Report Title:

Department of Education; Online Learning Task Force

 

Description:

Directs department of education to implement recommendations of the online learning task force.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2971

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to education.

 

 

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

 


SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the report of the online learning task force established by Act 275, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, provides a plan to the department of education for expanding online learning opportunities for students across the State.  Online learning is a strategic vehicle that will define the department as a twenty-first century learning institution.

The purpose of this Act is to direct the department of education to adopt and implement recommendations and strategic goals contained in the task force's report.

SECTION 2.  The department of education shall adopt the following recommendations of the online learning task force to:

     (1)  Follow a two-pronged delivery model of services and continue to operate the Myron B. Thompson full time cyber academy as a charter school, as well as establish a Hawaii virtual learning network for supplemental programs;

     (2)  Establish a task force to review the State's education policies, requirements, and oversight functions for congruency with the needs and potential of online learning;

     (3)  Allow both parents and students to access information about online curriculum;

     (4)  Develop and establish a mentoring and training program for online teachers, collaborating with the University of Hawaii department of educational technology as needed;

     (5)  Develop and establish an online training program to increase the number of highly qualified teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals;

     (6)  Provide support and incentives to teachers who become qualified to teach online courses and for teachers who utilize online courses to incorporate project-based and work-relevant learning;

     (7)  Standardize the procedure for granting credits for online coursework;

     (8)  Assist schools with online standards-based college preparatory curriculum;

     (9)  Expand credit recovery courses and remediation courses;

    (10)  Emphasize online science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses and aggressively work to offer certain online courses through the department, including algebra I, English I, eighth-grade math and English, and career guidance;

    (11)  Expand distance education through interactive digital television;

    (12)  Establish an online course and resource center to include training modules and other support resources;

    (13)  Establish online and in-person tutoring and mentoring programs for students, partnering with the University of Hawaii as needed; and

    (14)  Develop recommendations on appropriate funding mechanisms.

     The above recommendations shall be implemented by the department in consultation with the full task force recommendations.  The department shall systematically establish the infrastructure for online learning based on institution type, in the following order of priority:  high schools (including charter high schools), middle and elementary schools, adult community schools, charter middle and elementary schools, the University of Hawaii system (particularly the community colleges), private secondary and post-secondary institutions (for a fee), and adult populations for remedial education and upgrading of workforce skill.

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

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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