The Department secured a one-year waiver fromthe U.S. Department of Education (USDOE)allowing Hawaiian Language Immersion Program(HLIP) students to take a specialized assessment inthe 2014-15 school year in lieu of the state’sEnglish language arts and math assessments.

The Department and UH-Manoa developed afield test for HLIP students that measures progresstoward mastery of academic standards on par withthe Smarter Balanced Assessment given in English.The field test for students in grades 3 and 4 enrolledin immersion schools will be held this spring.

Supt. Matayoshi sent a letter to the USDOErequesting a waiver that would allow studentstaking the field test to forego Smarter Balanced,given to students in grades 3-8 and 11, so theyaren’t tested twice. It wasgranted on the conditionthat all assessmentobligations are met,including schoolaccountabilitymeasures.

The Department shared how it isstrengthening its commitment to Hawaiianprograms in the public school system sincethe Board of Education (BOE) acted onHawaiian Education policies 2104 and 2105.

“Over the course of the last year, we haveengaged with Hawaiian educators,community leaders, parents and supporters tocreate a path forward for a stronger Hawaiianstudies program,” said Supt. KathrynMatayoshi.

The Department has established an Officeof Hawaiian Education, and will soon benaming a director. Community engagementwill remain a priority while addressingsystemwide valuing of Hawaiian educationfor all students; developing a manageablescope and focus for the Office of HawaiianEducation; aligning federal and stateaccountability requirements for Hawaiianlanguage assessments; and limited time andresources to implement policies systems-wideand prepare all students before they graduate.

Hawaiian Education: Imua!

Superintendent’s

EDUCATION UPDATE

/HIDOE808/HIDepartmentofEducationHawaiiPublicSchools.org /HIDOE808 doe_info@hawaiidoe.orgCONNECT

HAwAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION | MARCH 2015

OpportunitiesEDUCATORS

Presidential Awards forExcellence in Mathematics andScience Teaching (PAEMST) arethe nation's highest honors forteachers of mathematics andscience (including computerscience). Awardees serve asmodels for their colleagues,inspiration to their communities,and leaders in the improvementof mathematics and scienceeducation. If you know greatteachers, nominate them. DueMay 1: https://www.paemst.org

The Women In Technology Teamis encouraging Hawaii teachersinterested in GIS (geographicinformation systems) to apply fora FREE ArcGIS Onlinesubscription for their schools.It’s an easy way for students andteachers to use Esri’s mappingsoftware. On the Intranet’sSTEM site: https://intranet.hawaiipublicschools.org/offices/ociss/programs/stem

SCHOOLS

The Captain Planet Foundationis awarding 16 $2,500 “eco-tech” grants to schools or non-profits for the purpose ofengaging children in inquiry-based projects in STEM fields(Science, Technology,Engineering and Math) that useinnovation, biomimicry, nature-based design, or new uses fortechnology to addressenvironmental problems in theircommunities. Due April 30.captainplanetfoundation.org/ecotech-grants/

Success Stories

CAMPBELL HIGH GOINGTO SAMSUNG NATIONALSGo Sabers! Students took aproblem (hot classrooms),used STEM to innovate ashort-term solution (saltwater-powered fans), and nowthey're in the Top 15 of thenational Samsung Solve ForTomorrow Contest. You canhelp vote them into the Top 5!STORY: bit.ly/JCHSssft15

CURRICULUM IS KEY INSUSTAINABILITY PLANSAs part of the Ka Hei plan,Opterra Energy Services isrolling out professionaldevelopment for scienceteachers to incorporate solarand energy efficiency kits intothe classroom. “It’s holistic —tied into our sustainabilityinitiatives and our facilities.”STORY: bit.ly/kaheip1

TOP YOUTH VOLUNTEERSFROM PUBLIC SCHOOLSAlexandra Skrocki, 17, ofRadford High and KaytlenAkau, 13, of KamakaheleiMiddle have been selected as2015 Hawaii state winners bythe Prudential Spirit ofCommunity Awards, forstudents who devote time toservice projects. STORY: bit.ly/pruHI2015

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. — Winston Churchill

Office, director position created 2015 HLIP testing waiver approved

Mililani Uka’s Jana Fukada wins $25K Milken Award“Jana’s passion for teaching and continuous drive to refine herlessons to better serve all students create an engaging classroomenvironment for learning.” — Deputy Supt. Ronn Nozoe STORY:

bit.ly/MilkenFukada

MAR 22-24

SCIENCE ROCK STARS UNITE!The Hawaii State Science andEngineering Fair returns to the HawaiiConvention Center to showcase the topresearch projects from district fairsacross the state. Meet these talentedmiddle and high school students andexplore their projects, which reflect real-world scientific investigations. Topfinishers will represent the Aloha State atthe Intel International Fair in PittsburghMay 10-15.

SMARTER BALANCED EXAM ›››

SMARTER THAN A 6TH GRADER?Select the equation(s) at right where x = 5 is a solution. (Answer below.)

CLAIMS & TARGETSClaim 1: Concepts and Procedures —Students can explain and applymathematical concepts and carry outmathematical procedures with precisionand fluency.Assessment Target 1 F: Reason aboutand solve one-variable equations andinequalities.

He wa‘a. he moku. One canoe,one island. This has been adriving theme of our publicschool improvement efforts —we have each other, and we cando this together.

But we have more than eachother. We have friends in the nextcanoe. Ohana on the next island.

Everyone wants to see ourkeiki succeed in life, in all itspermutations — college and/orcareer, health and wellness,financial and family stability.Everyone has a role in ourschools. Our partnerships aremaking it easier than ever tomake that impact. Take a look:

• Kealakehe High and IolaniSchool are teaming to develop,build and test a lunar experimentand send it to the moon. Thisinnovative program spearheadedby NASA and Hawaii’s PISCESwill test electrodynamic dustshield technology designed torepel corrosive moondust fromspacecrafts and suits. The goal isto board the project on a GoogleLunar XPRIZE team spacecraftin late 2016.

• Early College partnershipsare booming. The CastleFoundation with GEAR UPHawaii is investing more than$1.2 million for 12 high schools,

where students can earn sixor more college creditsbefore graduation —increasing student readiness forcollege while slashing the cost.

• The PUEO Program atPunahou supports kids fromfinancially challenged familieswho aren’t at the top of the class,and provides them withexperiences that steers themtoward college — to greatsuccess. The Clarence T.C.Ching Foundation is extendingits support with $6 million.

• Kamehameha Schools honorsits mission of supporting allHawaiian children with the Ka

Pua Initiative.They’ve just opened

the Maili CommunityLearning Center with earlylearning and preschool programsfor Waianae Coast families.

• Hawaii’s arts centers havebeen invaluable. A strongrelationship of note: The MauiArts & Cultural Center’s artsintegration partnership withPomaikai Elementary.

We have only scratched thesurface of our partnerships inplace and, of that, this is just thebeginning.

Education Update is a monthly newsletter by the Department of Education’s Communications and Community Affairs Office, distributed toschools, the first Board of Education meeting of the month and posted online at HawaiiPublicSchools.org. We encourage submissions!

Please send to: 1390 Miller Street, Rm 312, Honolulu, HI 96813. Phone: (808) 586-3232; Email: doe_info@hawaiidoe.org.

Supt.’s Corner

Don’t Miss This! EVENTS, DEADLINES & FUN STUFF

EDUCATION UPDATE › MARCH 2015 › BACK PAGE

2x + 4 = 14

/HIDOE808/HIDepartmentofEducationHawaiiPublicSchools.org /HIDOE808 doe_info@hawaiidoe.orgCONNECT

Answer: A, D & E

Spring Break

MAR 20

HOw IS YOUR L-E-X-I-C-O-N-?The Hawaii State SpellingBee, brought to you byKamaaina Kids, will behosted at the NewHope Auditorium atSand Island. Districtchamps will engage in aspell-off until one studentremains, who will represent Hawaii at theScripps National Spelling Bee May 24-29. Pictured: 2014 Hawaii championChristianne Abella of Konawaena Middle.

MAR 13

MARK OF SUSTAINABILITYAs part of the educational component ofKa Hei, the Department’s five-yearenergy and sustainability program, weare looking for student artists to helpcreate the Ka Hei logo. Students areencouraged to enter the logo contest byproviding their best design and anessay of up to 250 words about theircreation. The contest is open to allpublic school students in Hawaii. DueMarch 13. Details and entry form:bit.ly/KaHeiProgram MAR 16-20

A

5x = 55B

6x + 3 = 14C

8 + 3x = 23D

6x = 30E

5x = 1F