STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3602

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2117

H.D. 1

S.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 Ways and Means, 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 limit the number of standardized tests that students must take each school year, and require the Department of Education to conduct a survey of school administrators and teachers regarding the time spent on standardized testing preparation and how this time diversion affects the quality of instruction.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, IMUAlliance, Parents for Public Schools of Hawai'i, and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that student achievement will be improved by: limiting the number of standardized tests that students must take every year; and studying the effects of preparation time for standardized tests on the quality of instruction.

Your Committee has amended this measure by amending the definition of "standardized test" to exclude tests that are required under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, as described in the Hawaii Consolidated State Plan.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2117, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2117, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair