Commentary from Senator Sakamoto

February 15, 2007

Public Opinion Survey Findings

Sustainability and Weighted Student Formula

In February 2007, the Hawaii Business Roundtable and Pacific Resource Partnership released the findings of The People's Pulse -- a statewide public opinion survey they sponsored. 

Investing Tax Surplus in Public Schools – The survey found that Hawaii residents consistently favored investing the tax surplus over cash rebates.  One important finding was the overwhelming support of 95% in favor of investing the tax surplus in public education. 

Creating a Sustainable Hawaii – Because creating a sustainable society is important to Hawaii's future, we introduced two bills that will help Hawaii develop a marketable workforce.  Senate Bill 1648 would create applied learning academies and Senate Bill 1931 would address improving the relevance of education in our public schools to meet the needs of Hawaii's workforce.  This was supported by the People's Pulse's finding that a strong majority (84%) of the respondents considered very important the developing of a "marketable workforce through education and training." 

When people were asked what sustainability meant to them, the largest portion (22%) defined sustainability as a comfortable life for them and their children without economic pressure to move elsewhere. 

Support for Weighted Student Formula – The survey found that while nearly 80% of Hawaii residents support the concept (basing public school funding on student enrollment combined with the needs of students), only 1 out 4 residents are aware that the weighted student formula is already the official policy. 1 The strong public support for the idea of weighted student formula means that our public schools should continue to move towards full implementation of the weighted student formula. 2  

1 See Policy Brief on Education "Weighted Student Formula."

2 Dan Martin, "Critics bash school funding plan," Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 16, 2006.