Education

Part I: Requires the Department of Education and state public charter schools to take certain steps to better address the harassment of educational workers, including sports officials. Authorizes the Attorney General to assist educational workers, including sports officials at department of education or public charter school sporting events, who have been subject to harassment or intentional bodily injury in obtaining a temporary restraining order. Part II: Includes the intentional, knowing or reckless disruption or interference with a school function, school administration, or school board under the offense of harassment. Makes harassment to an educational worker, including sports officials, engaged in the performance of their duty a misdemeanor. (CD1)

Requires that the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board submit three nominees for its Executive Director to the Board of Education. Requires the Board of Education to appoint an Executive Director from the nominees on the list, subject to advice and consent of the Senate.

This bill is a Senate concurrent resolution that urges Hawaii's Department of Education to officially recognize competitive cheerleading as a Title IX sport. It directly affects high school students, coaches, and athletic programs by requesting the state education department to develop guidelines and safety standards that align with federal Title IX requirements for gender equity in athletics. The resolution asks the Department of Education to work with the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to establish criteria for classifying cheerleading as a varsity sport, ensuring athletes receive equitable access to resources like certified coaching, training support, and facilities. As a non-binding resolution, it does not mandate immediate changes but serves as a formal recommendation to state officials to evaluate and potentially adopt cheerleading as a recognized interscholastic sport.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests that Hawaii's Board of Education work with the Department of Education to change public high school graduation requirements so that students must complete a standalone financial literacy course. The bill addresses concerns that the current approach, which allows financial literacy to be integrated into other courses or the Personal Transition Plan, may not provide sufficient dedicated instruction and accountability. It proposes specific implementation steps including teacher professional development, funding identification, student completion tracking, and a curriculum based on community input. The resolution is based on evidence showing declining financial literacy among younger generations and the benefits of dedicated financial education for post-secondary success.

This bill requests the Hawaii Department of Education to create a standardized bell schedule framework for public schools across the state. The proposed framework would organize school start and end times by level - elementary, middle, and high school - while still allowing local flexibility and meeting minimum instructional hour requirements. The bill requires the department to consult with school administrators, teachers, parents, students, and transportation providers during development. This initiative aims to address current inconsistencies in school schedules that affect transportation, staffing, family logistics, and coordination with community programs.