STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1027

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   S.B. No. 242

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 242, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to improve digital literacy throughout Hawaii by:

 

     (1)  Establishing a timeline for public elementary, middle, and intermediate schools to offer computer science courses or computer science content;

 

     (2)  Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, requiring each public charter school that serves elementary, middle, intermediate, or high school students to offer computer science courses or content at a certain frequency; and

 

     (3)  Establishing the Computer Science Special Fund to provide grants to eligible entities to support computer science education.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Workforce Development Council, Hawaii Society for Technology in Education, HawaiiKidsCAN, Code.org, Computational Thinkers, Geeks for Good, and twelve individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from Microsoft.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that the global COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated a need to diversify the State's economy beyond tourism and has shown the importance of digital literacy.  Your Committee further finds that the economic disruption caused by the pandemic has increased the focus on computer science education as a key driver of economic growth and digital literacy.  Your Committee believes this measure will further promote computer science education in Hawaii and prepare students for fields related to computer science that have the potential to encourage job growth and innovation throughout the economy.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 242, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 242, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair