Hawaii House Bill HR164

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/11/22
• Refer: 3/14/22
• Report Pass: 3/31/22
• Refer: 3/31/22

Caption

Urging The Department Of Education To Increase Access To Arts And Cultural Education In Public Schools To Address Learning Loss Caused By The Covid-19 Pandemic.

Impact

The resolution comes in response to alarming reports from the Department of Education, which noted significant declines in student proficiency across key subjects during the pandemic. Specifically, it was reported that only thirty-two percent of students were proficient in math, a drop of twenty-six percent since 2019. By advocating for enhanced arts education, the resolution aims to enhance student learning experiences and promote recovery from these academic setbacks. As schools receive significant federal funds for educational relief, the resolution suggests that some of this funding could be allocated towards arts education initiatives.

Summary

House Resolution 164 urges the Department of Education in Hawaii to increase access to arts and cultural education in public schools, primarily to mitigate the learning loss experienced by students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution emphasizes the importance of arts education, arguing that it is essential for providing a well-rounded education that benefits the developmental needs of children. The text references multiple studies demonstrating that engagement in arts and cultural curricula can lead to improvements in critical thinking, verbal achievement, social behavior, and overall academic performance.

Contention

While the resolution is generally supportive of increasing arts access, there could be questions regarding funding allocations and how these changes will be implemented within the existing educational framework. Some may argue that emphasis should be placed on core subjects primarily, suggesting a potential conflict in priorities. However, proponents cite evidence that arts education not only fosters creativity and collaboration but is also linked to better performance in traditional academic disciplines, indicating that integrating the arts could be a beneficial strategy to combat the educational challenges posed by the pandemic.