans, or in the process of determination for eligibility for either;

(B) Data regarding the most recent area complex annual needs assessment;

(D) A description of the extent to which a school receiving an allotment under this part will coordinate and offer access to training, services and support, beyond what is currently available for students having disabilities, related to academic material, access to customized employment opportunities, soft skill preparation needed in higher education, employment, or other community settings, job readiness, job sampling, internships, and apprenticeships, self-determination, skill building in communication and relationship building, independent living, financial literacy, and technology literacy, job related clubs, coaching through simulations and real life experiences, including job fairs and higher education recruitment events at individual schools and district level events, benefits planning, and access to service and support from other state agencies.

Any service or support offered to students with disabilities, supported by funds through this part, shall be included in the transition plan in the individualized education programs mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. section 791) plans of these students.

(e) The department may adopt rules under chapter 91, necessary for the purposes of this part.

302A-D Responsibilities related to distribution of funding. (a) The superintendent shall distribute funds to each district to create a statewide transition success network as directed in section 302A-C(b).

(b) Each district who receives funds through this part shall use funds as directed in section 302A-C(c).

(d) To encourage and promote collaboration among high schools and complex areas, education officials may undertake activities that benefit from pooling of funds, including but not limited to partnering activities with middle schools, families, community organizations, and employers.

302A-E Authorization of funding; distribution. (a) The superintendent shall have the responsibility to receive and distribute funds according to this part.

(b) Ten per cent of funding appropriated in school year 2021-2022 and thereafter for the purpose of this part shall be allocated to the university of Hawaii center on disability studies to implement the provisions in section 302A-C(d).

(c) The superintendent may reserve up to five per cent of any funds appropriated for purposes of this part to implement the provisions of this part; provided that:

(1) Remaining funds shall be distributed to school districts proportionally, based on the number of students having disabilities who attend high school in the previous school year in each high school;

(2) Each high school shall receive an allotment consistent with its school transition plan budget; and

(3) Each school district may use excess funds for district wide technical assistance initiatives recommended by the district advisory council."

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ for fiscal year 2020-2021 or so much thereof as may be necessary to be used solely for purposes consistent with this Act, which may include expenditures related to personnel, consulting services, stipends, travel, convening, and other appropriate implementation and evaluation obligations; provided that the sum shall be allocated as follows:

(1) $ to initiate a pilot program of the provisions of 302A-C(c) in one high school; and

(2) $ to begin start-up and technical assistance activities for participation in the statewide transition success network.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. In codifying the new sections added by section 1 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that section 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Statewide Transition Success Network; Students; Disabilities; Established; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a statewide transition success network for high school students with disabilities starting fiscal year 2021‑2022, with a pilot project to begin in fiscal year 2020‑2021. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

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