The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday renewed Hawaii’s waiver from mandates of the federal No Child Left Behind law, allowing the state to continue evaluating public schools on a state-developed accountability system known as Strive HI.
The Strive HI system largely replaces federal mandates that required schools to meet rising reading and math proficiency targets or face sanctions. The 2001 law has been widely criticized for being a one-size-fits-all approach that places too much emphasis on standardized test scores.
Federal education officials had announced in 2011 that states would be allowed exemptions from the law’s key requirements if they met certain conditions, such as enacting standards to prepare students for college and careers and demanding more accountability of teachers and principals.
Since then the U.S. DOE has granted 42 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia waivers from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as No Child Left Behind, in exchange for adopting alternative accountability systems that ensure student success.
The waivers don’t relax standardized testing requirements, but are aimed at giving states relief from some of the more rigid provisions of the law while Congress works on revisions.
Although revisions to the federal law have been due since 2007, it remains in place until a new law is implemented.
"This means states need a new round of waivers that provide flexibility from top-down, prescriptive provisions of the law so that they can continue implementing innovative changes that ensure all children receive a high-quality education," the U.S. DOE said in a statement. "These renewals provide states with stability as they continue to work on preparing all students for success in college, careers and life."
Hawaii’s waiver renewal is effective through the 2017-18 school year.
The state Department of Education said this marks the first time its accountability system has been approved for a multiyear term without conditions attached. Previous federal approval was conditionally approved for one-year terms, beginning in mid-2013.
The DOE said the waiver provides the needed flexibility from No Child Left Behind to better measure school effectiveness and provide tailored rewards and support to schools.
"This continuation of our (waiver) allows us to stay the course with the Strive HI system," schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said in a statement.
The Strive HI system uses reading and math test scores as one measure of performance. Isle schools for the past two years also have been evaluated using criteria that vary for elementary and secondary schools, such as how well they reduce chronic absenteeism, increase graduation and college-going rates, and close the achievement gap between high-needs students — those who are disabled, economically challenged or learning English — and other students.
Individual schools receive a score out of a possible 400 points, which determines where they place in one of five categories: recognition (top 5 percent of schools), continuous improvement, focus, priority (lowest 5 percent of schools) and superintendent’s zone (a subset of the priority schools, based on repeated failures to meet targets over time).
Of the 256 public schools and 32 public charter schools rated under the Strive HI system last school year, 125 saw a year-over-year increase in their scores, while scores were unchanged for five schools and the rest saw a decrease, according to an analysis of Strive HI data the DOE released last summer.
Matayoshi noted that the DOE has made improvements to the system based on input from principals and teachers. "The adjustments … reflect multiple factors that improve our alignment to our strategic plan and goals for student and school achievement," she said.
For example, complex areas that have schools in the focus and priority categories receive additional support and oversight through a state-funded academic officer.
