Hawaiian language school concerned about low score

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER
Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) - A Big Island charter school that educates students in Hawaiian says the state Department of Education's recently released rankings unfairly imply the school is failing.

Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki scored 20 out of a possible 400 in the state's new performance system. The system measures schools on multiple factors, including chronic absenteeism and science proficiency.

Principal Kauanoe Kamana blames the low score on a lack of appropriate Hawaiian-language tests, which has led the majority of parents at her school to boycott the state's assessments. She says the state should have explained that when releasing the list this week.

The State Public Charter School Commission says the school's concern highlights challenges of developing suitable assessments for Hawaiian immersion students.

Kamana says her school wants assessments that are developed in Hawaiian, instead of translated.

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