By removing the specific hourly requirements, HB155 allows individual schools and the Department of Education greater discretion in designing their instructional programs. This could facilitate innovative teaching methods or schedules that better meet the needs of their students. However, it also raises concerns about educational consistency across schools and potential disparities in instructional quality, as schools may adopt varied approaches to fulfilling their educational mandates.
Summary
House Bill 155 proposes to amend Section 302A-251 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes by repealing the mandatory minimum number of student instructional hours for public schools in Hawaii. The bill directs that all public schools, excluding charter and multi-track schools, are to implement a school year consisting of 180 days but does not enforce a specific requirement for instructional hours. This change reflects a shift in policy aimed at providing schools with increased flexibility in how they allocate their teaching time throughout the academic year.
Contention
The bill may encounter notable opposition from various stakeholders, including educators, parents, and accountability advocates who may argue that the lack of mandated instructional hours could lead to reduced educational outcomes. Proponents of HB155 believe that the flexibility will allow schools to better adapt to local conditions and student needs; however, the risk remains that some schools may not maintain sufficient instructional time, potentially impacting the comprehensiveness of education.
Adds multilingual learners into the determination of high-need students and provides a student success factor of twenty-five percent (25%) of the core instruction per-pupil amount and repeals the categorical funding for these students.