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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2592 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO STANDARDIZED TESTING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that following the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and Race to the Top program in 2009, teachers in Hawaii have been forced to shift their focus from teaching to testing. Excessive use of standardized tests is counterproductive as it results in teachers spending more time preparing students to take tests and less time educating.
The legislature further finds that a 2014 National Education Association study indicates that seventy-two per cent of teachers feel considerable pressure to improve test scores. Over half of the teachers surveyed reported spending too much time on testing and test preparation, with the average teacher spending approximately thirty per cent of their time on tasks related to standardized tests. At the same time, a 2014 PDK/Gallup poll found that only thirty-one per cent of parents support using standardized test scores to evaluate teachers.
The purpose of this Act is to minimize the negative effects of standardized testing by limiting student participation in standardized tests, prohibiting the use of standardized tests scores for evaluation purposes, and authorizing standardized testing exemptions.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- Standardized testing limitations; exemptions; opt-out. (a) No public school student shall be required to attend more than three testing days in a school year.
(b) The department shall not use standardized test results for the purpose of assessing the performance of any public school.
(c) Standardized testing shall not be used to rate a school as recognition, continuous improvement, focus, priority, or superintendent's zone, or any other similar designation as determined by the department.
(d) Standardized testing shall not be used to evaluate teachers or educational officers, including in any evaluation performed under section 302A-638.
(e) At a teacher's request, the department may exempt a special education student or student with limited English proficiency from participating in statewide standardized testing.
(f) For the purposes of this section, "testing day" means any day in which a student spends three or more hours taking or preparing for standardized tests."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.
Report Title:
Standardized Testing; Limitations; Exemptions
Description:
Limits public school student participation in standardized tests, prohibits the use of standardized tests scores for evaluation purposes, and authorizes standardized testing exemptions. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.