PART II.  PROVISIONS AFFECTING STUDENTS

 

A.  Student Performance Standards

 

     §302A-201  Statewide performance standards.  (a)  The board shall establish statewide performance standards and the means to assess the standards based upon the recommendations in the final report of the performance standards commission established pursuant to Act 334, Session Laws of Hawaii 1991; provided that the board may review and modify the performance standards, as the board deems necessary, to reflect the needs of public school students and educational goals adopted by the board.

     (b)  The board shall appoint a performance standards review commission, to be convened at the beginning of the 1997-1998 school year, and every four years thereafter, to assess the effectiveness of the performance standards.  The commission shall include representatives of the Hawaii State Parent, Teacher, Student Association; the Hawaii State Student Council; the superintendent; the dean of the college of education of the University of Hawaii; and the professional education community.  The commission may request the assistance of such department or school staff as may be necessary to facilitate its review.

     (c)  The commission shall review the implementation of the performance standards by the board and the schools to determine whether the standards should be modified.  In making this determination, the commission shall seek public input by holding public forums to discuss the implementation and effectiveness of the performance standards.  The commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations regarding the effectiveness of the standards and the need for modification of the standards to the board and the legislature prior to the convening of the 1999 regular session.  The board shall consider and implement the modifications beginning with the 1999-2000 school year.

     (d)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the department shall establish procedures and guidelines for, and shall expand, its statewide assessment program to include norm-referenced testing in the same grades as required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110) standards-based assessment (grades 3 through 8 and one grade in high school) in reading and math, using the most appropriate nationally normed test. [L 1996, c 89, pt of §2; am L 2002, c 197, §1]