STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2231

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2592

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2592 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to minimize the negative effects of standardized testing by:

     (1)  Limiting student participation in standardized tests;

     (2)  Prohibiting the use of standardized test scores for evaluation purposes;

     (3)  Authorizing standardized testing exemptions; and

     (4)  Requiring the Department of Education to provide notice of the right to opt-out of standardized testing.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, IMUAlliance, and six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and Race to the Top program in 2009 have forced teachers to shift their focus from teaching to testing.  In a 2014 study by the National Education Association, a clear majority of teachers surveyed reported feeling considerable pressure to improve test scores.  Although your Committee also notes that federal standards require a certain minimum percentage of testing, your Committee finds that such a heavy emphasis on teaching to the test has a detrimental effect on the overall effectiveness of student learning.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by removing language requiring the Department of Education to provide notice of the right to opt-out of standardized testing.

     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 S.B. No. 2592, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2592, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair