Bill Text: HI SB2080 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 2080 (Prior Session Legislation)

HI State Legislature page for SB2080

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Standardized Testing.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-12 - The committee on EDU deferred the measure. [SB2080 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SB2080-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2080
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO STANDARDIZED TESTING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the federal No Child Left Behind law in 2001 and Race to the Top program in 2009 shifted national education priorities from inquiry-based teaching to standardized testing. Following their enactment, 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.

The legislature further finds that an overemphasis on standardized testing narrows academic curricula, causing teachers to teach to the test and 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. Moreover, research shows that the negative effects of standardized testing, such as diverted resources and low teacher morale, most directly harm students in low-income communities and minority students.

The legislature additionally finds that the federal Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015 permits states to institute caps limiting the amount of time that students spend taking standardized tests. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to promote real-world learning experiences for Hawaii's children by limiting the number of standardized tests students take each school year, with the intention of limiting the amount of time students spend participating in standardized testing.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Standardized tests limitations; exemptions. (a) No more than four different standardized tests shall be administered to any student, other than a student with disabilities or an English language learner, per school year.

(b) Upon application to the board, a school may be granted waivers from the standardized testing limitations in this section.

(c) Each complex area superintendent shall submit an annual report to the board that includes the number of standardized tests required and the amount of instructional time devoted to preparing for and taking standardized tests at each school within the complex area.

(d) The board shall notify students and the students' parents or guardians about the right to opt out of participating in statewide standardized tests.

(e) For the purpose of this section, "standardized test" means any federal, state, or locally mandated assessment that is administered and scored in a consistent manner and intended to measure a student's academic readiness, achievement level, learning progress, or skill acquisition, including any diagnostic, interim, or practice test used to prepare such an assessment."

SECTION 3. (a) No later than September 1, 2018, the board of education shall begin a one-year statewide survey of school administrators and teachers to determine:

(1) The amount of time spent on preparation for standardized testing; and

(2) The effect of the preparation time on the quality of instruction.

(b) The survey shall include questions related to:

(1) The effect of standardized tests on the morale of students and teachers;

(2) The relationship between the amount of time spent on standardized test preparation and the amount of time that is available for implementation of the approved curriculum;

(3) The amount of time teachers devote to alignment of curriculum with standardized tests;

(4) The percentage of standardized test items that are above grade level;

(5) The overall impact of standardized testing on the classroom environment; and

(6) Other questions that are relevant to the impact of standardized testing on the quality of public education in the state.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Standardized Testing; Board of Education

Description:

Limits the number of standardized tests a student shall take in a school year. Requires 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.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.