001good afternoon welcome to the senate committee on education today is Wednesday March 13 2024 3:00 p.m. and we are in hearing room 229 this meeting including the audio and video of remote participants is being streamed Live on YouTube you will find links to viewing options for all Senate meetings on the live and On Demand video page of the legislator website this Zoom meeting and YouTube live stream event will include the 3:00 p.m. agenda for this committee on education in the unlikely event that we must abruptly end this hearing due to Major technical difficulties the committee will reconvene to discuss any outstanding business on Friday March 15 20 24 at 3:01 p.m. in room 229 and a public notice will be posted on the legislature's website I'd like to take this time to remind our testifiers
002that due to time restrictions on our hearings we will be limiting testimony to 1 minute per testifier per bill for people participating remotely please remain muted and video disabled until shortly before it is your turn to testify when I call your name unmute yourself and your time will begin after your minute is completed staff will mute you so that we can move this hearing along in an orderly and efficient manner members please hold any questions until testimony on all measures is heard thank you and we will begin with item House Bill 2242 HD2 two relating to education and this appropriates funds for full-time equivalent career foundations certificate program teachers for McKinley Community School for adults House Bill [Music] and so this bill um appropriate funds for four full-time equivalent career Foundation Foundation certificate program teach
003teach for the mckeny community school for adults um okay so to testify we have anyone here to testify Kashi yeah is there someone here for ke yes please Aloha Cher kidani and members of the committee and Terry usima testifying on behalf of the Department of Education the department stands on its written testimony which provides comments on this measure thank you for the opportunity to testify on this bill so Terry can you come forward please so can you provide the committee for the sake of the audience uh de's testimony you're in support of the bill but yes um we're we're in support of um having the additional Personnel for the Community Schools um however our Our Testimony is comments because um we we're following some guidance from the Ways and Means Committee as well as the
004department of budget and finance and this wasn't included as part of the governor's budget okay and do you know what that amount was uh 380,000 for four positions Senator herard do you have any questions no thank you Terry thank you okay is there anyone else here to testify on this measure please lello chair Senator also to HS president I just wanted to mention that uh the heal draft 2 I believe blanked out the position so if you can restore it back to four that would be greatly appreciated all who blanked it out Finance house finance and house finance yeah thank you um anyone else here to testify on this B area okay any questions no good thank you moving on to item number two House Bill 2074 HD2 Kayon positions this is for a total
005of 13 positions three full-time equivalent curriculum Specialists and 10 full-time equivalent classroom teachers for a cost of 1.44 5 million okay to testify k [Applause] relists aloh chair Senator Richards kit uh I'm the director of advocacy with the office of wi Affairs and we stand in strong support of this measure we just want to note that being able to support the growth of kapuni is important not just for the language which is vital for our Hawaiian people but is also vital for the state's obligations um to native Hawaiian Mahalo and we're here to answer any questions Mahalo thank you next testify Felicia vus good afternoon chair kadani and Senator Richards my name is Felicia Vios I'm the executive director for the Hawaii teacher Standards Board uh speaking on behalf of the board we submitted written
006testimony and strong support of HB 2074 HD2 and we stand on a written testimony I just would like to add that oay has been been and continues to be a great partner with htsb we continue to utilize their expertise when it comes to teacher lure in the Hawaiian licens Fields I'd also like to add that htsb is looking to develop teacher apprenticeship Pathways for Hawaiian language immersion or kaiapuni teachers and the support and knowledge from oay is going to play a vital role in building that pathway we appreciate the committee's consideration of funding O's positions thank you thank you Felicia OA did you have testimony please well chair Senator OU hsda president same thing with this one house finance blanked out positions so we would really appreciate if you could restore the 10 classroom positions
007and the three specialist positions they're vitally important as we continue to grow our kapuni throughout the state Al thank you sir next to testify Kyle nakasa um my name is Kyle Naka I think that um you may have heard from me already I am a former Kum ha American teacher I was a science teacher at um I am here to remind you about um some of the testimony I gave the last time when the Senate Bill version of this bill went through uh this committee um and at the time I talked about the unique challenges that kumuk kayuni face um in these small schools uh when I was a science teacher the um I was in charge of all of seventh to 12th grade science I was also a part-time teacher at where the one
008science teacher was in charge of all of uh High School science so that's all the subjects biology chemistry Fant anald of and physics um these are burdens that uh other kumu at any other school any you know ordinary school don't face so you might have a science teacher for biology and a separate science science teacher for chemistry these teachers can share curriculum materials talk about their challenges and things kumu Kaki Hawaiian emercy School teachers do not have that luxury um and as a kumu there I had such a hard time because of that um and perhaps that's part of the reason I'm not teaching anymore um but I'm also here to urge you um so beyond I mean this is ordinarily something that I think would be very urgent and important to pass but I
009think I want to urge you to pass it this year because um as noted in the committee notes from the house finance committee um the funding for these 133 positions um that was previously federally funded through pandemic a funds will disappear that's 13 positions that'll disappear um 13 kumu who will no longer have jobs and if they find other jobs at the many other option they have they might move to they might move to many other things I mean if they like me move to the military they might find that they can make more than they ever would have made as a teacher um and with the loss of that that's the loss of so many jobs uh so many kumu so much training that went into building up these kumu um so please do
010not let this pass I know there's so many other urgent needs but um you know I've been sitting in the hearings for all of the other ones there so many bills that I want to support myself despite that I think that this should be made a priority this is something that needs to pass this session mahalan for your support mahalan for passing the other version of the bill unanimously last time um I ask that you please make all of the whatever concessions whatever compromises need to be made to pass this bill this session M thank you Kyle is there anyone else here wishing to testify on this measure Al chair and Senator sang with the hoi Department of Education Office of ha education we apologize that our testimony was submitted late um excuse me um
011the department stands in support of this bill and is available if you have any questions Mahalo do we have for Testimony is there anyone else here wishing to testify in this matter so um are you saying that the department does not have the funds or did not fund it um the for the 10 positions that we're asking for those are School level positions that the department has um been either intends to to fill because we have new schools or has been funding to other sources um based on the growth that we've experienced the there are three uh educational special specialist positions that um were funded using eser monies which will end in June um and so we want to be able to sustain those positions as well um particularly as we look forward to the
012work that we have ahead of us in um working um on one of the action items that is established in our the department strategic plan strategic implementation plan so I'm Tammy Chun deputy superintendent I just want to add that these positions um were requests in the Board of Education approved Department budget the teacher positions are included in the house budget so in um HB 1800 HD1 they did include the 10 teacher positions do you know what the amount was Tammy was about 1 1 million we can get the exact amount yeah okay thank you any questions no good thank you okay moving on to House Bill 1903 HD1 relating to Early Learning expand the access of early learning programs to other State properties and public lands besides using uh public school campuses do we have
013anyone here to testify on this Mission I'm sorry if you don't have my testimony I Cher kidani and Senator Richards I'm Yuko Ado across director of the executive office on early learning thank you so much for hearing this measure we stand in strong support of this bill the intention of this bill is to expand current pre-plus model to also apply to existing underutilized spaces on other public properties in addition to what currently exist on Department of Education campuses this measure has no fiscal request nor requires any operational fundings that would provide e the authority to contract early learning services on existing underutilized spaces uh thank you for the opportunity to testify you um so how many more classroom spaces are you guys looking for um so we're not necessarily looking for something we just want
014to have the ability um so when we look at uh different communities that have different needs depending on um population or um the amount of of seats compared to the population then maybe we can take a look at um spaces that might be in different areas and see if we can contract out for a provider in those spaces correct but at any given time that could be different you might have it they might have it available today but if you wait 3 months from now it may not be available so this is kind of a something that you have to keep track them all the time yes absolutely so what we do because there are Community shifts as well and um according to where people are looking for early learning and Care question yeah um
015is this Dove tailing with what the lieutenant governor her Initiative for Early Childhood yeah so you know one of the things that um that has come up to EOL is that there are a lot of people who are looking for spaces um to operate uh in terms of um community- based providers and so right now EO currently contracts out through what we call Pre Plus contract um it's designated spaces on doe campuses um and so what we were thinking about is if we have the capability of Contracting out so right now um Head Start grantees utilize those spaces on doe campuses um but we also know that there are other underutilized spaces and if EOL has the capacity to be able to do that on doe campuses could we also do that on other bacon
016properties um to help people look for spaces to operate okay um thanks chair so this bill would give you the opportunity to go out and look at those spaces yes and then negotiate with whoever it is that owns the land because there's lots of different people that own land and see if um the spaces um of course we'd have to work Department of Human Services because the the sites need to be licensable so but are you only looking at State Properties so that you don't have to pay rent or we're looking at all kinds of vacant properties so it could be cting County could be State um and even within the state there's different um I would call it like portfolio holders within the state and so we'd have to work within their um guidelines
