SR105 • 2026

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO REQUIRE COMPLETION OF COMPREHENSIVE COURSEWORK IN READING, LANGUAGE, AND LITERACY AS A CONDITION FOR GRADUATION FROM ANY STATE-APPROVED EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM LEADING TO TEACHER LICENSURE.

Education

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: DELA CRUZ, CHANG, ELEFANTE, HASHIMOTO, KIM, Wakai
Last action: 2026-04-09
Official status: Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO REQUIRE COMPLETION OF COMPREHENSIVE COURSEWORK IN READING, LANGUAGE, AND LITERACY AS A CONDITION FOR GRADUATION FROM ANY STATE-APPROVED EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM LEADING TO TEACHER LICENSURE.

What This Bill Does

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO REQUIRE COMPLETION OF COMPREHENSIVE COURSEWORK IN READING, LANGUAGE, AND LITERACY AS A CONDITION FOR GRADUATION FROM ANY STATE-APPROVED EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM LEADING TO TEACHER LICENSURE.
UH; DOE; Literacy; Educator Preparation Programs; Teacher Licensure

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SR105 SD1 THE SENATE S.R.

SR105 SD1 THE SENATE S.R.
NO.
105 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII SENATE RESOLUTION Requesting the University of Hawaii SYSTEM, in collaboration with the Department of education and other institutions of higher education, to require completion of comprehensive coursework in reading, language, and literacy as a condition for graduation from any state-approved educator preparation program leading to teacher licensure.

SD1_PROPOSED

Hawaii published version SD1_PROPOSED

Plain English: 2026-1892 SD1 SMA.

2026-1892 SD1 SMA.
THE SENATE S.R.
NO.
105 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.

Bill History

2026-04-09 S
Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1).
2026-04-08 S
One Day Notice 04-09-26.
2026-04-08 S
Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3561) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).
2026-04-06 S
The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.
2026-04-02 S
The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 04-06-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-03-19 S
Referred to EDU.
2026-03-16 S
Offered.

Official Summary Text

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO REQUIRE COMPLETION OF COMPREHENSIVE COURSEWORK IN READING, LANGUAGE, AND LITERACY AS A CONDITION FOR GRADUATION FROM ANY STATE-APPROVED EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM LEADING TO TEACHER LICENSURE.
UH; DOE; Literacy; Educator Preparation Programs; Teacher Licensure

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SR105

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

105

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

Requesting the Department of Education to unify the
McKinley Community School for Adults and Waipahu Community School for Adults
into a single STATEWIDE Adult education program to be known as the Hawaii State
Community School for Adults
.

����
WHEREAS, adult
education programs play a vital role in providing workforce development
opportunities, high school equivalency preparation, English proficiency courses,
and lifelong learning opportunities for residents across the State; and

����
WHEREAS, section
302A-432, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes the Department of Education to
establish and regulate a program of adult community education to provide
increased opportunity for the people of Hawaii; and

����
WHEREAS, section
302A-433.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, establishes within the Department of
Education an adult workforce readiness program to provide opportunities for
students to earn associate degrees, workforce development diplomas, pre-apprenticeship
certificates, and other industry‑recognized credentials; and

����
WHEREAS, the
Department of Education has reviewed enrollment trends, program alignment, and
opportunities to enhance operational efficiency across adult education programs;
and

����
WHEREAS, the
Department's review identified opportunities to strengthen instructional
programs, streamline administrative operations, and maximize resources to
better serve adult learners and the broader community; and

����
WHEREAS, the
recommended realignment of the McKinley Community School for Adults and Waipahu
Community School for Adults into a unified statewide program will support
improved coordination of services and greater consistency in program delivery;
and

����
WHEREAS, the
unified program will provide a statewide adult education system that will maintain
access to services while expanding high-quality programming across all
campuses; and

����
WHEREAS, the
realignment will enhance efficiency, strengthen instructional programs, and
better position adult education programming, including programming supported
through the adult workforce readiness program, like Career Foundations,
established pursuant to section 302A-433.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the
Career Foundations Curriculum to address current and emerging workforce and
community needs; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Education is requested to unify
the McKinley Community School for Adults and Waipahu Community School for
Adults into a single statewide program; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the program is requested to be known as the Hawaii State
Community School for Adults; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Education is urged to consult with the
appropriate exclusive representatives of affected collective bargaining units
regarding any personnel impacts associated with the proposed realignment, and to
provide opportunities for affected employees to provide feedback through their
respective exclusive representatives; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the implementation of the unified program should be contingent
upon the completion of the consultation process and the development of a
comprehensive transition plan to ensure minimal disruption to students,
faculty, and staff; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the unified program is requested to have a target effective date
of July 1, 2026; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, and
respective administrators of the McKinley Community School for Adults and
Waipahu Community School for Adults.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

DOE; McKinley
Community School for Adults; Waipahu Community School for Adults; Unification;
Realignment; Hawaii Community School for Adults