Report Title:

Office of Educational Accountability; Department of Education

Description:

Establishes and specifies duties of an office of educational accountability and the school accountability advisory panel.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

341

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to educationAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

 

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Office of educational accountability; duties; advisory panel. (a) There is established an office of educational accountability, to be administratively attached to the board of education. This office shall be administered by an executive director to be appointed by the board of education. The board shall direct the superintendent of education to transfer such positions and funds as the board deems necessary to effectuate this section.

(b) The duties of the office shall be as follows:

(1) Monitor and evaluate the department's efforts to implement accountability systems as required by law, including the recommendations of the educational accountability working group established by Act 238, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000;

(2) Monitor and evaluate student assessment data to ascertain student achievement of the Hawaii content and performance standards;

(3) Identify best practices used by schools where student assessment indicates mastery of the Hawaii content and performance standards;

(4) Monitor and evaluate the department's and related state agencies efforts' in complying with state and federal laws relating to special education and related services for exceptional children, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq.), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. §§705, 794), the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.), the Felix consent decree (Civil No. 93-00367DAE), and the No Child Left Behind Act (P.L. 107-110); and

(5) Identify interagency practices between the department of education and other state government agencies that impede educational accountability and make recommendations to such practices to support student achievement.

The office, through the board of education, shall submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature with findings related to educational accountability and recommendations for changes to state laws and agency rules or procedures that impede educational accountability and student achievement.

(c) There is established the school accountability advisory panel to advise the board of education and the superintendent on matters relating to the administration and management of the public school system, excluding public libraries. The advisory panel shall be administratively attached to the board of education and shall work with the office of educational accountability in advising the board.

The school accountability advisory panel shall consist of thirteen members as follows: one representative from each of the seven school districts; one student representative; three members, one representing a public high school, one representing a public middle or intermediate school, and one representing a public elementary school; and two members of the public. The members shall be appointed by the chair of the board of education upon the recommendation of the full board. Members shall serve two-year terms, with no member serving more than three consecutive terms. The chair of the panel shall be selected from amongst its members."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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