Hawai`i State School Readiness Assessment (HSSRA)

The HSSRA was mandated in 2002 by the Hawaii State Legislature through Act 13 to measure the readiness of our young children and elementary schools. The assessment, funded by the Hawaii Community Foundation, was developed by early education experts Dr. Mary E. Brandt and Dr. Donna Grace for the School Readiness Task Force, in partnership with INPEACE/SPARK, the Department of Education, Kamehameha Schools and Good Beginnings Alliance. The instrument was designed for both school and system level use to assess whether children enter school ready to succeed and schools are ready for entering kindergarten children.

• 20 percent of Hawaii DOE kindergarten teachers had an Early Childhood Endorsement in 2007—which signifies these teachers have been formally educated and trained to work with young children with a focus on instruction during the primary years.
  
  
  • What can we do? What can be done to help ensure that more teachers have the training and resources they need to best address the social, emotional and instructional needs of children entering kindergarten?

• 18 percent of elementary schools had well-established parent involvement programs (as self-rated by kindergarten teachers and principals) in 2007.
  
  
  • What can we do? For a child to succeed in school, parents/family and schools must work in partnership. How can we collaborate with the DOE and better support schools as they strengthen their parent involvement and parent communication?
  
  Read more about HSSRA and see the 2007-08 results by state, complex area, and school.