REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FOUNDATIONS IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS TO OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID TO GRADUATES AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE SCHOOLS.

HR43

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

43

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING the DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION to SUPPORT THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF FOUNDATIONS IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS to offer SCHOLARSHIPS AND
FINANCIAL AID TO GRADUATES AND provide FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE SCHOOLS
.

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WHEREAS, well-established
and supportive foundations throughout Hawaii's public high schools will help
graduates further their education, enhance public schools' image, provide a
means for public school graduates to demonstrate their appreciation and
gratitude for what public schools have provided, and inject support to schools
for unfunded needs; and

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WHEREAS, Farrington
High School and McKinley High School have well-established foundations that
have provided countless scholarships to their graduates and, at times, urgent
and immediate support for their school's unfunded needs; and

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WHEREAS, few
public schools beside Farrington High School and McKinley High School have
established such foundational support; and

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WHEREAS, in
2012, the Legislature adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 77, S.D. 1,
which requested the Board of Education and Department of Education to establish
a statewide resource development program to assist the complex areas in
creating endowments to benefit Hawaii's public schools; and

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WHEREAS, since
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 77, S.D. 1 (2012), was adopted, little
progress has been made in establishing new school foundations; and

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WHEREAS, establishing
school foundations require dedicated organizers who must navigate a multitude
of requirements, such as creating a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a
charter, bylaws, and board of directors; and

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WHEREAS, establishing
such foundations also require expertise in legal matters, accounting,
investment, and technology; and

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WHEREAS, individuals
who endeavor to create a foundation for their high schools often lack the
expertise and skills required to establish the foundation and can get
discouraged and frustrated at the difficulties involved; now, therefore,

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BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Education is
requested to support the establishment of foundations in public high schools to
offer scholarships and financial aid to graduates and provide financial support
to the schools; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to establish a statewide
resource development program to provide institutional assistance to school foundation
organizers in:

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(1)
�
Navigating nonprofit status for a school
foundation;

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(2)
�
Creating charters and bylaws for the school
foundation;

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(3)
�
Providing financial and accounting advice and
assistance;

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(4)
�
Assisting with technology needs, including website
creation; and

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(5)
�
Helping overcome other obstacles that deter
the efforts in establishing a school foundation;

provided that the Department of Education is not
obligated to serve as the oversight entity for any school foundation
established pursuant to this resolution; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Chairperson of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Education.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

Department
of Education; School Foundations; Statewide Resource Development Program