Bill Text: HI HB1714 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Proposing Amendments To Article X, Section 2 And Article Xviii, Section 12, Of The Constitution Of The State Of Hawaii To Establish Local Elected School Boards.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-24 - Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 1 [HB1714 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1714-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1714 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
Proposing amendments to Article X, section 2 and Article XVIII, section 12, of the constitution of the state of Hawaii to establish local elected school boards.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION
1. The legislature finds
that Hawaii is the only state in the nation where a single department of education
and a single statewide board run all public schools. This centralized school system – a holdover
from the plantation era - comes with several drawbacks. Every public school is required to follow the
same set of state regulations, guidelines, and testing apparatus. This system leaves little room for flexibility
in introducing new training approaches or trying new instructional programming.
As a result, teachers are unable to adjust
pedagogy to individual learning styles.
The
legislature finds that entrusting the governance of public schools to their
communities to oversee local school districts results in a well-functioning
education system. Additionally, elected
board members can address the unique education-related needs of their
respective districts for better tailored improvements in public education. Decentralization in education significantly improves
repetition rates, dropout rates, graduation rates, and test scores. Localized school boards serve as the
community’s voice and directly address the distinct needs of each district. Focused efforts on the school-level translates
to overall improved student achievement.
The
purpose of this Act is to amend the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to
provide for multiple, local school boards, that are populated with elected
board members, serving no more than twelve years as a member, in place of the
current Board of Education.
SECTION 2. Article X, section 2, of the Hawaii Constitution is amended to read as follows:
"BOARD OF EDUCATION
Section
2. There shall be [a] five
[board] boards of education[.
The governor shall nominate and, by and with the advice and consent of
the senate, appoint the members of the board of education, as provided by law.]
composed of members who shall be elected in a nonpartisan manner by
qualified voters, as provided by law. No
person shall serve as a member for more than twelve years in their lifetime. One board shall cover the entire state and be
composed of members who reside anywhere within the state. The four other boards shall each cover one
county area. Each county school board
district shall be divided into departmental school districts, as may be
provided by law. There shall be at least
one member residing in each departmental school district for the
county-specific boards of education."
SECTION 3. Article XVIII, section 12, of the Hawaii Constitution is amended to read as follows:
"BOARD OF EDUCATION TRANSITION
Section 12. There shall be a period of transition from the
[elected] appointed to the [appointed] elected [board]
boards of education, as provided by law."
SECTION 4. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:
"Shall the Board of Education be changed from a single board appointed by the governor to one statewide board and four countywide boards elected by the qualified voters of the State, serving no more than twelve years as a member, as provided by law?"
SECTION 5. Constitutional material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New constitutional material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Minority Caucus Package; Constitutional Amendment; Education
Description:
Proposes
a constitutional amendment that would establish local school boards throughout
the State to be elected from at least 7 school districts as provided by law and
to serve no more than twelve years as a member.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
