HB 2733 Summary

• Requires public elementary schools to allocate 20% of student hours to whole child education (visual arts, music, theater, dance, Hawaiian studies, Hawaiian language, physical education) beginning 2017-2018 school year; 10% for middle and intermediate schools.

• Increases special education teacher support by providing 40 additional hours annually for individualized education program work and $1,690 per year for instructional materials; directs department to establish weighted student formula for special education staffing.

• Expands vocational, technical, and career pathway programs at all public high schools beginning 2020-2021, allowing students to complete up to 50% of graduation requirements in these programs and providing $1,500 annually per teacher for instructional materials.

• Establishes air conditioning requirements for all public school classrooms by 2021-2022 using energy-efficient technology; appropriates funds and authorizes general obligation bonds for implementation.

• Increases general excise tax by 1% and state income tax for earnings above $300,000 to fund education; establishes $1,000,000 baseline funding for all schools, requires mandatory school staffing positions (librarian, counselor, vice principal, technology coordinator, special education transition coordinator), limits standardized testing days, reduces class sizes beginning 2020-2021, and mandates annual teacher salary increases.