Bill > HR135

This Resolution requests the Department of Education to create specific guidelines, or "implementation standards," for "Farm to School" programs, which aim to connect schools with local food sources to provide students with fresh, locally grown food. These standards would then be incorporated into the yearly performance reviews of school principals, meaning their success in implementing these farm to school initiatives would be evaluated as part of their job. The resolution also specifies that the Department of Education should collaborate with the Hawaii Government Employees Association, a labor union representing state employees, in developing these standards. This initiative builds upon previous efforts in Hawaii, like the Hawaii Farm to School Program established in 2015 and pilot projects that demonstrated the benefits of increasing local food in school meals.