STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1182

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 53

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 53 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A STUDY ON THE PER-PUPIL FUNDING SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE SYSTEM FULFILLS ITS STATUTORY PURPOSE OF EQUALIZING OPERATIONAL FUNDING AMONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request a study on the per-pupil funding system for public charter schools to determine whether the system fulfills its statutory purpose of equalizing operational funding among public schools.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, State Public Charter School Commission, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Public Charter Schools Network, Native Hawaiian Education Council, and six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Legislative Reference Bureau.

 

     Your Committee finds that schools must be funded and supported adequately to be able to meet the educational needs of their students.  Your Committee further finds that public charter schools receive a majority of their funding through general fund appropriations based on a general fund per-pupil allotment.  Your Committee additionally finds that the purpose of the per-pupil funding system is to equalize operational funding among public schools.  Your Committee also finds that questions have been raised about whether the per-pupil funding system successfully provides equitable funding for public charter schools as compared to schools operated by the Department of Education.

 

     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. 53 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair