Hawaii Lawmakers Skeptical of Education Department Promises

Eight years after the Hawaii Legislature mandated performance contracts for the state's 280-plus public school principals, principals still don't have them.

Why, then, should lawmakers believe the Department of Education is capable of enforcing performance evaluations for 12,500 teachers?

That's what Rep. Mark Takai wanted to know at a hearing last week on a proposal that would allow the department to establish a performance management system for teachers and education officers.

The measure has the backing of Department of Education officials, education advocates and Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who promised in his State of the State speech last month to use "all management, administrative, legislative and legal tools we have at our disposal to implement an evaluation system that not only measures, but achieves student growth; turns around low-performing schools; and supports teachers in increasing their effectiveness."

But why the rush, after eight years of inertia on performance evaluations for principals, Takai wanted to know.

The answer: Hawaii's $75 million Race to the Top grant, which depends on implementing teacher and principal evaluations, as well as merit pay based on the results of the evaluations.

All good goals, Takai and Rep. Mark Nakashima said, but what about outcomes? The department has a track record of struggling to follow through on mandates and promises.

"We passed the bill in 2004 mandating it, and eight years later we sit here without a concrete performance contract," Takai told Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and Deputy Superintendent Ronn Nozoe. "If we pass this bill, is it going to take you guys eight years to implement it?"

Nakashima echoed Takai's concerns and pointed out that the current proposal expands on the earlier requirements, implying they will be even more difficult to meet than the original ones.

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