Homeschool group visits Hawaii Senate; senator says she will pursue clearer AP test access after family’s difficulty

At a session of the Hawaii State Senate, roughly 70 students and 25 parents from the Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii were introduced on the floor, and Senator Keohokalole described a case in which a homeschooling family had difficulty finding a site for an Advanced Placement (AP) math exam. Senator Keohokalole said Leilehua High School agreed to administer the test for the student and charge the standard fee, and she pledged to work with Senator Kidani to clarify testing policy for homeschool students.

The Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii, established in 1988, brought families to the Capitol to meet lawmakers and observe the Legislature. Senator Keohokalole recognized Laura Burbage as the coordinator of the visit and noted Burbage also serves on the Kāneʻohe neighborhood board. “They were very polite but unable to help,” Keohokalole said of the effort by several schools to find a testing site, referring to initial calls the family made seeking a place for the AP math exam. Keohokalole recounted that Leilehua High School ultimately agreed to accept the student and charge the same fee as other test-takers.

Keohokalole said the family’s homeschool was associated with Radford and noted the student’s father is serving in the military. She argued access to AP exams matters for college credit and affordability: “Getting these credits, if they're successful, helps in keeping the cost of going to college down for our families here in Hawaii,” Keohokalole said. She added that several private schools the family contacted were also unable to assist.

Keohokalole said Senator Kidani was under the weather and absent from the session, and she said she would work with Kidani to find a clearer path forward so homeschooled students can access AP testing without undue barriers. The senator did not present legislation during the session; her remark was framed as a promised follow-up rather than a formal directive or passed policy.

The Senate also approved the journal of the preceding day (the chair stated the journal was read and approved) and later carried a motion to adjourn until 11:30 a.m. the following day. Senator Wakai moved to adjourn; Senator DeCorte seconded. The presiding officer asked for objections and, when none were raised, declared the motion carried.

No formal vote counts for the journal approval were recorded in the transcript. For the adjournment motion the chair noted no objections; the roll call earlier in the session recorded 22 senators present and three excused.