The Associated Press State & Local Wire March 3, 2009

HEADLINE:  Audit faults Hawaii Teacher Standards Board

A new state audit is critical of the work being done by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board and calls for legislation to transfer responsibility for administering a teacher licensure program from the standards board to the state Board of Education.

Auditor Marion Higa said Monday the board "is in a state of confusion, unable to develop, administer and deliver an effective teacher licensing program.

"The board's failure jeopardizes federal funding for the Department of Education, which is struggling to meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001," Higa said.

The board issued a statement, saying it "strongly challenged" the findings of the report.

"We are frankly stunned and saddened to see that the report demonstrates so little understanding of what's required to promote professionalism among teachers," said Jonathan Gillentine, board chairman and a teacher at Rev. Benjamin Parker Elementary School.

Gillentine said there is no merit to Higa's assertion that the board has failed to develop a professional teacher licensure program.

"Since the board was formed, it has helped more than 5,600 teachers obtain a new license, and updated at least 21,500 existing ones," he said. "The board has developed a rigorous, quality-driven standards licensure program that meets, and aligns, with national standards used by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards."

Gillentine said the report falsely holds the board responsible for No Child Left Behind requirements that are the responsibility of the Department of Education.

"The federal government holds states and school districts, not licensing agencies, responsible for ensuring that highly qualified teachers are hired and assigned to teach courses in their area of expertise. A quick review of federal law would confirm this," he said.

Higa said the board's lack of oversight and poor management of two sole source contracts to develop an online application system resulted in a waste of more than $1 million in teacher licensing fees.

Gillentine responded for the board by saying the allegation "portrays the board as acting independently without consulting any other state agency. However, this is just not possible."

The board said it is obligated to strictly follow procedures and seeks approval for all its major contracts and rules. It says this "seems to have been overlooked in the report. "

Gillentine said the board had pointed out problems in the draft report, but its comments were ignored.

"We are deeply committed to addressing any real concerns raised in the report, and we will move to do so immediately," he said. "We have already taken steps to address some concerns and we sincerely hope that lawmakers will give the board the opportunity to make any needed changes at our level."

Higa said the board's responses failed to address "one of the report's key findings that the board has failed to develop, administer and deliver on its core mission, an effective teacher licensing program. As such, we stand by our report."