S.R. No. 8 Summary

• Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to study the effectiveness of Hawaii's statewide public school system and the feasibility of converting to county-level school districts.

• Directs the study to identify educational disparities between school complex areas and examine proposed solutions to address them.

• Requires consultation with the Department of Education, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and nonprofit organizations focused on educational disparities such as HawaiiKidsCAN and Hawai'i Children's Action Network.

• Mandates the Legislative Reference Bureau submit findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the 2023 Regular Session.

• Notes Hawaii is the only state with a single statewide school district and Board of Education, though educational quality is influenced by factors beyond funding such as socioeconomic status and demographics.