DOE reverses view on law compliance

By Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Education Writer

State Schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto yesterday reversed her position and declared the Department of Education in compliance with a state law that requires standardized testing.

Act 197, passed last year, requires standardized testing in grades 3 through 8 and once in high school. The DOE this month is giving the tests in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10.

The law also calls for compliance with the testing schedule of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The department is on track with the federal law.

"It is clear that the department's actions are consistent with any reasonable interpretation of the law," Hamamoto said. "There is nothing that says expanded testing was to begin this year."

Last week, when Dave Rolf, executive director of the Hawai'i Automobile Dealers Association, which pushed for the testing law, said he was disturbed that the schools were not testing at every grade level, Hamamoto had said the schools were not in compliance with Act 197 because they were racing to implement the demands of No Child Left Behind.

"We don't disagree with the law," Hamamoto said. "The department was unable to implement that due to the demands of No Child Left Behind. Under No Child Left Behind, we have to do annual testing, and as we develop the tests we will give them."

This week, some lawmakers also expressed concern the department might not be complying with state law.

By testing in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10, Hawai'i meets the federal testing requirements.

By the 2005-06 school year, states will be required to test all students on math and reading skills in the third through eighth grades, and at least once in high school. By 2007-08, schools must add a science test at least once in grades 3 through 5, grades 6 through 9 and grades 10 through 12.