HB 2436: DOE; State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; Arts Integration; Positions; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ARTS INTEGRATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a well-rounded education includes access to high-quality fine arts instruction and opportunities for students to learn through creative expression.  Arts education and arts integration strengthen student engagement, cultural connection, and whole-child development, while supporting learning across subject areas, including general education and classrooms that are focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

     The legislature further finds that the department of education's Nā Hopena Aʻo learning outcomes, also known as the HĀ:  BREATH framework, emphasizes belonging, responsibility, excellence, aloha, total well-being, and Hawaii, and that arts integration supports implementation of HĀ by connecting learning to cultural practice, identity, and respect for diverse cultures.

     The legislature recognizes the value of the state foundation on culture and the arts' artists in the schools program, which provides professional teaching artists in public schools, and finds that arts integration complements this work by training and supporting educators to use arts-based strategies to teach academic content.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for arts integration coordinator or specialist positions within the department of education to support fine arts education and arts integration statewide through island-based coordination, educator support, and strengthened partnerships with local artists, cultural practitioners, and arts programs.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-     Arts integration; coordinators or specialists; establishment.  (a)  There is established within the department one arts integration coordinator or specialist position, as determined by the department, for each of the following islands:  Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii.

     (b)  Each arts integration coordinator or specialist position shall interface with and support multiple school complexes on their respective island and shall provide coordination and technical assistance to support fine arts education and arts integration in public schools.

     (c)  The duties of each arts integration coordinator or specialist position shall include but not be limited to:

     (1)  Supporting the integration of fine arts and arts-based instructional strategies into classroom curriculum and instruction across grade levels and subject areas;

     (2)  Providing professional learning, coaching, and technical assistance to teachers, school leaders, and staff on arts integration strategies aligned with the department's instructional goals and the Nā Hopena Aʻo framework;

     (3)  Coordinating with the state foundation on culture and the arts to support and strengthen the artists in the schools program, including facilitating communication and coordination between schools, complexes, teaching artists, and the state foundation on culture and the arts;

     (4)  Supporting educators and teaching artists by developing resources, guidance, and implementation tools to strengthen high-quality arts learning experiences;

     (5)  Strengthening partnerships between the department, local artists, cultural practitioners, community arts organizations, and cultural programs to expand access to arts learning and culturally grounded experiences;

     (6)  Supporting culturally responsive arts integration strategies that connect to Hawaii's history, ʻike kūpuna, and diverse cultural communities, and that promote respect, belonging, and aloha;

     (7)  Supporting instructional strategies for English learners and multilingual learners through arts integration approaches that promote language development, comprehension, and engagement; and

     (8)  Collecting and sharing promising practices and examples of effective arts integration strategies, including approaches that increase student engagement and academic achievement.

     (d)  The department may consult with the state foundation on culture and the arts, public school complexes, and relevant stakeholders to develop implementation guidance and coordinate services statewide for the purposes of this section.

     (e) For the purposes of this section:

     "Artists in the schools program" means the program administered by the state foundation on culture and the arts that places professional artists in public schools to provide arts learning experiences.

     "Arts integration" means an approach to teaching and learning in which educators use fine arts strategies to teach academic content and improve student engagement, including training and support for teachers to incorporate arts-based strategies in classroom instruction."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $600,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish and fund four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) arts integration coordinator or specialist positions within the department of education, including salary, fringe benefits, and operational expenses; provided that one position shall be established in each of the islands of Oahu, Maui, and Kauai and Hawaii island.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

DOE; State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; Arts Integration; Positions; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes within the Department of Education arts integration coordinator or specialist positions to support fine arts education and arts integration in public schools statewide.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to arts integration in public schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a well-rounded education includes access to high-quality fine arts instruction and opportunities for students to learn through creative expression.  Arts education and arts integration strengthen student engagement, cultural connection, and whole-child development, while supporting learning across subject areas, including general education and classrooms that are focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

     The legislature further finds that the department of education's Nā Hopena Aʻo learning outcomes, also known as the HĀ: BREATH framework, emphasizes belonging, responsibility, excellence, aloha, total well-being, and Hawaii, and that arts integration supports implementation of HĀ by connecting learning to cultural practice, identity, and respect for diverse cultures.

     The legislature recognizes the value of the state foundation on culture and the arts' artist in the schools program, which provides professional teaching artists in public schools, and finds that arts integration complements this work by training and supporting educators to use arts-based strategies to teach academic content.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish arts integration coordinator positions or arts integration specialist positions within the department of education to support fine arts education and arts integration statewide through island-based coordination, educator support, and strengthened partnerships with local artists, cultural practitioners, and arts programs.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-     Arts integration; coordinators; specialists; establishment.  (a)  There is established within the department one arts integration coordinator position or arts integration specialist position, as determined by the department, for each of the following islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii island.

     (b)  Each arts integration coordinator position or arts integration specialist position shall interface with and support multiple school complexes on their respective island and shall provide coordination and technical assistance to support fine arts education and arts integration in public schools.

     (c)  The duties of each arts integration coordinator position or arts integration specialist position shall include but not be limited to:

     (1)  Supporting the integration of fine arts and arts-based instructional strategies into classroom curriculum and instruction across grade levels and subject areas;

     (2)  Providing professional learning, coaching, and technical assistance to teachers, school leaders, and staff on arts integration strategies aligned with the department's instructional goals and the Nā Hopena Aʻo framework;

     (3)  Coordinating with the state foundation on culture and the arts to support and strengthen the artist in the schools program, including facilitating communication and coordination between schools, complexes, teaching artists, and the state foundation on culture and the arts;

     (4)  Supporting educators and teaching artists by developing resources, guidance, and implementation tools to strengthen high-quality arts learning experiences;

     (5)  Strengthening partnerships between the department, local artists, cultural practitioners, community arts organizations, and cultural programs to expand access to arts learning and culturally grounded experiences;

     (6)  Supporting culturally responsive arts integration strategies that connect to Hawaii's history, ʻike kūpuna, and diverse cultural communities, and that promote respect, belonging, and aloha;

     (7)  Supporting instructional strategies for English learners and multilingual learners through arts integration approaches that promote language development, comprehension, and engagement; and

     (8)  Collecting and sharing promising practices and examples of effective arts integration strategies, including approaches that increase student engagement and academic achievement.

     (d)  The department may consult with the state foundation on culture and the arts, public school complexes, and relevant stakeholders to develop implementation guidance and coordinate services statewide for the purposes of this section.

     (e) For the purposes of this section:

     "Artist in the schools program" means the program administered by the state foundation on culture and the arts that places professional artists in public schools to provide arts learning experiences.

     "Arts integration" means an approach to teaching and learning in which educators use fine arts strategies to teach academic content and improve student engagement, including training and support for teachers to incorporate arts-based strategies in classroom instruction."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $600,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish and fund four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) arts integration coordinator positions or arts integration specialist positions within the department of education, including salary, fringe benefits, and operational expenses; provided that one position shall be established in each of the islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii island.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

Report Title:

DOE; State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; Arts Integration; Positions; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes within the Department of Education arts integration coordinator positions and arts integration specialist positions to support fine arts education and arts integration in public schools statewide.  Appropriates funds.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  696-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2436

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2436, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ARTS INTEGRATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for arts integration coordinator or specialist positions within the Department of Education to support fine arts education and arts integration in public schools statewide.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; HULI PAC; Sacred Light ʻOhana; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; Aloha Theatre; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that a well-rounded education includes access to high-quality fine arts instruction and opportunities for students to learn through creative expression.  Your Committee recognizes the value of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' Artists in the Schools Program, which provides professional teaching artists in public schools, and further finds that arts integration complements this work by training and supporting educators to use arts-based strategies to teach academic content.  This measure supports fine arts education in Hawaii's schools by providing funding for arts integration statewide through island-based coordination, educator support, and strengthened partnerships with local artists, cultural practitioners, and arts programs.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2436, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  36-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2436

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Culture & Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 2436 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ARTS INTEGRATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for arts integration coordinator or specialist positions within the Department of Education to support fine arts education and arts integration in public schools statewide.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that integrating the arts into public school instruction enriches student learning by fostering creativity, increasing engagement, and supporting academic achievement across all subjects.  Arts integration also strengthens cultural identity and provides meaningful opportunities for students to connect with their communities through creative expression.  However, many educators face challenges in implementing arts-based teaching strategies due to limited training, resources, and structural support.  This measure addresses those gaps by establishing and appropriating funds for arts integration coordinator or specialist positions on each major island to offer technical assistance, develop professional learning opportunities, and build partnerships with local artists and cultural practitioners to expand high-quality arts education statewide.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture & Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2436, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2436, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture & Arts,