STAND. COM. REP. NO. j(90”f-24
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR02 , 2024
RE: H.R. No. 170
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty—Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.R. No.
170 entitled:
“HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO PRODUCE A
PLAN FOR ADHERING TO SCHOOL COUNSELOR BEST PRACTICES,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request the Board of
Education, in partnership with the Department of Education, to
produce a plan for adhering to school counselor best practices.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from HawaiiKidsCAN. Your Committee received comments on this
measure from the Board of Education.
Your Committee finds that school counselors play a critical
role in ensuring students’ academic, career, social, and emotional
development and in promoting equity and access to opportunities
and educational experiences for all students. Additionally,
school counselors support students’ postsecondary access and
success by helping them navigate the college admissions process,
explore career opportunities, and develop essential life skills
and provide preventative and responsive services to help students
overcome barriers that may impede their academic and postsecondary
success.
2024—2632 HR17O HSCR HMSO
 STAND. COM. REP. NO. ILeO”(-24
Page 2
Your Committee also finds that the American School Counselor
Association (ASCA) recommends a student-to-school counselor ratio
of two-hundred—to-one to effectively address the comprehensive
needs of all students, yet just sixty—two percent of Hawaii public
middle and high schools meet this recommendation. The ASCA
recommends that a minimum of eighty percent of a school
counselor’s time should be spent in direct and indirect student
services, yet Hawaii public middle and high school counselors
report only being able to spend seventy-three percent of their
time on these services.
Your Committee believes that having a twelve—month school
counselor can ensure continuity of support for students,
particularly for those who may not have access to such support
outside of school. Your Committee further believes that providing
Hawaii public intermediate, middle, and high school counselors
with a more clearly defined job description will help school
counselors better address the needs of Hawaii’s students.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 170 and
recommends its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Education,
IAA14AL~Lk
~H. W 00 DS ON , Chair
2024—2632 HR17O HSCR HMSO
 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives
The Thirty-second Legislature
44~c,g ((oO4~q
Record of Votes of the Committee on Education
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date:
~~-rio 3/u /2~O2~
0 The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: ~“~cass, unamended (as is) 0 Pass, with amendments (HD) C Hold
0 Pass short form bill with HD to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
EDN Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. WOODSON, Justin H. (C)
2. LA CHICA, Trish (VC)
3. KAPELA, Jeanne
~
4. MARTEN, Lisa
~
5. MARTINEZ, Rose
6. MATAYOSHI, Scot Z.
7. MIZUNO, May Besario
8. PERRUSO, Amy A.
9. QUINLAN, Sean
10. TODD, Chris
11. GARCIA, Diamond
TOTAL (11)
The recommendation is: ~ ~J Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
c •ttee acronym(s)
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature:
/
Distribution: Original (White) — Committee,~...~15~pli~ate (Yellow) — Chief Clerks Off~~piicate (Pink) — HMSO
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