STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3191

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2117

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2117, H.D. 1, 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:

(1) Limit the number of standardized tests students take in a school year; and

(2) Require the Board of Education to conduct a statewide survey of school administrators and teachers to determine the time spent on preparing for standardized tests and the impact of preparation time on the quality of instruction.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, IMUAlliance, Parents for Public Schools of Hawai‘i, Civic Education Council, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Education and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that due to the No Child Left Behind law in 2001 and Race to the Top program in 2009, teachers and administrators in Hawaii's public school system spent growing amounts of time, money, and energy on standardized testing at the expense of authentic learning. This overemphasis on standardized testing narrows academic curricula and causes teachers to teach to the test, leading to reductions in arts and cultural education and vocational programming. Standardized testing also creates a climate of compliance and fear among students, teachers, and administrators. By limiting the number of standardized tests students take each school year, many of the negative effects of standardized testing, such as diverted resources and low teacher morale, can be avoided.

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. 2117, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair