Bill Text: HI HB208 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: OHA Package; Ka Papahana Kaiapuni; Assessments; Report
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-12-17 - Carried over to 2016 Regular Session. [HB208 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-HB208-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
208 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to the hawaiian language immersion program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The Hawaiian language, the native language of the native Hawaiian people, was once a thriving language used by native Hawaiians and foreigners alike. However, by the late twentieth century, the Hawaiian language was pushed to the brink of extinction due to a number of factors, including an 1896 law that functioned to ban the speaking of the Hawaiian language in Hawaii schools. Fortunately, the Hawaiian language was saved by several historic initiatives, including the department of education's Hawaiian language immersion program, which was launched in the 1980's. Today, the Hawaiian language immersion program, now known as Ka Papahana Kaiapuni ("Kaiapuni"), is offered at twenty public schools and educates more than two thousand students in kindergarten through the twelfth grade.
The assessment requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 present a challenge for the Kaiapuni program. Because English is not formally introduced in Kaiapuni program classrooms until the fifth grade, third and fourth grade Kaiapuni program students have been offered assessments in the Hawaiian language to comply with the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. From the 2005-2006 and through the 2010-2011 school years, these students were offered the Hawaiian aligned portfolio assessment, which was developed in the Hawaiian language specifically for the Kaiapuni program. From school years 2011-2012 through 2013-2014, English-to-Hawaiian translations of the Hawaii State Assessment were instead offered to third and fourth grade Kaiapuni program students. These Hawaiian translated assessments contained numerous flaws, including inconsistent or inaccurate translations, and as a result failed to accurately measure Kaiapuni students' academic achievement.
The legislature finds that the Hawaiian language is a critical component of Hawaii’s heritage, and that the State has a solemn obligation to perpetuate the Hawaiian language. For example, the state constitution recognizes the Hawaiian language as one of two official languages of the State, and Hawaii was the first state in the nation to recognize its native language as an official language. Moreover, the board of education, in adopting Board of Education Policy 2105 in 2006, acknowledged that the Kaiapuni program is "an essential component to the revitalization and continuation of the Hawaiian language and culture". The board of education revised Board of Education Policy 2105 in February 2014, reiterating that "the program contributes to the continuation of our Hawaiian language and culture", and that "[t]he program's effectiveness requires the development and proper administration of appropriate formative and summative assessment tools. These program evaluation tools should be in alignment with the State's Kaiapuni curriculum and measure student growth and proficiency with the goal to prepare students for success in college, career and community".
Furthermore, the federal Native American Languages Act of 1990 recognizes the United States' responsibility to ensure the survival of native American languages and establishes the nation's policy of encouraging and supporting the use of native American languages as a medium of instruction to help preserve those languages.
The legislature finds that to uphold its obligation to perpetuate the Hawaiian language, the department of education must provide Kaiapuni program students with an assessment system that most accurately measures their academic achievement.
The purpose of this Act is to require the department of education to develop annual assessments in the Hawaiian language for language arts, mathematics, and science subjects that are to be administered to students in certain grades of the Kaiapuni program.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II, subpart A, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- Ka Papahana Kaiapuni assessments. (a) The department of education shall develop annual assessments in the Hawaiian language for:
(1) Language arts and mathematics, to be administered to Ka Papahana Kaiapuni students in grades three through six; and
(2) Science, to be administered to Ka Papahana Kaiapuni students in grade four.
The language arts and mathematics assessments for grades three and four and the science assessment for grade four shall be administered annually commencing with the 2015-2016 school year. The language arts and mathematics assessments for grades five and six shall be administered annually commencing with the school year.
(b) The assessments shall not be Hawaiian translations of the general state assessments but shall be:
(1) Aligned with the vision, mission, and programmatic goals of Ka Papahana Kaiapuni;
(2) Aligned with applicable state academic content and achievement standards;
(3) Valid, reliable, and consistent with relevant, nationally recognized professional and technical standards; and
(4) Compliant with applicable federal requirements.
(c) All ancillary assessment materials and tools that are made available to students taking the general state assessment shall also be made available in the Hawaiian language to students in Ka Papahana Kaiapuni to the extent that these materials and tools can be adapted for use in the Hawaiian language. The department of education shall work with the Hawaiian language community and contractors to develop the ancillary materials and tools required under this subsection.
(d) The department of education, with the assistance of the Hawaiian language community, including the ‘Aha Kauleo Kaiapuni Hawai‘i, members of Ka Papahana Kaiapuni schools, the Hawaiian language programs at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the office of Hawaiian affairs, and other Hawaiian language community organizations, shall establish procedures for the development of the assessments specified in subsection (a)."
SECTION 3. The department of education shall prepare and submit a preliminary and final report to the legislature on the status of the procedures the department is establishing for the development of assessments in the Hawaiian language, pursuant to section 302A- , Hawaii Revised Statutes, including the estimated costs and other critical resources or agreements necessary for the development of the assessments, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2016 and 2017, respectively.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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By Request |
Report Title:
OHA Package; Ka Papahana Kaiapuni; Assessments; Report
Description:
Requires the DOE to develop annual assessments in the Hawaiian Language for language arts, mathematics, and science, to be administered to Ka Papahana Kaiapuni students. Requires the DOE to submit a preliminary and final report.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
