Report Title:

Education Reform; University of Hawaii

Description:

Establishes the center for school redesign as part of the college of education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. Makes a $          appropriation for the center. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2426

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to university of hawaii.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds compelling evidence that high school students who are in small schools consisting of fewer than five hundred students reach higher levels of achievement and are more likely to attend college. This is particularly true if the small schools create learning communities designed to help all students feel like they are part of the group and if these learning communities address each student's individual learning styles and interests.

The purpose of this Act is to create a center for school redesign at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The center will provide technical support to public secondary schools as they develop small schools and learning communities.

SECTION 2. Chapter 304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§304-A Center for school redesign. There is established at the University of Hawaii, Manoa campus, the center for school redesign to be administratively attached to the college of education. The affairs and operations of the center shall be administered by a director appointed by and responsible to the dean of the college of education of the University of Hawaii, Manoa. The center shall draw on existing personnel within the state government insofar as possible for necessary supplementation. Permanent staff shall be covered by chapter 76 or section 304-13, as may be appropriate. The center director and dean of the college of education shall report annually to the legislature, the board of regents, and the board of education on the center's progress in facilitating creation of small high schools.

§304-B Functions. The center shall:

(1) Provide technical support to public secondary schools as they develop small schools and learning communities;

(2) Emphasize identifying and providing training related to essential components of successful small schools, and creating models for new and emerging small schools;

(3) Lead state advocacy efforts for the creation of small redesigned secondary schools;

(4) Create connections and professional development opportunities for learning and sharing among local change agents;

(5) Participate with national networks of practitioners and researchers involved in launching or redesigning schools and the school system;

(6) Create a Hawaii faculty and research cadre that will be involved in developing, documenting, and disseminating understandings about school redesign; and

(7) Foster communication among educators, decision-makers, and the greater community to advance secondary school redesign.

§304-C Advisory committee. The center shall convene an advisory committee consisting of teachers and administrators from the department of education, college of education faculty, and other major stakeholders. The purpose of the advisory committee shall be to:

(1) Provide feedback and direction to the overall operation of the center;

(2) Assist in communicating with constituents within and external to the department of education and college of education; and

(3) Assist in obtaining financial and other support for the center."

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 2004-2005, to establish the center for school redesign as part of the college of education of the University of Hawaii.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 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 6. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that sections 3 and 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2050.