017and see if they would be amendable to actually hosting contracts on their campuses or properties okay but you don't have the revenues to to uh rent the spaces so you're looking at spaces that you can do rent free is that correct um not necessarily rent free so right now the Pre Plus contracts they do um ask the people who are occupying the space to take care of the space to be able to clean this space to be able to pay for utilities for the space so it I wouldn't say it's necessarily free okay thank you yeah thank you anyone else here wishing to testify on this measure Sher thank you Sherry thank you anyone else thank you thank you anyone else thank you if there are no more questions we will move on to next
018item this is House Bill 2620 relating to the Department of Education procurement exempts doe and purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products less than a certain amount from the electronic procurement system requirement requires at least three written quotes from doe purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products between certain amounts is there anyone here to testify on this measure Miss Audrey good afternoon chair and Senator Richards Audrey Dono inter term um assistant superintendent we are in support of the measure and we'll be here if there's any questions or comments okay so this is for products that are less than $100 000 right I'll have Lindsay the director for um Food Services she can confirm hello chair Senator Richards yes so this would be um to allow us to procure um up to
019less than $100,000 for certain products such as for our monthly meal events and whatnot for products that are not on a formal bid solicitation okay those questions um chair yes Bri M moto in the back think he wants to tesy shot here the F we did submit testimony if you don't have it make sure get it but we do stand on our WR testimony in support thank you Brian yeah I do not have that testimony further questions thank you it's good yeah question oh well no I was just thinking through I think this this will help streamline things which government is not real good at sometimes so it's a good deal thank you try hard thank you good luck Audrey okay moving along the last item on our agenda is House Bill 2683 HD1 relating
020to access to learning repeals the Sunset date for the exemption of laboratory School programs of the Hawaiian language college at the University of Hawaii at Hilo from State English medium standards assessments performance ratings staff qualifications and staff training requirements is there anyone here to testify on this measure Richard um I'm kuk Kimura on behalf of the University of Hawaii uh I first of all want to Mahalo you for hearing the Senate version of this bill and passing that out and for scheduling this hearing of the house version uh we mollow your time um and consideration of this bill I'm available for questions if you have any [Music] um thank you very much um you AR cross please stand thank you you stand thank you Sher nak thank you my name is kuchi takam I live
021in wh on the big island of Hawaii I strongly support Bill 2683 relating to access to learning due to its immense support of the continued success of the Laboratory Schools under the Hawaiian language college the Eraser of the sunset data of this bill the exemption of all Laboratory Schools of the hawaian language college from State English medium standards assessments performance ratings and so on is beneficial to the performance of these programs it is because of the uniqueness of the education at these schools that act 46 will no longer serve a beneficial purpose if there is a Sunset date the impact on these schools will be negative this is the reason why I strongly urge you to support this bill your support will ensure that these schools will continue to provide quality education in the language
022of Havi Mahal no thank you for your consideration thank you members questions very much appreciate your testimony thank you Solomon Kaa Kuli Senator K Senator Richards I am here to show my strong support for Bill 2683 that appears a sensed date for the experation of EX the exemption of laboratory school programs of the hawaian language college at the University of Hilo at the University of h under Hilo I am the last of five children who have graduated from punan oilo and I am currently a junior in kulo navil Colon pool being that I'm from being that I am a graduate of punal Hilo and in nil I feel that this me me will ensure the continuation of the Hawaiian language and the Hawaiian language program for future Generations I would like for future generations to
023have the similar opportunities and experiences that I've had just last week I had the opportunity to come visit the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and spend a few weeks learning more more about the marine biology about marine biology o oceanography and issues concerning our atmosphere this is one of the many opportunities that has this is one of the many opportunities that has been presented to me through my school which would not be able which would not be possible without their support again I strongly support bill 2683 because I want to ensure that the future Generations have the same benefits that I have thank you very much Solomon members questions thank you next testify Al Alani Ken Richards Mahal for this opportunity to give testimony on House Bill 2683 my name is Kamal kuip and I'm a
024proud parent of the puno and a teacher at both pun and nav are Laboratory Schools of kakaa college of ha language I have been an educator at Kola navil for 7 years now and have witnessed firsthand the value and positive impacts of loh on the lives of students and Ohana alike now as a parent of a child attending P oilo I have immense responsibility to ensure that my child is educated within a highly qualified and deeply rooted Hawaiian medium education program I support this bill which seeks to repeal the sunet date for the exemption of Laboratory Schools um from State English medium standards assessments performance ratings staff qualification and staff training requirements that were established um by act 46 in 2020 I'm not against assessments and training but I do oppose the requirements of Hawaiian
