USDE Violations of NAIA and the Testing Boycott at Nāwahīokalani'ōpu'u School

Abstract

Abstract:NALA protections have special relevance to Hawai'i, where the local Native American language has official status. The United States has pursued NALA-like policies in its foreign policy, protesting, for example, suppression of Tibetan-medium education in China. Yet, hypocritically, federally imposed NCLB testing is not NALA compliant and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) suppresses use of Native American languages in schools in Hawai'i and elsewhere. Examined here is the case of the P-12 Nāwahīokalani'ōpu'u School (Nāwahī). Nāwahī has produced 14 years of 100 percent high school graduation and 80 percent college attendance, yet its academic success is federally required to be judged through testing using English — a language not used in the school to deliver academic content. Nāwahī parents have boycotted NCLB testing. While aware of the situation, the USDE has done nothing to address the discrimination. The state has complied with the USDE, while unsuccessfully trying to protect Hawaiian programs. Nāwahī is therefore undergoing corrective action.