HI HR20

Urges school administrators, teachers, parents, and students to become educated about health risks from heavy backpacks and take preventive measures to avoid injury.

Calls on schools to work with parent-teacher associations to assess backpack weight usage and promote homework strategies that reduce the need to carry all materials daily.

Recommends schools educate on proper backpack practices including limiting weight to 10% of body weight, using both shoulder straps, and wearing ergonomic backpacks with padded straps.

Suggests schools consider leaving heavy textbooks at school, using handouts or workbooks, increasing e-textbook usage, and teaching students to weigh and track backpack loads.

Requires certified copies of the resolution be sent to the Superintendent of Education, Board of Education Chairperson, Director of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and Executive Director of the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission.