HI SR191

Urges the Hawaii Senate to establish a Public Charter School Working Group to examine support systems for state public charter schools and evaluate whether a centralized charter school district or service cooperative would improve operational support.

The Hawaii Public Charter Schools Network is requested to convene and lead the Working Group, with membership including legislative education committee chairs, Board of Education chairperson, Superintendent of Education, and representatives from Native Hawaiian charter schools, non-Hawaiian-focused charter schools, and conversion charter schools.

Working Group tasks include examining current governance structures, identifying challenges related to facilities maintenance and operational support, and evaluating whether separating school authorization functions from support services would be beneficial.

The Working Group must submit findings, recommendations, proposed legislation, and a preliminary cost-benefit analysis to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the Regular Session of 2027.