Bill Text: HI SB810 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: College and Career Readiness; Diploma

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [SB810 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SB810-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 476

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 810

       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 Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 810 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Education to establish high school diploma requirements that will provide students with the knowledge and skills to prepare them for postsecondary education or training programs as well as careers that offer a living wage and opportunities for advancement.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii system and the Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education (Hawaii P-20).  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Student Member of the Board of Education.  Your Committee notes that attached to Hawaii P-20's testimony were copies of 25 letters from community members in support of a college and career readiness diploma that were submitted to the Board of Education at its July 2010 meeting.

 

     Your Committee received testimony indicating that the full Board of Education has not addressed the issue of college and career readiness diplomas because there are concerns that:

 

     (1)  A new diploma implies that current diplomas are inadequate;

 

     (2)  Career and college readiness diplomas require an additional year of math which would take away one elective from students and would otherwise take away students' abilities to customize their education and remain engaged in school; and

 

     (3)  There is already a shortage of qualified math teachers in the State. 

 

     Despite these concerns, your Committee finds that revised diploma requirements would help ensure that students establish a strong academic foundation for success in college and in the workplace.  Your Committee further notes that the Department of Education would be responsible for developing and implementing the requirements, and should work to ensure that students are able to customize their education to reflect their career interests while fulfilling diploma requirements.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by requiring the Department of Education to report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012 on the effectiveness of the high school diploma requirements established pursuant to this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 810, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 810, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

 

____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair