Hawaii Senate Bill SCR16

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/3/22
• Refer: 3/8/22

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Education To Conduct A Comparison Study And Reimburse Certain Teacher Expenditures For Classroom Supplies.

Impact

The proposed actions under SCR16 aim to address the inequity in educational resources by comparing average classroom supply expenses in smaller versus larger counties. Should the Department of Education conduct this study and reimburse teachers for their out-of-pocket expenses for essential classroom supplies, it could lead to significant changes in how educational funding is allocated. This would potentially promote a more equitable distribution of resources across various regions, ensuring that all students have access to essential learning materials, regardless of their location.

Summary

SCR16 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution from the State of Hawaii requesting the Department of Education to conduct a comparative study regarding classroom supply expenditures. The resolution highlights the disparity in access to classroom supplies experienced by teachers in less populated counties compared to their counterparts in large urban areas. Specifically, the resolution acknowledges that teachers in counties with populations under 200,000 often incur higher costs for classroom supplies due to their limited access to larger retail options, which directly impacts their students' learning environments.

Contention

While SCR16 seeks to tackle a pressing issue in education funding, it may also bring forth points of contention regarding budget allocations and administrative burdens on the Department of Education. There may be concerns raised about the feasibility of reimbursing teachers and the extent of funding available for such measures. Furthermore, discussions around how to effectively implement the recommendations of the study could lead to differing opinions among lawmakers and educational stakeholders.