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State by state template created by UOO, http://unitedoptout.

com
Testing opt-out/refusal guide for Hawaii
Contact Amy @ amyathomas@hotmail.com
List of Assessments
Pulled directly from the Hawaii Dept. of Ed. website where they are listed as
assessments/projects:
http://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/TeachingAndearning/Testing/End!f"ourseE#am/P
ages/home.asp#
SBAC
The Hawaii $tate Assessments are used to measure student and school progress in the
attainment of the Hawaii content standards statewide. The $marter %alanced assessments
&$%A"' in math and English anguage Arts &EA'( which will be implemented in )*+,-
+.( are aligned to the new Hawaii "ommon "ore $tandards.
!"#-"$
/-0 and ++ CCSS in EA and
1athematics
Smarter Balanced
Assessment Consortium
%Smarter
Balanced&Assessments22
3-)
4( +*( and +)
CCSS in EA and
1athematics
CCSS in EA and
1athematics
5one
$marter %alanced &optional'
ACT College and Career 'eadiness System
The Hawaii Department of Education will administer the A"T "ollege and "areer
6eadiness $ystem on a statewide basis that consists of the following assessments:
+. E7P!6E for all grade 0 and 4 students8
). PA5 for all grade +* students8 and
/. A"T Plus 9riting for all grade ++ students.
The A"T "ollege and "areer 6eadiness $ystem will pro:ide all secondary schools with a
longitudinal metric aligned to the "ommon "ore $tate $tandards and "ollege 6eadiness
$tandards to monitor and measure student progress toward and readiness for post-
secondary plans.
Assessment 'esults (or)*oo)s
Each year the $tudent Assessment $ection produces a series of Hawaii $tate Assessment
This is not a legal document. ;t is for informational purposes only.
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State by state template created by UOO, http://unitedoptout.com
Program &H$AP' results wor<boo<s. These wor<boo<s contain a statewide summary of
assessment results and school-specific results at the indi:idual student le:el.
+nd-of Course %+,C& +-ams
All students who are enrolled in Algebra ;( Algebra ;;( %iology ;( and =.$. History
courses will ta<e the respecti:e End-of-"ourse &E!"' E#am&s'. $tudents ta<ing the End-
of-"ourse E#ams may ta<e an e#am once during the testing window( scheduled during
the last two to four wee<s of the course( unless the Assessment $ection gi:es a student
permission to ta<e the e#am a second time on a case-by-case basis. .ifteen percent of a
student/s final grade for a course will *e *ased on the results of the +nd-of-Course
+-am for that course.
HSA - Hawaii State Assessment
The Hawaii $tate Assessments &H$A' in 6eading and 1athematics are administered to
students in >rades /-0 and +*. $tudents in >rades , and 0 also ta<e the H$A in $cience.
&The scores of high school students who are enrolled in %iology ; and ta<e the related
End-of-"ourse e#am are also reported as part of statewide assessment scores.' i<e the
End-of-"ourse e#am( the $tate Assessments are administered online using adapti:e
testing.
Hawaiian Language and 0ath HSA
Hawaiian anguage ;mmersion Program &H;P' students in grades /-0 and +* are
administered the Hawaiian anguage H$As in reading and mathematics using the online
H$A system.
The online HSA in Science
$tudents enrolled in grade , or 0 will ta<e the Hawai?i $tate $cience Assessments.
$tudents may ta<e the science assessments up to three times. The current $cience Hawai?i
"ontent and Performance $tandards( Third Edition( &H"P$ ;;;' will continue to be used
because the 5e#t >eneration $cience $tandards ha:e not been adopted by the Hawai?i
Department of Education at the current time.
HSA-Alt - Hawaii State Assessment - Alternate
The Hawaii $tate Alternate Assessment &H$AA' is administered to ;DEA students who
@ualify under the participation criteria for the Alternate Assessment. The H$AA in
reading and mathematics is administered to students in grades / - 0 and +* and the H$AA
in science is administered to students in grades ,( 0( and +*. The H$AAs for reading(
mathematics and science are administered throughout the school year. ;nformation about
the H$AA for parents and educators may be found at the AlohaH$AA.org website.
1A+2 in Hawaii
The 5AEP is a national assessment administered biennially to a randomly selected group
of students in grades ,( 0 and +). The 5ational 5AEP website pro:ides an o:er:iew of
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5AEP in Hawaii( reports for reading( mathematics( science( and writing( and item
compilations in reading( mathematics( science( and geography.
Special considerations for the a*o3e assessments
.ifteen percent of a student/s final grade for a course will *e *ased on the results of
the +nd-of-Course +-am for that course.
The +nd-of-Course +-ams ser3e three main purposes4
+. To impro:e curriculum and instruction and ensure consistency throughout the
state. The e#ams help classroom teachers focus on the most important concepts
and s<ills and identify areas where the curriculum needs to be strengthened.
). To help higher education determine if students are ready to do credit-bearing
wor<. %ecause the e#ams are aligned with the "ommon "ore $tate $tandards
and/or the Hawaii "ontent and Performance $tandards( ;;;( they will measure
s<ills students need to enter and succeed in first-year( credit-bearing courses. Post-
secondary institutions will be able to use the results of the e#ams to tell high
school students whether they are ready for college-le:el wor<( or if they ha:e
content and s<ill gaps that need to be filled before they enroll in college. This
information should help high schools better prepare their students for college( and
reduce the need for colleges to pro:ide costly remediation courses.
/. To assess progress throughout the state. 6eports will be issued that will help state
education leaders( educators and the public assess progress( identify areas for
impro:ement and e:aluate the impact of state strategies for impro:ing o:erall
achie:ement.
2rocedures for opt-out/refusal
5o loopholes were disco:ered howe:er we also did not find any serious conse@uences(
with the e#ception of the 4.A participation rate. !ddly enough the wording on the parent
letters states that they Bstrongly encourageC parents to ha:e their children participate. 9e
find this wording to imply that they recogniDe they cannot force a child to ta<e a test.
EAF here: http://www.alohahsap.org/H$A/EAF.html
Parent letters were found here: http://www.alohahsap.org/H$A/resources>eneral.html
Here is a sample of one:
PA6T;";PAT;!5 ETTE6 E!6 >E5E6A ED="AT;!5 $T=DE5T$ 6E>A6D;5>
THE !5;5E HA9A;?; $TATE 6EAD;5>( 1ATHE1AT;"$( A5D $";E5"E
A$$E$$1E5T$ A5D THE %;!!>G ; E5D-!E-"!=6$E E7A1
Dear Parent(
This is not a legal document. ;t is for informational purposes only.
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During the )*+) H )*+/ school year( all students in grades /( ,( .( I( J( 0( and +* will ta<e
the !nline Hawai?i $tate 6eading and 1athematics Assessments. $tudents in grades , and
0 will ta<e the !nline Hawai?i $tate $cience Assessment. $tudents in grades 4 H +) who
are enrolled in %iology ; will ta<e the %iology ; End-of-"ourse E#am. Gour child will
ta<e the assessments on different days during the school year. 9e will inform you of the
specific dates before your child ta<es each assessment. The purpose of the assessments is
to pro:ide you and your childKs teacher&s' with information about the e#tent to which
your child has met selected Hawai?i content standards in reading( mathematics( and
science( depending on your childKs current grade le:el. 9e ha:e attached a Parent
Information Booklet with information about the assessments and what you can do to help
your child prepare.
The =nited $tates Department of Education &=$DE' re@uires that all states recei:ing
Title ; funding comply with the re@uirements of the 5o "hild eft %ehind Act &5"%' of
)**+( including the participation of all students in yearly academic assessments &$ection
++++ &/' &"' &i''. According to the re@uirements of 5"%( all states must Bde:elop
challenging academic standards that are the same for e:ery studentC and Bensure that all
schools test at least 4. percent of all students.C
The Department of Education strongly encourages all parents to ha:e their children
participate in the !nline Hawai?i $tate Assessments so that we can better identify their
academic strengths and needs.
;f you ha:e any @uestions( please contact the school at LLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
$incerely(
Principal
5rgency for opt-out/refusal
High $ta<es Testing:
;s not scientifically-based and fails to follow the =.$. >o:ernmentMs own data on
learning.

