STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1232

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 598

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Education and Economic Development and Taxation, to which was referred H.B. No. 598, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish an Online Learning Task Force to develop a systematic plan to expand opportunities for online learning to enhance the learning experiences of students throughout the State.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education and one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that the world today revolves around the use and knowledge of computers and other means of advanced technology.  To be competitive in today's job market and today's world, one must be familiar and proficient with current technology, including the use of the Internet and the opportunities that it provides.  Your Committees further find that the Internet provides the opportunity for students to participate in online learning and benefit from the many advantages that are unavailable in a conventional classroom learning environment.  The Department of Education currently operates E-School or Electronic School, which is an online supplementary program run by the Advanced Technology Research Branch, Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Support, that offers college preparatory courses for high school students statewide.  E-schools are a rapidly growing field of education designed to meet the increasing demands of students, teachers, and parents.

 

     This measure establishes an Online Learning Task Force to develop a plan for the expansion of online learning opportunities for students throughout the State.  Your Committees believe that the establishment of a task force comprised of interested stakeholders and users will enable the expansion of the E-School program and online learning efforts throughout the State.  However, your Committees also believe that projections of costs and means for realizing desired outcomes are necessary in achieving maximum success.

 

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Including the following as members on the task force:

 

          (A)  The Vice Chancellor for Students of the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and

 

          (B)  A representative from the Hawaii Educational Networking Consortium;

 

     (2)  Requiring the task force's plan to address specific objectives and include cost projections and methods for achieving desired outcomes;

 

     (3)  Removing the reference that exempts the expenditure of funds for the task force operations from Chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Economic Development and Taxation that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 598, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 598, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Economic Development and Taxation,

 

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair