Hālau Kū Māna has been recently highlighted in the media and newspapers for its misrepresentation of data. HKM has in no way misreported or misrepresented its academic performance data in the 2009-10 self-evaluation report to the Charter School Review Panel (CSRP) and Charter School Administrative Office (CSAO). HKM recognizes that sound and viable organizations are accountable and transparent, in this spirit, HKM has provided a copy of the information that was provided to the auditor’s for its stakeholders and the general public.

RESPONSE TO MEDIA

HKM was compliant with the report format and report guidelines that were provided by the CSRP and CSAO. For the Hawai’i State Assessment, HKM reported its data as a whole-school and compared its performance to the average state scores and the average complex scores for language arts, math and science.

To demonstrate Adequate Yearly Progress, the state reports whether or not the entire school met proficiency or did not meet proficiency. This status is reported at the school level and not by the individual grade level. The auditor’s were dissatisfied with the way that HKM reported its whole-school average score and not by its individual grade level scores.

Each statement is backed by data. Again, in no way did HKM misrepresent its data. In fact, HKM continues to make improvements and met adequate yearly progress for the first time in math in the 2010-11 school year. Hālau Kū Māna invites you to check out our campus and our record of achievements.

The excerpt below is the section that the auditor’s office represented.

C. Student Performance

Please provide 3 indicators of student achievement including at least one qualitative and one quantitative sample in the form of graphs and/or narrative. Some examples may include HSA, HAPA, Terra Nova and NWEA. Narrative should include information on both strengths of student achievement and areas for improvement concerning student growth. (When documenting HSA scores, proficiency includes both ‘meets’ and ‘exceeds’ combined.)

HSA scores

The chart above depicts HSA scores for 2009-2010 for the areas of reading, math and science. HKM’s reading score is 324, higher than the state average and slightly lower than the complex. Overall, HKM is making steady progress in the language arts program and is consistently raising and/or maintaining adequate HSA scores.

In the area of math, our school scored 282. While the school has met its internal 10% proficiency goal, we are still under proficiency compared to state and complex levels by 9 to 10 points. Math remains our primary area of concern.

Science scores were placed at 271, meaning that we are well below proficiency. Science remains another area of concern.

While HKM is not yet proficient in science and math, the point spread represented in the chart is relatively narrow. Our school is focused on meeting AYP through quality benchmark-driven instruction, targeted intervention, and focused test preparation.

Mahina Paishon Duarte
Principal & Director
Hālau Kū Māna Public Charter School

“Cultivating Agents of Change for our ʻĀina, Families, and Communities”