H.R. 223 Summary

• Requests the Department of Education to convene a task force to expand and strengthen school gardens statewide across Hawaii

• Task force must include representatives from DOE, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii entities, school garden networks, and nonprofit organizations focused on education and sustainability

• Task force directed to develop a statewide curriculum strategy and professional development program using school gardens to teach science, math, environmental and nutritional studies, improve ecoliteracy, and increase student physical activity and healthy habits

• Task force required to collect comprehensive data from school gardens on each island and report findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2012 Regular Session convening