About the ELPAC

Background

The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is the mandated state test for determining English language proficiency (ELP). It is administered as an initial assessment to newly enrolled students whose primary language is not English, as indicated on a home language survey; and annually as a summative assessment to students who have been previously identified as EL students. The ELPAC is aligned with the 2012 California English Language Development Standards .

The ELPAC is delivered via a computer-based test delivery platform. The four domains (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing) will be administered on computer except for the Writing domain for kindergarten through grade two, which will remain as a paper-based test.

Types of ELPAC Assessments

Initial ELPAC—primary identification of students as English learners (ELs)

• The administration window is July 1 to June 30.
• Refer to the How to Complete the Computer-Based Initial ELPAC Process quick reference guide for instructions on the process that begins upon a student's first enrollment in a California public school.

Summative ELPAC—annual assessment to measure an EL student's progress and to identify the student's ELP level

• The administration window is February 1 to May 31.

Alternate ELPAC—annual assessment to measure and identify the student's ELP level, for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities

• The administration window of the Statewide Operational Field Test is November 1, 2021, through February 15, 2022.

Test Blueprints

• The Test Blueprints for the Initial ELPAC were approved and adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE). The ELPAC is aligned with California's 2012 English Language Development Standards .
• The Test Blueprints for the Summative ELPAC and Definitions of Task Types for the ELPAC were approved and adopted by the SBE on May 7, 2020. The ELPAC is aligned with California's 2012 English Language Development Standards .
• The Alternate ELPAC Test Blueprint and Definitions of Task Types for the ELPAC were approved and adopted by the SBE. The Proposed High-Level Test Design for the Alternate ELPAC was approved and adopted by the State Board of Education on May 7, 2020. The Alternate ELPAC is aligned with California English Language Development (ELD) Connectors for the Alternate ELPAC, which are based on California's 2012 English Language Development Standards .