HB842

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that article X, section 4, of the Hawaii State Constitution requires both English and Hawaiian language paths within the State's public schools. Within the department of education, Ka Papahana Kaiapuni offers students an education in the medium of the Hawaiian language. The comprehensive program combines the use of Hawaiian teaching methodologies, language, history, culture, and values to prepare students for college, for a career, and to be community contributors within a multicultural society.

The legislature further finds that Act 210, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021 (Act 210), requires the department of education to implement a statewide kindergarten entry assessment in the five domains of early childhood education: language and literacy development, cognition and general knowledge, approaches to learning, physical well-being and motor development, and social and emotional development. Act 210 also requires that the department of education administer the kindergarten entry assessment in both English and Olelo Hawaii. While the department of education was able to procure a quality, research‑based tool developed by the Johns Hopkins University for English language schools, there does not currently exist a comparable tool in Olelo Hawaii.

The legislature also finds that due to the non-existence of educational resources in Olelo Hawaii from outside vendors, it is necessary to develop a linguistically and culturally appropriate kindergarten entry assessment for Ka Papahana Kaiapuni students. The legislature notes that the department of education will have to develop a Papahana Kaiapuni kindergarten entry assessment in Olelo Hawaii that aligns with the English language kindergarten entry assessment, with an anticipated effective implementation and compliance date of July 1, 2026, for Ka Papahana Kaiapuni schools, with field testing in the fall of 2024, operational field testing in the fall of 2025, and operational testing for complete implementation in the fall of 2026.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Require the board of education to adopt and the department of education to administer a kindergarten entry assessment in Olelo Hawaii, specifically for Ka Papahana Kaiapuni schools; and

(2) Extend the implementation date for Ka Papahana Kaiapuni schools to use a kindergarten entry assessment in Olelo Hawaii to the 2026-2027 school year.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Standardized assessment for Ka Papahana Kaiapuni students entering kindergarten. (a) The board shall adopt and the department shall administer a Papahana Kaiapuni kindergarten entry assessment.

(b) The Papa Kaiapuni kindergarten entry assessment shall:

(1) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, be administered no earlier than the first day of July of the school year and no later than the first day of November of the school year;

(2) Be conducted in Hawaiian;

(3) Cover all essential domains of school readiness as appropriate for Papa Kaiapuni schools, including:

(A) Language and literacy development;

(B) Cognition and general knowledge;

(D) Physical well-being and motor development; and

(E) Social and emotional development;

(4) Be used in conformance with the recommendations of the National Research Council reports on early childhood; and

(5) Be valid and reliable for its intended purpose.

(1) Close the school readiness gap at kindergarten entry;

(2) Inform instruction in the early elementary school grades; and

(3) Inform parents and guardians of their children's status and to involve parents and guardians in decisions regarding their children's education.

(d) The department shall share the information gathered pursuant to this section with the department of human services, executive office on early learning, and public charter school commission to the extent not otherwise prohibited by administrative rule or law."

SECTION 3. Section 302A-1165, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) The kindergarten entry assessment shall:

(1) Be administered [~~within the first thirty days of each child's admission into kindergarten;~~] no earlier than the first day of July of the school year and no later than the first day of November of the school year;

(2) Be a [~~uniform,~~] statewide assessment[~~; provided that the assessment shall be conducted in English or Hawaiian;~~] conducted in English; provided that Ka Papahana Kaiapuni schools shall use the standardized kindergarten entry assessment in accordance with section 302A- ;

(3) Cover all essential domains of school readiness, including:

(A) Language and literacy development;

(B) Cognition and general knowledge;

(D) Physical well-being and motor development; and

(E) Social and emotional development;

(4) Be used in conformance with the recommendations of the National Research Council reports on early childhood; and

(5) Be valid and reliable for its intended purpose."

SECTION 4. Section 302D-37, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

"(a) The commission shall adopt the kindergarten entry assessment adopted by the board pursuant to section 302A-1165(a) to assess all charter school students entering kindergarten [~~within the first thirty days of admission into kindergarten.~~] no earlier than the first day of July of the school year and no later than the first day of November of the school year.

(b) The commission may waive the requirements of the [~~uniform~~] kindergarten entry assessment on a case-by-case basis."

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 2, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	842
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII