S.C.R. No. 165 Summary

• Requests the U.S. Department of Education and Hawaii Department of Education to develop and implement standardized assessments in the Hawaiian language for Hawaiian language immersion schools that meet or exempt them from No Child Left Behind Act standards.

• Addresses the challenge that English-language based assessments are unfair to Hawaiian immersion students who do not formally learn English until fifth grade, while younger students take assessments in Hawaiian language.

• Requires the departments to consult with Hawaiian language immersion schools, University of Hawaii System, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools, and other relevant entities when developing the assessment.

• Directs the Hawaii Department of Education to report findings and recommendations to the Legislature by twenty days before the 2014 Regular Session, including timelines for Hawaiian language assessments in language arts, mathematics, and science, and any proposed legislation or funding requests.

• Cites the Native American Languages Act of 1990 and Hawaii's state constitutional requirements to promote Hawaiian language and culture as justification for developing culturally appropriate assessment methods.