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Bill Summary · HB 98

Legislative bill overview

HB 98 relates to authentic assessments in Hawaii's education system, though the bill text itself is not provided in your submission. Based on the legislative history, the bill underwent amendments in the House Education Committee and advanced through the legislative process before being carried over to the 2026 session. The measure received committee support with 11 affirmative votes and no opposing votes in the EDN committee.

Why is this important

Authentic assessments typically refer to evaluation methods that measure student learning through real-world applications and performance tasks rather than traditional standardized tests. Such changes affect how educators measure student competency, how school funding and teacher performance are evaluated, and ultimately what skills students develop before entering the workforce or higher education.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs and training: Shifting assessment methods requires professional development for teachers and potentially new testing infrastructure, raising budget concerns
  • Standardization and equity: Authentic assessments can vary by teacher or school, potentially creating inconsistent measures across districts and raising questions about fairness
  • Accountability metrics: Moving away from standardized benchmarks may complicate how policymakers measure school and district performance for accountability purposes

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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