SCR 112 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO REQUIRE COMPLETION OF COMPREHENSIVE COURSEWORK IN READING, LANGUAGE, AND LITERACY AS A CONDITION FOR GRADUATION FROM ANY STATE-APPROVED EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM LEADING TO TEACHER LICENSURE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to combine the McKinley and Waipahu Community Schools for Adults into one statewide program called the Hawaii State Community School for Adults. The bill aims to improve coordination, streamline operations, and better serve adult learners by creating a unified system that maintains current services while expanding program quality. It directs the Department to consult with employee representatives, develop a transition plan to minimize disruption, and target a July 1, 2026 start date for the new unified program.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Last action May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SCR112_SD1 → SCR112_SD1_PROPOSED · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to shift the focus from general literacy to the specific 'science of reading' and to involve the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) alongside the University of Hawaii. The requirement for teacher preparation programs was narrowed to mandate at least one comprehensive course in the science of reading, rather than broader coursework in reading, language, and literacy. Additionally, the HTSB was added as a recipient of the resolution to ensure licensure standards align with these new course requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from requiring general literacy and language coursework to specifically requiring a 'science of reading' course, and the applicability was expanded to include the HTSB in setting licensure standards.

REQUIREMENT

The required coursework was changed from general 'reading, language, and literacy' to specifically 'comprehensive coursework in the science of reading'.

The requirement was modified to mandate 'at least one comprehensive course' instead of unspecified comprehensive coursework.

ENFORCEMENT

The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) was added as a recipient of the resolution and tasked with aligning licensure standards with the new course requirement.

SCOPE

The University of Hawaii System's collaboration partner was changed from the Department of Education to include the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Resolution adopted in final form.

upper

Apr 21, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 795).

upper

Apr 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Adopted with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Woodson excused (3).

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from HED/EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2228-26), recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kapela, Kila.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kapela, Kila.

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HED/EDN, referral sheet 28

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 479) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3560) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.

upper

Apr 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 04-06-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDU.

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered.