WHO:   Middle and high school students from participating schools:

Aiea High School                                                       King Kekaulike High School                         

Anuenue Elementary & High School                Lahainaluna High School

Campbell High School                                             Moanalua High School

Ewa Makai Middle School                                     Pearl City High School

Hanalani Schools                                                      Punahou School

Hilo High Schools                                                      Waiakea High School

Kailua High School                                                    Waianae High School

Kalaheo High School                                               Waimea High School

American Renaissance Academy, Kapolei

WHAT: As part of Youth Engagement Legislative Hearing Day, students will take part in civic engagement, learning about the legislative process, and testifying before the Senate Committee on Education on the following measures:

House Bill 2626, Relating to Safe Routes to School.  

                Permanently establishes the Safe Routes to School Program within the Department of Transportation. Establishes a Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund. Assesses a surcharge of $25 for violations of speeding in a school zone and a $10 surcharge on various traffic violations and deposits these surcharges into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund.

                House Bill 2273, Relating to Concussions.

                Requires the DOE and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to develop a concussion awareness program to provide guidelines for public and private schools. 

                House Bill 2007, Relating to Instructional Time

                Requires the Department of Education to devise four bell schedules each for elementary, middle, and high schools, except for charter schools and public multi-track schools. Repeals the general requirement that all public schools except Charter Schools and multi-track public schools include one thousand eighty student instructional hours for the 2016-2018 school years.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 32, Requesting the Department of Education to establish a task force on cheerleading to determine if cheerleading should be classified an interscholastic sport in public school athletic programs. 

Senate Concurrent Resolution 33, Requesting the Department of Education and Board of Education to institute a Green Hawaii Program within the public school system.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 95, Requesting the Board of Education and Department of Education, in collaboration with the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, to examine local and national models of best practices for the use of technology in schools and recommend any new guidelines to increase internet access to allow the responsible and positive integration of social media in the classroom, while ensuring necessary protections to prevent abuse.

WHEN: Friday, March 16, 2012, beginning at 1:15 p.m. in the State Capitol’s Auditorium

Background:

Youth Engagement Legislative Hearing Day is organized by the Hawaii State Senate Committee on Education as part of Education Week. This is the fifth year that the Senate Education Committee has invited public and private schools to participate in Hearing Day.  Students will be testifying along with the general public.  Focused on highlighting the success of our schools and our students, this year’s Education Week celebration includes programs and events that bring everyone, from our youngest of keiki to our most mature kūpuna, to the State Capitol to educate and engage with policymakers.  Education Week wraps up Friday, March 16, 2012.