Hawaii-2014-SCR128-Amended

WHEREAS, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations are critical to economic competitiveness due to their linkage to innovation, economic growth, and productivity; and

WHEREAS, occupations in STEM fields are the second-fastest growing in the nation, yet studies are predicting that as many as three million STEM-related jobs will be unfilled due to lack of preparation beginning in 2018; and

WHEREAS, recent mathematics scores from the Program for International Student Assessment, an international assessment that measures fifteen-year-old students' reading, mathematics, and science literacy, show the United States average to be thirteen points below the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's average; and

WHEREAS, a 2012 Career Ready Study commissioned by the Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education shows that only thirty-eight percent of surveyed employers in Hawaii found that new hires were extremely or adequately prepared in mathematics skills; and

WHEREAS, one of the University of Hawaii's strategic measures is to increase the number of University of Hawaii degrees in STEM fields, in part through its STEM First Initiative; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature has provided support to the University of Hawaii for its STEM First Initiative; and

WHEREAS, there are large sums of funds from federal, state, and private sources that contribute to STEM education and outreach in the State; and

WHEREAS, there is a general lack of coordination amongst the numerous providers of STEM outreach, professional development for teachers, and other STEM initiatives, resulting in a duplication of efforts and inefficiencies in servicing students and educators; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the House of Representatives concurring, that the University of Hawaii is requested to create a task force to develop a plan to increase the number of students in STEM majors relevant to industry demands in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include the following members:

(1) The President of the University of Hawaii System, or the President's designee;

(2) The Superintendent of Education, or the Superintendent's designee;

(3) The Executive Director of the Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education, or the Executive Director's designee;

(4) Members of the faculty from science, math, engineering, or other relevant technology fields representing the various campuses of the University of Hawaii, to be selected by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; and

(5) Members representing various sectors from STEM industries and business in the State, to be selected by the Governor; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to:

(1) Conduct a mapping exercise and report on current initiatives that impact STEM readiness for students, including initiatives that increase preparedness of Department of Education and University of Hawaii students for STEM majors or for STEM careers, including the type of initiatives, source of funding, targeted student groups, numbers of students in the targeted student groups, and proven impact;

(2) Establish findings and recommend solutions to increase the readiness of students to pursue STEM fields; and

(3) Explore and identify trends in workforce needs in various STEM fields in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii submit a report to the Legislature of the task force's findings, recommendations, overall plan, and any proposed legislation no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, President of the University of Hawaii, Superintendent of Education, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and Executive Director of Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education.

Report Title:

STEM; University of Hawaii; Task Force

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	128
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII