THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

227

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting that the DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION, in collaboration with the university of hawaii, department of labor and industrial relations, and department of business, economic development, and tourism, develop and implement a k-12 curriculum-to-career pipeline INITIATIVE.

 

 

     WHEREAS, there is a disconnect between the needs and expectations of today's employers and the skills of the State's workforce; and

 

     WHEREAS, industries in the State increasingly require employees with technology-based skills such as computer science and coding and engineering, and second language skills; and

 

     WHEREAS, the current low unemployment rate has made it difficult to fill technology-based positions, and business and education groups report that few individuals in the State have the necessary job skills for available job openings; and

 

     WHEREAS, closing the skills gap for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics positions is extremely important, as jobs in these sectors are expected to grow 1.7 times faster than other jobs in the coming years; and

 

     WHEREAS, Honolulu has not been able to keep up with the rising demand for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professionals, and according to a 2018 analysis of the best metropolitan areas for these professionals, Honolulu ranked eighty-second out of one hundred; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has also experienced difficulty retaining highly-skilled workers in the State, and a recent United States Census report found that more than thirteen thousand people moved out of Hawaii than moved in from other states; and

WHEREAS, improving job training and more closely aligning education with employment will help close the current skills gap and may encourage more skilled workers to remain in the State, thereby strengthening the State's overall economy; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Education, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; is requested to develop and implement a K-12 Curriculum-to-Career Pipeline Initiative; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the K-12 Curriculum-to-Career Pipeline Initiative be developed and implemented to enable students to pursue training and education throughout their time at a school complex so that upon graduation, the students possess the appropriate skills, certifications, licensing, or college credits necessary to enter the State's workforce; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education; President of the University of Hawaii System; Director of Labor and Industrial Relations; and Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

K-12 Curriculum-to-Career Pipeline Initiative; Department of Education; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; University of Hawaii; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations