Math & reading standards and testing in Hawaii
Updated June 2026
Hawaii adopted the Common Core State Standards (branded the Hawaii Common Core) for ELA and math. Students in grades 3-8 take the Smarter Balanced computer-adaptive assessments each spring.
Does Hawaii hold kids back in 3rd grade for reading?
No. Hawaii has no statewide test-based 3rd-grade retention gate; promotion is local.
Standards
Hawaii Common Core
Aligned to the Common Core State Standards, so grade-level skills match what most of the country teaches.
The key test
The Hawaii state test
Smarter Balanced covers both math and reading in grades 3-8.
Reading the results
Spring.
Levels 1 to 4; Levels 3 to 4 are on track/proficient.
On grade level means Level 3 or above (on track) on the SBA ELA.
What's distinctive about Hawaii
As a single statewide district, Hawaii administers Smarter Balanced aligned to the Hawai'i Common Core.
Practice the skills, by grade
Whatever Hawaii calls its test, the underlying math and reading skills are grade-level. Practice them directly:
Practice the skills behind the test
Hawaii teaches the Common Core standards. What a third grader has to do does not change: multiply, find the main idea, read a paragraph and say what it meant. KangarooKiddo drills those skills in daily sessions of a handful of questions that end on their own. You see where your kid actually stands, they earn rewards you set up and approve.
Source: Hawaii Department of Education. Verified for the 2025-26 school year; policies can change, so confirm with your school.
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