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. For more information, please refer to the ELPAC Information Guide 2022-23 .

The general and Alternate ELPAC are aligned with the 2012 California English Language Development Standards (2012 ELD Standards) . The Alternate ELPAC is aligned through the English Language Development Connectors (ELD Connectors) .

The general and Alternate ELPAC are delivered via a computer-based test delivery platform. The general ELPAC has four domains (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing) which are administered on computer except for the Writing domain for kindergarten through grade two, which will remain as a paper-based test. The Alternate ELPAC has two communication modes: expressive (Speaking and Writing) and receptive (Listening and Reading).

Types of ELPAC Assessments

• Initial ELPAC—The general assessment whose results provide the primary identification of students as English learners (ELs)

  The test administration window runs from July 1 to June 30.

• Summative ELPAC—The general assessment, administered annually, whose results measure an EL student's progress and identify the student's ELP level

  The test administration window runs from February 1 to May 31.

• Initial Alternate ELPAC—The alternate assessment whose results provide the primary identification of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities as ELs

  The test administration window runs from July 1 to June 30.

• Summative Alternate ELPAC—The alternate assessment, administered annually, whose results measure and identify the student's ELP level, for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities

  The test administration window runs from February 1 to May 31.

Test Blueprints

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