If enacted, HB962 would alter the existing legislation that dictates the assessment requirements for early childhood education in Hawaii. It specifically amends Section 302A-1165 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to state that no assessments shall be administered to kindergarten children enrolled in Hawaiian immersion programs. This change would exempt these programs from potentially damaging assessments and enable them to focus on language acquisition without external pressures related to standardized testing. This amendment is critical for the sustainability and expansion of Hawaiian-language education, encouraging children to learn in their native language without the immediate concern of assessment performance.
Summary
House Bill 962 aims to amend educational regulations in Hawaii to exempt kindergarten students enrolled in Hawaiian language immersion programs from standardized assessments mandated for all students entering kindergarten. The law currently requires a common statewide assessment model, which must be performed within the first thirty days of school in either English or Hawaiian. However, the bill argues that such assessments could hinder efforts to revitalize the Hawaiian language, particularly for students who are not proficient in Hawaiian. Assessing students who lack fluency may reflect poorly on their schools and dissuade families from participating in Hawaiian-language education programs.
Contention
The discussions surrounding the bill highlight a division in educational philosophy regarding standardized testing and language immersion. Advocates for the bill emphasize the importance of preserving and revitalizing the Hawaiian language, suggesting that assessments could adversely affect both student performance and school reputation. Critics may argue that standardized assessments are necessary for tracking educational outcomes across diverse educational settings. The results of HB962 will influence how early education addresses the diverse linguistic needs of Hawaiian children and how it reconciles cultural preservation with educational accountability.