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

HR99

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

99

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

urging the department of EDUCATION to support academic
flexibility and equity for students with chronic and autoimmune illnesses
.

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WHEREAS, students
in Hawaii are increasingly navigating chronic and autoimmune illnesses that are
episodic, unpredictable, and often invisible, including illnesses such as
systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and type I diabetes; and

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WHEREAS, research
indicates that Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations
experience higher rates and more severe forms of certain autoimmune diseases,
making these conditions relevant to Hawaii's diverse student population; and

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WHEREAS, these
conditions can cause periods of severe fatigue, pain, hospitalization, and
medical absences that significantly disrupt academic continuity and student
well-being; and

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WHEREAS, Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides important individual
accommodations for students with disabilities, yet implementation and awareness
vary widely across schools, particularly for students with episodic chronic
illnesses whose needs fluctuate over time; and

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WHEREAS, students
managing chronic illness frequently experience heightened academic stress,
burnout, and mental health challenges when attendance policies and assignment
deadlines are applied without flexibility during medically documented flare-ups;
and

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WHEREAS, students
on neighbor islands face additional barriers due to limited access to medical
specialists and the need for off-island travel, resulting in further academic
and social disruption; and

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WHEREAS, educational
equity requires that students with chronic and autoimmune illnesses have fair
access to rigorous learning and supportive school environments, consistent with
the Department of Education's commitment to removing barriers to learning; and

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WHEREAS, the
Department of Education has existing authority to provide guidance and
encourage best practices that support equitable access to education without
requiring new appropriations; 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
urged to support academic flexibility and equity for students with chronic and
autoimmune illnesses; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Education is urged to:

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(1)
�
Encourage public schools to provide flexible
academic pathways for students experiencing medically documented chronic
illness flare-ups, including flexibility in attendance and assignment
deadlines;

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(2)
�
Promote consistent and non-punitive
implementation of existing accommodations, including Section 504 plans, to
ensure students are not academically penalized during periods of illness beyond
their control; and

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(3)
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Encourage coordination between schools,
students, and families to support continuity of learning during extended
medical absences, particularly for students who must travel off-island for
specialized care; 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; Chronic Illnesses; Autoimmune Illnesses; Support