This bill requests the Hawaii Department of Education to form a shared decision-making committee to develop a plan for establishing a K-12 Hawaiian language immersion school in Kapolei. The proposed committee would include 11 members representing educators, administrators, community organizations, parents, and higher education leaders to guide the planning process. The action plan must outline steps for facility selection, teacher recruitment, curriculum development, and a phased implementation schedule starting with kindergarten through second grade by the 2027-2028 school year. The bill also directs the Department to allocate initial faculty and administrative positions to support the new school and requires progress reports to the Legislature by 2027 and 2028.
This bill urges the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services to install raised crosswalks at three specific intersections with Hihiwai Street to enhance pedestrian safety near Ala Wai Elementary School. The proposed changes target University Avenue, Lauiki Street, and Kamoku Street, where current traffic controls are considered insufficient for high volumes of pedestrians including students and families. Raised crosswalks would physically slow vehicles and improve visibility for drivers, addressing safety concerns at these busy residential intersections. The resolution directs copies to city officials and school leaders to facilitate the implementation of these traffic calming measures.
This bill requests the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to review and refine the operational missions of the system's four-year campuses to ensure each has a distinct and complementary role. The resolution asks the Board to consider workforce needs, student access, geographic service areas, and resource efficiency during this review. The Board is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by twenty days before the 2027 Regular Session begins. The bill directly affects the University of Hawaii system, its Board of Regents, and the campuses at Manoa, West Oahu, and Hilo.
This bill urges the Hawaii Department of Education to strengthen menstrual health education in public schools and adopt a comprehensive curriculum covering menstrual cycles. It directly affects students, educators, and school administrators by recommending specific educational standards and resources. The resolution outlines five key requirements including age-appropriate content from third through twelfth grade, culturally responsive teaching methods, and the inclusion of hygiene, stigma reduction, and health information. It also calls for libraries to stock age-appropriate books and for teachers to use anatomically correct diagrams when teaching hygiene. The bill emphasizes creating an inclusive, positive learning environment that addresses menstrual dignity through privacy, inclusivity, access, and education.
HB 2567 establishes a dedicated Early Childhood Education Investment Special Fund to finance early childhood education programs. The bill appropriates state funds into this special account, ensuring dedicated budgeting for eligible early childhood services. This fund will be managed by the state government to support programs serving young children, though specific eligibility criteria aren't detailed in the abstract. The bill passed its first reading in January 2026 and is now under review by education and finance committees.
HB 2005 establishes a statewide language access education and workforce development program at the University of Hawaii, funded through state appropriations. The program aims to train workers in language access services, directly impacting the University of Hawaii system and future state workforce development efforts. It requires the university to develop training curricula and implement the program, with funding allocated for this purpose. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 3000 (a date likely reflecting a typo in the official record).
This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to reissue Requests for Proposals for contractors and prequalified small contractors to continue the Future Schools Now program, which uses job order contracting to repair school facilities more quickly and efficiently than traditional methods. The bill directly affects the state's public school system by ensuring uninterrupted access to construction services for addressing a backlog of over $1 billion in deferred maintenance needs across aging school facilities. Key provisions ask the department to initiate new procurement contracts in 2026 before existing agreements expire, maintain the use of job order contracting for accelerated repairs, and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027 detailing the program's performance metrics.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution in Hawaii asks the Department of Education to study how mental health-related absences affect student attendance and well-being. The study will examine how often students miss school due to mental or behavioral health concerns, review policies in other states that allow such absences, and evaluate whether recognizing these absences as excused could improve student outcomes. The Department of Education is requested to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026, which may include suggestions for policy or legislative changes. This measure does not change current laws but seeks to gather data to inform future decisions about student attendance policies.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Hawaii Legislature to create a working group to study how public charter schools can better access administrative and operational support services. The proposed group would examine whether establishing a centralized charter school district or service cooperative could provide more effective assistance for facilities, transportation, and other back-office functions. The working group would include representatives from the charter schools network, legislative committees, the Board of Education, and various stakeholder organizations. Its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, are to be submitted to the Legislature before the 2027 session begins.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to implement a pilot program offering micro-credentials to licensed teachers in public and charter schools. The program, developed with the National Education Association and the Hawaii State Teachers Association, provides competency-based professional development where members attend at no cost and non-members pay a $75 fee. Key provisions require the Department to post the program on its professional development website, allow teachers to earn professional development credits upon completion, and have the Hawaii State Teachers Association assist with outreach and verification. The resolution also mandates that the Department submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027 detailing participation rates, educator feedback, and recommendations for future expansion.
