Hawaii-2023-HB464-Amended

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a need to create more education opportunities for children in the public school system. The legislature further finds that it is critical for students to learn skills and tools necessary to support the unique needs of their communities in Hawaii. Magnet schools address these needs by offering specialized curriculums with a common theme or focus.

The legislature notes that Waiāhole elementary school has incorporated a specialized agricultural curriculum in Waiāhole and Ka‘a‘awa elementary school has incorporated a specialized "mauka to makai" watershed curriculum in Ka‘a‘awa. Both schools have gathered community partners and resources to allow students access to invaluable learning opportunities in their communities. These learning opportunities are critical to help the State meet its goals for food sustainability and combating climate change.

The legislature notes that currently, Hawaii imports between ninety and ninety-five per cent of its food. The agricultural curriculum at Waiāhole elementary school will teach the State's children and their families how to be food self-sufficient and will encourage the growth of agricultural initiatives, such as farm-to-table and farm-to-school, as a driving economic sector in Hawaii. Additionally, the "mauka to makai" watershed curriculum at Ka‘a‘awa elementary school will contribute to achieving the State's climate goals through the hands-on experience students receive at the coast, located across from the school. The coastal erosion and flooding caused by climate change affect the State's very foundation, and through the "mauka to makai" curriculum students at Ka‘a‘awa elementary school will be able to learn about the issues that directly impact them. Providing education on climate change issues such as coastal erosion is essential to creating a future workforce that will tackle these important and ongoing concerns.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a five-year magnet school pilot program, using Waiāhole elementary school and Ka‘a‘awa elementary school as pilot magnet schools.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established a five-year magnet school pilot program within the department of education to expand educational opportunities for students in the State's public school system.

(b) The pilot program shall:

(1) Begin enrollment of students in the pilot program at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year;

(2) Be conducted at Waiāhole and Ka‘a‘awa elementary schools; and

(3) Incorporate the specialized agricultural and "mauka to makai" watershed curriculums established by these schools.

(c) Each magnet school location shall be staffed with, at a minimum, one full-time counselor, one full-time vice principal, one full-time media specialist, and one full-time topical specialist.

(d) The department of education shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to carry out the purposes of this Act, including establishing a means for students outside of the pilot program's service area to apply for and enroll in the magnet schools through the State's geographic exception process.

(e) The department of education shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, regarding the magnet school pilot program to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2029. The report shall include the effects of the pilot program on enrollment at Waiāhole and Ka‘a‘awa elementary schools, changes in usage of community resources, and a recommendation of whether the pilot program should be continued, modified, or terminated.

(f) The magnet school pilot program shall cease to exist at the end of the 2028-2029 school year.

(g) For the purposes of this Act, "magnet school" means a public elementary school or public secondary school that offers a specialized curriculum with a common theme or focus, in which enrollment may be chosen as an alternative to enrollment in a school pursuant to section 302A-1143, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and that is capable of attracting substantial numbers of students with diverse demographic backgrounds from a broad geographical area.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the establishment of the magnet school pilot program and eight full-time equivalent (8.0 FTE) positions as follows:

(1) Two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) counselors;

(2) Two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) vice principals;

(3) Two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) media specialists; and

(4) Two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) topical specialists to be split among the pilot program's locations.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	464
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII