STAND. COM. REP. NO.  514

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1406

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1406 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STANDARDIZED TESTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to restore the integrity of standardized testing in the public schools of the State of Hawaii by establishing criteria and procedures for the use of testing in the context of proven educational systems and methods. Specifically, this measure requires the Board of Education to:

(1)  Establish conditions for standardized testing;

(2)  Allow educators, school leaders, school districts, and parents access to standardized test scores and data derived from standardized tests for use in improving student education;

(3)  Set guidelines for parents to appeal standardized test scores;

(4)  Provide suitable testing accommodations for students with disabilities;

(5)  Develop testing accommodation guidelines for English language learners;

(6)  Develop procedures to grant waivers for extenuating circumstances;

(7)  Provide for comprehensive, independent audits of standardized testing protocols once every four years;

(8)  Administer a one-year survey of school administrators and teachers; and

(9)  Notify students and their parents or guardians of the right to opt out of participating in statewide standardized testing.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association, Education Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, IMUAlliance, and many concerned individuals supported this measure.  Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO opposed this measure.  The Department of Education and a concerned individual commented on this measure.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Removing notification requirements of the right to opt out of participating in statewide standardized testing; and

(2)  Removing guidelines for parental appeal of standardized test scores; and

     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. 1406, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1406, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair