Hawaii public school students in grades 3 through 8 and grade 11 will begin taking a new state assessment this month that better informs educators on each child’s progress toward being ready for college and careers. ADVERTISING Hawaii public school
Hawaii public school students in grades 3 through 8 and grade 11 will begin taking a new state assessment this month that better informs educators on each child’s progress toward being ready for college and careers.
Most schools have between March 10 and the end of the school year, June 3, to administer the online Smarter Balanced assessments in English language arts and math, according to the Hawaii Department of Education. The testing window closes June 25 for multi-track schools.
“We are anxious and excited to launch a more dynamic and engaging annual assessment that will help show us where students are on their path to success in careers and college, and how we can best help them get to where they need to be,” said Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. “We have been making sure that schools have the technical and educational support to be ready for this moment. Thank you to all of the educators, parents, students and community members from Hawaii and across the country who contributed in the groundbreaking assessment development work.”
The Smarter Balanced assessments will replace the Hawaii State Assessments in reading and math, the state said. They are a major component of the Hawaii State Department of Education and Board of Education’s Strategic Plan.
The change to a new assessment and standards is expected to result in lower proficiency scores in Hawaii and other states, the Hawaii Department of Education said. However, a drop in scores does not mean students are performing any worse, the state said, adding that a new student achievement baseline is being established based on higher standards and a different assessment.
Student reports for the Smarter Balanced assessments are anticipated to be available two weeks after completion of the assessment.
The Smarter Balanced assessment system allows teachers to administer interim assessments, or frequent academic checks, throughout the year to identify and address student needs. Students taking the assessment will face more complex problems that challenge them to support their answers with explanations and evidence. The digital platform features multimedia items and lets students mark questions for review, take notes on a digital notepad, use calculators and other tools in certain sections, and also pause the test.
Smarter Balanced assessments have three components: A computer-adaptive test, a classroom activity, and a performance task that asks students to apply their knowledge to solve a real-world problem.
Hawaii schools have taken a number of steps to prepare for the transition. Last year, students took a “bridge” assessment that included items aligned with new and former standards. In addition, students at nearly 100 schools participated in a Smarter Balanced field test. Schools also have had the opportunity to conduct practice and training tests this school year.
