Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 Malaki 1983 — EDUCATION ASSESSMENT PRESENTED [ARTICLE]

EDUCATION ASSESSMENT PRESENTED

The long awaited report from the Native Hawaiian Educational Assessment Project was presented to U.S. Education Secretary Terrel Bell in March, 1983 by members of the Project Steering Committee. Chairman of the Committee was Myron B. Thompson, Trustee of the Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate whieh funded the project at no public expense. Senator Daniel K. lnouye originally introduced legislation authorizing the study but federal funds were withdrawn by the Budget Act of 1981. Goals of the massive report were to: 1) identify Native Hawaiian needs and 2) identify effective Native American and loeal programs that could meet those needs. The report is hailed as the first comprehensive study on educational needs of Hawaiians revealing new data through scientific methodology. In a news release Senator lnouye complimented the cooperation of the U.S. Department of Education as being crucial in developing the report, and expressed confidence that Secretary Bell would consider report findings and recommendations to assure its continuation. The senior Hawaii Senator also announced that Chairman of the Education Sub-Committee of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, Senator Robert Stafford (R-VT) has agreed to hold hearings on the education report in Hawaii later this year. Additionally Senator lnouye has started preparing legislation to establish in Hawaii a satellite of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory an educational research center based in Oregon operating on 65% federal funds. The Educational Laboratory budget is pegged at 7.5 million dollars and research, demonstration programs, evaluation and dissemination of information would be tailored to Hawaiian and Pacific Islander educational needs. Major project findings: - While the standardized achievement test scores of Hawaiian students in public schools have improved since 1976, public school students still score below the national norm while those in private schools test at or above the national averages. - Vocabulary and mathematical word problems are weak areas for Hawaiian students, especially those in lower grades. - The learning style of Hawaiian students conflicts with standard classroom learning as their educationaI needs are tied to their unique culture. Hawaiian students prefer working with their peers rather than alone. The final report will be made available to appropriate agencies and organizations sometime in the summer, but recommendations from the project include: - The establishment of an endowed Chair at the University of Hawaii for a Native Hawaiian Scholar, devoted to continued research on native Hawaiian children and assisting the work of the Educational Laboratory. - Increasing programs for native Hawaiian children in basic skills, such as mathematics and science, and providing special training for teachers in areas of high native Hawaiian student enrollment. - Establishing graduate level scholarships for students in professional schools of law, teaching and business. - Increasing interagency support for early learning programs in native Hawaiian families.