Hundreds of students in Hawaiian immersion public charter schools learn primarily in Hawaiian, yet many take standardized tests each year that are written in English.
Hundreds of students in Hawaiian immersion public charter schools learn primarily in Hawaiian, yet many take standardized tests each year that are written in English.
The state’s Public Charter School Commission says that creates a “mismatch” when determining how those students are performing academically, as they’re tested in a language that’s different than the one in which they’re taught.
Since 2014, the commission has accepted an “opt-out” option which essentially allows Hawaiian immersion charter schools to exclude English language testing data — for students taught primarily in Hawaiian — from its “Academic Performance Framework” — how the commission evaluates each schools’ academic performance.
This month, the commission approved the opt-out option again — this time indefinitely. Commission staff said doing so gives it a better picture of how those students are performing academically. The opt-out option will remain in place until a comparable Hawaiian language assessment is available for all tested grade levels.
“It’s about addressing a disconnect between what’s happening in the classroom — which is approved and supported by the DOE — and the assessment which is required for all schools,” said Jennifer Higaki, data analyst for the commission.
“If we’re saying it’s a good thing to instruct in Hawaiian and they have to test to meet federal requirements, is it fair to say there’s only one test available?”
Five state charter schools used the English language opt-out option in the past two years. Among them was Ka ‘Umeke Ka‘eo, a kindergarten through eighth-grade Hilo-based immersion school. School administrator Olani Lilly said Ka ‘Umeke students are taught primarily in Hawaiian until about fourth grade, when they begin receiving instruction in English. By eighth grade, she said, kids are expected to be proficient in language arts in both languages.
In the past, she said a testing disconnect has left kids “feeling rather discouraged.”
“A large percentage of our families do decide to opt out of participating in the test,” she said.
“That’s a choice the families make because they don’t want their children to get discouraged. They feel it’s not an accurate assessment of their child’s intelligence or learning.”
Students in Hawaii are tested in grades three-eight and 11.
The state developed a pilot Hawaiian language standardized test last year called Ka‘eo to students in grades three and four.
Hawaiian language assessments for all tested grade levels are still being developed.
The exclusion is only allowed for grade levels taught primarily in Hawaiian and does not apply to the state Department of Education’s Strive HI Performance System, which functions separately.
Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.