Bill Text: HI SB692 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Education.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [SB692 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-SB692-Introduced.html
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
692 |
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to education.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION
1. The legislature finds that the
Reinventing Education Act of 2004 (Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004)
established a weighted student formula to allocate moneys to schools according to the different costs of
educating students with different needs.
Despite the intended equitable distribution of funds, the legislature
finds that the weighted student formula has placed small, remote schools at a
disadvantage. In the case of Hāna
high and elementary school, the budgetary shortfall has resulted in the loss of
several well-qualified teachers and has threatened the school's ability to
offer minimum course requirements for students to earn high school
diplomas. If Hāna high school is
unable to offer its students the requisite courses for graduation, those
students will have to endure a nearly forty-mile, two-hour drive to the next
closest public high school, King Kekaulike high school.
The legislature finds that despite the current economic situation, remote schools should be funded to retain the minimal personnel and resources necessary to graduate students. One way to address this is to allow these schools to receive supplemental funding based on their remote status.
The purpose of this Act is to authorize supplemental categorical funding for remote schools.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- Remote schools categorical funding. (a)
For the purpose of this section, "remote school" means any
public school, as defined in section 302A-101, except a charter school governed
by chapter 302D, that is a high school:
(1) Located at
least a one-hour drive away from the next nearest public high school; or
(2) Located on the
island of Lanai, Molokai, or Niihau;
provided
that if a high school is combined with an elementary, middle, intermediate, or
other lower level of schooling, that entire school shall be deemed a high
school for the purpose of this section.
(b)
Subject to legislative appropriations, a remote school may receive
supplemental categorical funding to support additional instructional and
support staff.
(c)
Any supplemental categorical funding provided to a remote school
pursuant to this section shall be in addition to the allocation determined under
the weighted student formula that is made to the remote school."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for remote schools categorical funding pursuant to this Act.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.
INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Weighted Student Formula; Remote Schools; Hāna High and Elementary School; Supplemental Categorical Funding; Appropriation
Description:
Authorizes allocation of supplemental categorical funding to remote schools, subject to legislative appropriation. Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.