HI SCR69

Urges school administrators, teachers, parents, and students to become educated about health impacts of heavy backpacks and take proactive measures to prevent injury.

Requests schools work with parent-teacher associations to assess student backpack weight and develop strategies to reduce the need for students to carry all materials daily.

Recommends schools promote seven specific backpack safety practices including limiting backpack weight to 10 percent of body weight, using ergonomic designs with padded straps, wearing both shoulder straps, and leaving heavy books at school.

Encourages increased use of electronic textbooks and integrated classroom education about backpack weight management using tools like hanging scales to track and reduce load data.

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