TEACHERS PUSH FOR BILL LIMITING [OUTLAWING] STANDARDIZED TESTS

News Release from HSTA, March 20, 2018  [With accurate information added in brackets.]

On Wednesday, March 21, at 3:10 p.m., teachers from across the state will testify on HB 2117 that would help to reduce the amount of [outlaw] standardized testing [beyond the four tests required as a condition of federal funding]  that public school students take each year. [HB 2117 also would allow parents to opt-out of testing for their kids, a nifty way to get rid of the really dumb ones and make the numbers look better.] The bill has passed the House and will be heard in the Senate Education Committee in Room 229 at the state Capitol.  [Translation: Hanabusa's supporters in the Legislature want to drop this hot potato on Ige's desk.  When he vetoes it, he will get sideways with HSTA.] Teachers will testify about how too much testing takes away from learning.  [But since the DoE is already at the federal minimum, what possible benefit could this bill have?]  During Wednesday’s hearing, HSTA will share information from its survey sent out to teachers about standardized testing.

The survey shows that:

1. Students in Hawaii on average took 10 standardized tests in the 2016-2017 school year. [Old news.  DoE Sup't Kishimoto says that DoE reduced the test load to the minimum four tests for 2017-18. --See pg 17.--  Read on to see how HSTA broadens the definition of 'standardized testing' to get this '10' number.]
2. The most-tested grade level across the state is 4th grade, with teachers reporting an average 14 standardized tests administered last school year. [Translation: HSTA members will say anything to achieve a pre-determined outcome.]
3. Many teachers reported administering more than 30 standardized tests in their classrooms last school year, with one 7th grade teacher reporting 45 tests given during that same time. [Translation: HSTA members will say anything to achieve a pre-determined outcome.]
4. Sixty-four percent of teachers reported that they used instructional time to prepare students for standardized tests.  [Yeah.  It’s called ‘teaching.’ Apparently 36% of HSTA members don’t do it.]
5. Fifty-six percent of teachers in the state said that art, music, social studies, science and physical education coursework have been reduced for test preparation. [Translation: HSTA members will say anything to achieve a pre-determined outcome.]

About the survey: HSTA conducted a survey of its members between Feb. 6 and 14, 2018, with responses from 1,764 teachers. Most of those who answered the survey (1,434) were classroom teachers, while 326 were non-classroom teachers, such as testing coordinators who are very familiar with the frequency of standardized tests. [In order to bulk up the numbers] HSTA defined standardized tests as non-teacher developed tests (including diagnostic tests, screeners, interim testing and any statewide standardized tests). They do not include tests developed by Hawaii classroom teachers or testing of students with special needs and English language learners.

About the Hawaii State Teachers Association: The Hawaii State Teachers Association is the exclusive representative of more than 13,700 public school teachers statewide. As the state affiliate of the 3.2-million-member National Education Association, HSTA [owns and operates Governor Ige,] represents and supports teachers in collective bargaining, as well as with legislative and professional development issues.

[Totally Related: Hanabusa Supporters Plan to Disrupt Legislative Session]