Dear Parent/Legal Guardian,

Your child is scheduled to participate in the Smarter Balanced Assessments for grades 3 -5 and/or the HSA Science (NGSS) which are federally mandated by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015) and required per Hawaii Board of Education policy. Students who are participating in distance learning or hybrid models are also required to be assessed in-person and on our school’s campus. 

The Smarter Balanced computer adaptive tests (CATs) for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics are completed by most students in a 60 minute test session. The ELA assessment has an additional component, the Performance Task (PT), which will take approximately 90 minutes. The HSA Science (NGSS) assessments are completed by most students in approximately 90 minutes. 

Your cooperation is appreciated in preparing your child for the scheduled days of testing. Please eat breakfast prior to bringing your child to campus. Breakfast will not be provided. Your child should come to school wearing their school uniform shirt. Do not send your child with any electronic devices, including smart phones or watches. On the day of testing, please bring the following items with your child:

• Mask
• Water bottle (water fountains on campus are not available for use)
• 2 sharpened pencils
• Eraser

The following safety measures will be in place:

• School staff and students will follow the Department of Health guidelines and remain home if they are displaying any COVID-19 symptoms. 
• Test sessions will be staggered (i.e. timing and location) to allow for social distancing.
• All surfaces-such as tables, chairs, door handles, etc.- will be sanitized prior to and after testing.
• Students must wear masks and remain six feet apart from each other.
• Students will be seated six feet apart for testing.
• The test administrator will follow all Waiakeawaena COVID-19 safety protocols by wearing a mask, washing and sanitizing hands frequently, and social distancing.
• Sanitizer will be provided to students at the testing site.

Please review your childs’ grade, group, and test dates/times in the table below.

If your child is not feeling well or displays any cold or flu-like symptoms on the scheduled date of testing, your child will not be allowed on campus. Please notify the school office by telephone (981-7200) if your child will not be attending school on a scheduled testing date.

Please bring your child to school on each of the test dates listed above between 7:45 - 8:00, unless otherwise directed. Students who arrive after the scheduled time will not be allowed on campus. You may drop off your child at the Kino’ole Street drop off area where school staff will conduct temperature checks. School staff will be available upon arrival to assist students who need help locating their testing rooms. Students are to proceed directly to their assigned rooms without stopping or talking to others. Once inside the testing room, students are to follow the test administrator’s instructions. 

Please pick up your child between 10:00 and 10:15. Your child may be picked up at the Kino’ole Street pick up area. According to the Department of Education, mandatory testing must be completed in person, on campus. If you do not want your child to participate, you must complete the refusal form at this link: https://forms.gle/3C8bNDpT2dnLwXks5 by March 12, 2021. The link is also available on the school website.

Please contact the school Test Coordinators by email: techteam@waiakeawaena.k12.hi.us if you need any assistance in understanding this document. Please contact Principal Kaleohano at 981-7200, if you have any questions or concerns about testing.