STAND. COM. REP. NO.  461

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 612

      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 H.B. No. 612 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require the Superintendent of Education, or the Superintendent's designee, to serve as the summer learning coordinator and coordinate all school based programs for children; and

 

     (2)  Require the summer learning coordinator to leverage certain federal funds for school-based summer programs.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Waipahu Elementary School; Kahoomiki; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks; Hawaii Afterschool Alliance; After-School All-Stars Hawaii; Hui for Excellence in Education; Parents And Children Together; and seven individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Human Services, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that learning loss caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic needs to be addressed by providing strong support to public school and charter students.  Your Committee further finds that the summer months need to be utilized to provide coordinated summer programs that will close student achievement gaps, address student mental health, promote physical activity, and ensure child safety.  This measure will provide summer activities that will provide coordinated services that avoid duplication of efforts, strategically leverage federal and state funding, and ensure equity to target the most impacted and vulnerable students.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing language specifying the type of federal funds that the summer learning coordinator shall work with the Department of Human Services to leverage; 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 H.B. No. 612, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 612, 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