Report Title:

Certificated High School; DOE; UOH

Description:

Allows the University of Hawaii, on a school-by-school basis, to delegate to certificated public schools the responsibility for determining which of the public schools' students may be admitted to the University of Hawaii without the need for entrance or placement examinations, or both.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

338

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

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 304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new subpart to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"  . Delegation of Admissions and

Placement Decisions

§304-A Purpose. The purpose of this subpart is to allow the University of Hawaii to delegate, and certificated public schools to assume, the responsibility—or primacy—for determining which public school students may be admitted to the University of Hawaii without the need for entrance or placement examinations, or both.

§304-B Establishment of certification program. (a) The University of Hawaii, on a school-by-school basis, may delegate to certificated public schools the responsibility for determining which of the public schools' students may be admitted to the University of Hawaii without the need for entrance or placement examinations, or both.

(b) Certificated public schools may assume the responsibility for determining which of the public schools' students may be admitted to the University of Hawaii without the need for entrance or placement examinations, or both.

(c) This section shall not be construed to require the University of Hawaii to grant, renew, reinstate, or restore the certificate of any public school that does not meet the standards enumerated in this subpart or adopted by the university in accordance with chapter 91.

This section shall not be construed to require public schools to assume the responsibility for determining which of the public schools' students may be admitted to the University of Hawaii without the need for entrance or placement examinations, or both.

(d) The University of Hawaii may deny, forfeit, revoke, suspend, or otherwise limit the certificate of any public school that does not meet the standards enumerated in this subpart or adopted by the university in accordance with chapter 91.

§304-C Certification of public schools. (a) Public schools desiring to assume the responsibility for determining which of the public schools' students may be admitted to the University of Hawaii without the need for entrance or placement examinations, or both, shall apply in writing to the University of Hawaii. The application shall be signed by the superintendent of education, the principal of the public school, and the chairperson of the school/community-based management council, if there is such a council at the school; or the local school board, if the school is a new century charter school or a new century conversion charter school.

(b) Upon the receipt of an application, the University of Hawaii shall conduct an investigation to determine whether a public school meets the standards enumerated in this subpart or adopted by the university in accordance with chapter 91.

If the University of Hawaii determines that the public school meets these standards, then the university shall grant, renew, reinstate, or restore the certificate.

Failure to meet the standards enumerated in this subpart or adopted by the university in accordance with chapter 91 shall be cause for denying, forfeiting, revoking, suspending, or otherwise limiting a certificate.

(c) The University of Hawaii may issue a full certificate if a public school exceeds the standards enumerated in this subpart or adopted by the university in accordance with chapter 91. The University of Hawaii may issue a provisional certificate if a public school meets but does not exceed the standards enumerated in this subpart or adopted by the university in accordance with chapter 91. A full certificate shall be valid for not less than four years but not more than six years. A provisional certificate shall be valid for not less than one year but not more than three years. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the ability of the University of Hawaii to deny, forfeit, revoke, suspend, or otherwise limit a certificate for cause.

§304-D Standards for certification. The University of Hawaii, in accordance with chapter 91, shall adopt standards for the certification of public schools based on:

(1) The percentage of students who are at the proficient level of academic achievement in mathematics, reading, and language arts;

(2) The percentage of students who are above the proficient level of academic achievement in mathematics, reading, and language arts;

(3) The percentage of teachers who meet state qualifications and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas they teach;

(4) The percentage of school administrators who possess a valid Hawaii state department of education school administrator certificate;

(5) The percentage of paraprofessionals who have:

(A) Completed at least two years of postsecondary study;

(B) Obtained an associate's or higher degree; or

(C) Met a rigorous standard of quality; and demonstrated their knowledge of, and the ability to assist in, instructing reading, writing, and mathematics;

(6) The percentage of students who are enrolled in remedial mathematics or reading/language arts classes, or both, while attending the University of Hawaii; and

(7) The percentage of students who are placed on academic probation, suspended, or dismissed while attending the University of Hawaii."

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A-    Graduates of certificated high schools. A student who graduates from a certificated high school and who is denied admission to the University of Hawaii may attend any high school in the State until the student arrives at twenty years of age, subject to the availability of space at the school and good behavior by the student. For the purposes of this section, the term "certificated high school" refers to a public school that is responsible for determining which of the school's students may be admitted to the University of Hawaii without the need for entrance or placement examinations, or both, in accordance with chapter 304, subpart  ."

SECTION 3. The University of Hawaii and the department of education shall establish a joint pilot project to certificate at least one public high school in each departmental school district before the commencement of the 2004-2005 school year. The president of the University of Hawaii and the superintendent of education shall submit joint progress reports to the legislature not less than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session until there is at least one certificated public high school in each departmental school district.

SECTION 4. It is the intent of this Act not to jeopardize or impair the accreditation of the University of Hawaii, and to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to effectuate this intent, the governor may modify the strict provisions of this Act, but shall promptly report any such modification with reasons therefor to the legislature at its next session thereafter for review by the legislature.

SECTION 5. Pursuant to article X, section 6 of the state constitution, the legislature finds and declares that this Act constitutes a law of statewide concern.

SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 2003-2004, to carry out the purposes of this Act. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii.

SECTION 8. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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