SUPPORTING FREE AND RESPONSIBLE SCHOLASTIC JOURNALISM AND ACTIVELY SUPPORTING AND HONORING THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION IN STUDENT PUBLICATIONS.

This House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 109) clarifies that parental consent is not legally required for publishing student names or photos in school-sponsored student media (like yearbooks or newspapers). It directs Hawaii's Department of Education to update its Student Publication/Audio/Video Release Form and website to remove language suggesting parental signatures are needed, aligning with the existing Hawaii Student Journalism Protection Act (Act 24, 2022). The resolution supports student journalists' First Amendment rights by emphasizing that FERPA restrictions do not apply to student media production, and it requests DOE to inform school administrators that prior parental consent is unnecessary for student publications. This affects school administrators, student media advisers, and student journalists across Hawaii public schools.