Bill > HB98

This bill amends Hawaii's education law to allow public school complexes to use authentic assessments as an alternative to standardized testing. The bill recognizes that over-reliance on standardized tests has negatively impacted education, particularly for low-income and minority students, by narrowing curricula and creating a climate of fear. The legislation defines "authentic assessment" as an evaluation method that involves multiple forms of measurement beyond standardized testing and connects instructional content to real-world problem solving, such as project-based learning, scientific experimentation, and portfolio writing. Specifically, the bill modifies Section 302A-321 of Hawaii Revised Statutes to permit school complexes to develop classroom-based performance assessments that may include authentic assessments, and adds a definition of authentic assessment to the statute. The bill is part of a broader effort to promote twenty-first century learning by providing more flexible and engaging educational assessment methods that align with real-world skills and problem-solving approaches, in line with federal recommendations from the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=98&year=2026