URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC FLEXIBILITY AND EQUITY FOR STUDENTS WITH CHRONIC AND AUTOIMMUNE ILLNESSES.

This bill is a non-binding resolution that urges Hawaii's Department of Education to support academic flexibility for students with chronic and autoimmune illnesses. It directly affects students managing conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and type I diabetes, particularly those from Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities who face higher rates of these illnesses. The resolution asks the Department of Education to encourage schools to provide flexible attendance and assignment deadlines during medically documented illness flare-ups, promote consistent implementation of existing accommodations under Section 504, and improve coordination for students who need to travel off-island for specialized medical care. The bill relies on the Department's existing authority to issue guidance rather than creating new funding requirements.