NEosters test dri:en education that is not meeting the indi:idual/intellectual needs of
students.

NPresents a racial and economic bias that is beneficial to white middle/upper class
students and detrimental to second language students( impo:erished students( and
students of color.

N ;s in opposition to the correcti:e action in gaps in opportunity and resources sanctioned
by the Eiscal Eairness Act.

This is not a legal document. ;t is for informational purposes only.
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N$upports complicity of corporate interests rather than democracy based on public
concerns.

NEosters coercion o:er cooperation with regards to federal funding for public education.

NPromotes a culture of lying( cheating( and e#ploitation within the school community.

NHas used the achie:ement gap to foster a Bde factoC segregation that has resulted in
separate and une@ual education for minorities.

Additionally( data collection of studentMs pri:ate information cannot be guaranteed
security or that it will not be abused in some way by third party entities.

ow/poor test scores( which are li<ely to occur with more fre@uency with "ommon "ore
and PA6"" and $%A will be used to fire teachers( create more online learning scenarios
e:en in elementary schools( and close more public schools to be replaced with for profit
charter schools.
Sample language to include in opt-out/refusal
This is what we recei:ed from the D!E se:eral years ago when we contacted them:
"ontact childKs school H there is a process/guidelines to follow. Parent/guardian will need
to write a letter as<ing that the child not be administered the state test. etter is needed to
pro:ide e:idence to =$D!E
Potential contact: 3ent Hinton( $tudent Assessment $ection( $ystems Accountability
!ffice( &0*0' J//-,+** e#t ))) H des<( I,+ +0th A:enue OP+*)( &0*0' J//-,,0/ H fa#(
Honolulu( Hawaii 4I0+I
Sample opt out letter
Dear LLLLLLL:
; am writing on behalf of LLLLL to opt him/her out of the &test name'. He/she is neither
permitted to ta<e the e#am during mandated testing days nor during designated ma<e-up
sessions. Additionally( ; am re@uesting that the school ma<e accommodations for
meaningful alternati:e acti:ities or assignments that will continue to promote his/her
academic and intellectual growth. 1y child will not be in attendance if academically
:iable alternati:es are not a:ailable. Eurthermore( ; must be guaranteed in writing that
whate:er option is ta<en( either alternati:e assignments or absence( my child will not face
any negati:e conse@uences to( for e#ample( course grades( social or beha:ioral
e:aluations( wor<load( promotion( or future classroom assignments.
This is not a legal document. ;t is for informational purposes only.
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$trict adherence to state and federal high-sta<es standardiDed testing( including the
e#tensi:e classroom preparation that occurs prior to test administration( pre:ents my
child from recei:ing a well-rounded and engaging educational e#perience. =ntil focus on
testable s<ills diminishes to a reasonable e#tent( ; will continue to withhold my child
from participation in the testing program( and ; as< that you honor that decision.
; do apologiDe in ad:ance for the incon:enience or scrutiny that this decision may cause
the administration( the school( and staff.
$incerely(
'esources and organi6ations
https://www.faceboo<.com/"ampbell9or<The6ulesProtestQfrefRts
http://unitedoptout.com/united-opt-out-national-tool<it-opt-out-of-high-sta<es-testing/
http://unitedoptout.com/parental-rights/
State specific watch-list
http://www.studentsfirst.org/page/group/HawaiiforEducation6eform
http://www.sourcewatch.org/inde#.php/HawaiiLAE"LPoliticians
http://www.teachforamerica.org/where-we-wor</hawaii
Additional or miscellaneous information
Ges( see here: http://hawaiidoe.org/stri:ehisystem/inde#.htm
Additional "onsiderations:
9e suggest demanding that 5ational Assessment of Educational Progress &5AEP' be
used for those who feel a need to administer a standardiDed test. 6ead here to find out
more: http://www.sd<rashen.com/articles/5=TL5oL=nnecessaryLTesting.pdf

Additionally( if your school is participating in any field tests( these can easily be refused.
Eield tests are created to determine which @uestions to use on future tests( and( in essence(
place students in a position of wor<ing for the corporations who de:elop these tests. 9e
suggest refusing them.

This is not a legal document. ;t is for informational purposes only.
Template re:ised +*./*.)*+,
State by state template created by UOO, http://unitedoptout.com
;f your child brings home homewor< in the form of test prep boo<lets( consider refusing
these as well. As< your childMs teachers to pro:ide alternati:e acti:ities or creati:e
projects in place of test preparation.


This is not a legal document. ;t is for informational purposes only.
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