STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3369

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 80

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 80 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ON THE CORRELATION BETWEEN CHILDREN WHO ARE LATE-BORN AND THE HIGH SCHOOL DROP OUT RATE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Education to conduct research on the correlation between children who are late-born and the high school drop out rate.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Early Learning Council and Hawaii Association for the Education of Young People.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee finds that late-born children, defined as those born after August 1, are younger than their counterparts when entering kindergarten.  There is concern over whether they are developmentally ready to enter kindergarten in comparison to their older counterparts.  Your Committee finds that research is necessary to determine whether there is a correlation between being late-born and educational outcomes and the extent to which any correlation exists.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Broadening the scope of research to look at educational outcomes for late-born children rather than limiting the research to the high school drop out rate;

 

     (2)  Specifying that the Department of Education's report may additionally include late-born children's access to early learning or preschool programs, ability to read at the appropriate grade level, and specifically identifying any special needs;

 

     (3)  Requesting the Department of Education to collaborate with the Governor's Early Learning Coordinator, institutions of higher learning, and the regional educational laboratory in conducting its research;

 

     (4)  Amending the title accordingly; and

 

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 80, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 80, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

 

 

 

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair