HI SCR86

Requests Department of Education to establish a Memorandum of Agreement with Aha Kauleo Kaiapuni Hawaii for developing Hawaiian-language assessments for grades 3-6 students in the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program.

Assessments must be original Hawaiian-language versions (not translations) for reading, math, science, and other subjects, aligned with program goals and state academic standards while meeting federal requirements.

Urges Board of Education and Department of Education to formally acknowledge Aha Kauleo Kaiapuni Hawaii in Hawaii Revised Statutes or Administrative Rules to support the agreement process.

Requires all ancillary assessment materials and tools available to general state assessment students be made available in Hawaiian for immersion program students.

Department of Education must report on Memorandum of Agreement status to Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2013 Regular Session convening.