025medium schools to follow English medium standards and assessments assessments which have little to no relevance to the education delivered within our schools i instead support Hawaiian medium education programs access and usage of rigorous Hawaiian medium measures and guidelines that align with the educational philosophies in which it was found uh I urge you to support this bill in order to ensure that schools like puno and Navi continue to provide quality education through Alo Hai and that Hawaiian Focus assessments and standards are created to support the mission and vision of these schools Mahalo Mahalo is there questions question come on back okay that was my question coming for the the students and you just answered it you're not object to assessment just not in a standard that really doesn't fit exactly I I cut off a whole
026bunch of minds but um if the assessments don't align to the way that we're educating our students we're setting up our children to fail Within These assessments and I feel that it's um unfair to measure their intelligence through assessment which is irrelevant to the way they are educated so yes we are not opposed to assessments assessments is needed within schools but we are opposed to English medium medium assessments that do not align with our education within our schools yeah and that's actually something that's been well known for 50 years so um and I've run into that before but that's why I was looking for an answer do you have thoughts on how this assessment should be put together and I don't want to take a lot of no I would love to answer that um
027so I've been working at navi for 7even years um I do recognize that a lot of the the Hawaiian medium schools are a little bit different in what they focus on so I feel that creating one assessment that addresses all schools may not be 100% appropriate um but pulling from within the schools and having teachers be a part of creating these assessments that align with the way that we're teaching is probably the best way to go as opposed to having someone outside of our program come in and tell us okay we're going to use this assessment and this is how we're going to measure um the fluency of reading in such and such and such standards um so I believe that creating within for our program would probably be the best um option okay yeah
028um chair I don't want to take any more time I'd like to further this conversation because I'm concerned about assessment and I want to make sure we don't leave our kids Behind yes so oh got another comment I know I know no no Mah for your question um because just your name again my name again Aloha Kimura with the College of H language at uh Hilo um Mahalo for your question because like um our kumu here mentioned assessments are it is a part of the rigor um that we put our teachers and our students through it's more the mode um and the the structure of that assessment that will accurately U measure the progress or non progress of our students and our teachers as well so for years our faculty at the College of Po
029language and partnership with aapa and our Laboratory Schools including Nai have been working on strategies and methods to assess the progress of students throughout the year so it's not just done once or twice even it's done throughout throughout the year to measure where they are whether it's literacy mathematics um leadership there's there's many different layers to the rubrics of measuring the progress of our students and so I'd be happy to have um a fuller conversation with with you and others interested on that specific um assessment tool that we deploy in our schools okay so chair I don't want to pursue this because this isn't actually gerain to the decision of what we're talking about here but it's a reason why we want to get rid of this provision so can you stop by my office
030set up a talk story know okay in addition I do want to mention too um act 46 um this is also seeking to align with act 46 which the implementation plan that was created to implement um the measures in act 46 actually states that as a priority to ensure the Perpetual um exemption for Hawaiian medium education from from the English medium standards um and assessments so we're also seeking through this bill to align to that um implementation plan and act 46 we need to measure but we got to use the right measuring absolutely yes okay do you guys have that um measurement or assessment do you have a form of it already we do that's being Deo I would like to be involved in the conversation and if you would please bring the assessment with
031you I set up can top story okay thank you Mahal for your time further testimony on this matter thank you J say ala reconvening the committee on education um for decision making um on house the first one house bill 2242 we are going to defer this measure as there was no one here from uh McKinley Community School to discuss the issue with us on House Bill 2074 my recommendation is to pass with amendments and the Amendments would be to uh insert 13 positions three full-time equivalent curriculum specialist 2 and 10 full-time equivalent classroom teacher positions in this measure for House Bill oh you want to vote as we go along all righty Madam Madam Vice chair okay go ahead okay so House Bill 2074 house draft two to amend to pass with amendments the chair
032votes I Vice chair votes I Senator Hashimoto I Senator Richard Senator faella I five member five I the recommendations adopted mam sureair thank you for House Bill 1903 recommendation is passed with amendments and are we defecting the date on this L defecting the date to July 1 2015 okay House Bill 1903 pass with amendments uh chair votes I Vice chair V anyone on the me voting with reservations anyone voting no hearing none all members in the affirmative recommendations adopted thank you for House Bill 2620 HD2 relating to the Department of Education which exempts department of education for search and purchases of local edible produce recommendation is to pass with amendments which are Technical and non-substantive chair okay that's 2620 with amendments any member voting no any member voting with reservations hearing none five members present
033all voting I recommendations adopted thank you and the last item House Bill 2683 HD1 relating to access to learning recommendation of the chair is to pass with amendments that are Technical and non-substantial chair v i okay hearing the chair uh pass with amendments any me member voting no any member with reservations hearing none all five members in affirmative recommendations adopted thank you members that concludes our hearing