Cultural Validity as Foundational to Assessment Development: An Indigenous Example

The state of Hawai‘i has a linguistically and culturally diverse population that recognizes Hawaiian English as official languages. Working with the community, established Language Immersion Program, Ka Papahana Kaiapuni (Kaiapuni), to support promote study language, culture, history. students are historically marginalized test-takers had been assessed using instruments were insensitive, contained construct irrelevant variance, or inadequate psychometric properties ( U. S. Department Education, 2006 ; Kaawaloa, 2014 ). In response, State Education University developed Assessment Educational Outcomes (K??EO), which engages in technically rigorous, Native language assessments. This article details theoretical framework K??EO program, includes traditional validity studies build content assessment’s use for accountability. However, team recognized additional evidence was needed because theory action is grounded principles community assessment scores advance cultural revitalization. provides an example one conducted validity.