STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3170

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 157

       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.C.R. No. 157 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO REDUCE THE USE OF STANDARDIZED TESTING IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Education to reduce the use of standardized testing in the public education system and develop authentic assessments for schools that do not rely on standardized testing.

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

     Your Committee finds that since the enactment of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and the Race to the Top program in 2009, Hawaii has shifted its focus in public education to preparing students for standardized testing.  In recent surveys, teachers in the State have reported feeling considerable pressure to improve test scores.  Recent surveys further suggest that only thirty-one percent of parents support using standardized test scores to evaluate teachers.  With the recent enactment of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, states now have increased flexibility in the use of standardized testing.  Your Committee further finds that the State should take the opportunity afforded by this flexibility to reduce the use of standardized testing and develop alternative methods of evaluation.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requesting the Department of Education and the Board of Education to hold meetings with principals, parents, and teachers for the purposes of gathering diverse input on the impacts of standardized testing and alternative practices; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 157, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 157, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair