H.R. 171 Summary

• Urges the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Education, and Committee on Weights to collaborate on allocating OHA funds to the Weighted Student Formula to support Native Hawaiian students in public schools

• Notes that Native Hawaiian students scored significantly lower than non-Hawaiian students on 2015 Smarter Balanced Assessments: 28.4% proficient in math versus 46.8% for non-Hawaiian students, and 34.8% proficient in reading versus 54.3% for non-Hawaiian students

• Documents that Native Hawaiian students represented 26% of K-12 public school enrollment in School Year 2015 but only 9.9% of classroom teachers were Native Hawaiian

• Points out that the Weighted Student Formula currently includes characteristics for Gifted & Talented, Economically Disadvantaged, Limited English Proficiency, and Transiency students, but does not include a characteristic for Native Hawaiian students

• Directs transmission of certified copies to the Board of Education Chairperson, Superintendent, OHA Board of Trustees Chairperson, and Committee on Weights Chairperson