Hawaii House Bill HR171

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/24
• Refer: 3/14/24
• Report Pass: 4/1/24
• Passed: 4/1/24

Caption

Urging The Department Of Education To Develop A Comprehensive Plan For The Reinstatement Of Cancelled School Bus Service Routes.

Impact

The resolution also addresses the ongoing nationwide shortage of school bus drivers, which has led to the suspension of services at ten high schools on Oahu and four schools on Kauai during the current school year. It predicts that if the shortage persists, more cancellations could occur across other counties in Hawaii, further impacting student access to education. The call for a comprehensive plan aims to preemptively tackle these issues by outlining strategies to restore services to affected students.

Summary

House Resolution 171 urges the Department of Education in Hawaii to develop a comprehensive plan to reinstate school bus service routes that have been cancelled. The resolution highlights the essential role of school bus services in promoting student attendance, particularly for families living in remote areas and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. As the Department of Education currently services around twelve thousand student riders on Oahu and thirteen thousand on the neighbor islands, the reinstatement of these routes is deemed vital for ensuring all students can access educational opportunities.

Contention

By urging the development of a plan, HR171 echoes broader concerns regarding transportation inadequacies in education systems, especially in rural and underserved areas. While the resolution itself does not propose legislation with specific mandates, it emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to address transportation challenges faced by students, which advocates within the education sector will likely be monitoring closely. The outcome of this resolution's urging could set a precedent in addressing larger systemic issues within Hawaii's public schooling framework.