HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2145
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to special education.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that special education services, including academic, speech-language, psychological, physical, occupational, and counseling accommodations, meet the unique needs of students with disabilities.  Governed by federal and state law, special education services are available to eligible students aged three to twenty-two who demonstrate a need for specially designed instruction.

     The legislature additionally finds that the State's teacher shortage disproportionately harms special needs students.  According to the department of education's employment data, in the Nanakuli-Waianae complex area, fifty-seven of the sixty-three newly recruited special education teachers for the 2015-2016 through 2017-2018 school years had no special education teaching license.  As the department of education works to alleviate the State's teacher shortage crisis, it is imperative that funds and staff positions for special education are allocated in a manner that uplifts students who require the most care and resources.

     The purpose of this Act is to ensure a quality educational experience for all special needs students by ensuring that funding for special education accounts for the severity of the disabilities of all special needs students.

     SECTION 2.  Section 302A-1303.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§302A-1303.6  Weighted student formula.  (a)  Based upon recommendations from the committee on weights, the board of education may adopt a weighted student formula for the allocation of moneys to public schools that takes into account the educational needs of each student; provided that weighted student formula moneys shall not be used for state-funded prekindergarten programs, except for special education and Title I-funded prekindergarten programs.  The department, upon the receipt of appropriated moneys, shall use the weighted student formula to allocate funds to public schools.  Principals shall expend moneys provided to the principals' schools.  This section shall only apply to charter schools for fiscal years in which the charter schools elect pursuant to section 302D-29 to receive allocations according to the procedures and methodology used to calculate the weighted student formula allocation.

     (b)  When adopting a weighted student formula for students with disabilities, the board shall ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that the allocation of moneys and staff positions for students with disabilities is based on the severity of the disability of each student."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

DOE; BOE; Special Education; Weighted Student Formula

 

Description:

Requires the Board of Education to consider the severity of the disability of each student in the weighted student formula for determining the allocation of funds and staff positions.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.