Initial ELPAC Test Administration
The Initial English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) testing window is administered throughout the year.
In Person and Remote Administration
The Initial ELPAC is available to be administered in person or remotely. LEA ELPAC coordinators should refer to the Initial ELPAC Online Test Administration Manual 
for information and instructions about test preparation and administration of the computer-based Initial ELPAC, as well as the paper-based test for the Writing domain for students in kindergarten through grade two. The manual also includes information about Remote Testing . Please visit the Manuals and Instructions web page for more materials related to the administration of the Initial ELPAC.
Initial ELPAC Testing Notification Letter Templates
Parent/Guardian notification letter templates are available on the Parent/Guardian Notification web page to notify parents and guardians about the various testing options that LEAs may employ to complete testing.
2024–25 Initial ELPAC Writing Test Materials Orders
Because new test materials (Form 1 and Form 2) that include embedded field test items will be introduced for the 2024–25 test administration, LEAs cannot reuse Initial ELPAC Answer Books from previous test administration years.
LEAs will need to order Writing domain test materials for kindergarten through grade two (K–2) through the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) during the following order windows:
| Type of Test Materials Order | Order Window Opens | Order Window Closes | Earliest Delivery Date | Latest Delivery Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Test Materials Order | April 15, 2024 | May 10, 2024 | Week of May 13, 2024 | Week of May 27, 2024 |
| Supplemental Test Materials Order | May 13, 2024 | June 6, 2025 | June 3, 2024 | June 20, 2025 |
Handling Materials After Testing
At the end of the 2024–25 testing window, LEAs will need to either securely destroy locally or send to ETS for secure destruction all Form 1 and Form 2 K–2 Writing Answer Books. LEAs will need to order new Writing Answer Books for the 2025–26 administration in April 2025. LEAs should refer to the Instructions For Test Materials Handling After Testing document for additional guidance.
Initial ELPAC Form Assignments
There will be two test forms for the 2024–25 Initial ELPAC administration that will include operational and field test items. Form assignments is available on the Initial ELPAC Form Assignments web page. Use the lookup tool to search for an LEA; the search returns the form number to which the LEA has been assigned. In some cases, large LEAs will be assigned to multiple forms; these will be displayed accordingly.
Initial ELPAC Directions for Administration (DFAs)
DFAs can be accessed electronically, or DFAs can be printed and securely stored just prior to testing. To access the DFAs, select the [Resources] button on the top navigation bar in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) . Select "Initial ELPAC Directions for Administration (DFAs)" from the Available Materials list and download the DFA(s) that match the assigned form number.
Initial ELPAC Estimated Testing Times
The Initial ELPAC is an untimed test. Students are allowed as much time as needed to complete the test. For planning purposes, estimated testing times—by domain and grade level or grade span—are available on the Initial ELPAC: Estimated Testing Times web page.
Scoring the Initial ELPAC
Users can access the local scoring systems on the Scoring for the Computer-based ELPAC web page. The local scoring process will occur as follows:
- Listening and Reading domains for all grades will be scored automatically in the test delivery system.
- The Speaking domain for all grades will be locally scored in the moment, and then the test examiner will enter the student scores into the Data Entry Interface (DEI) .
- The Writing domain for kindergarten through grade two will remain paper-based and will be locally scored. Scores will be entered into the DEI .
- The Writing domain student responses for grades three through twelve will be scored locally in the Teacher Hand Scoring System (THSS) .
Reporting for the Initial ELPAC
To be counted as tested, a student must log on and submit all four domains as described in Scoring the Initial ELPAC. Once all four domains have been completed and scored, Student Score Reports (SSRs) will be produced and available for download in TOMS and made available to parents and guardians through parent or student portals. LEAs will be able to access the official Initial ELPAC SSRs and results in TOMS within less than 24 hours of the last domain test being scored and submitted for a student.
Students will receive an SSR in English and one in the student's primary language if that language is Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Filipino, Korean, or Cantonese (traditional Chinese). To view a sample SSR in each language, visit the ELPAC Score Reporting web page. If a student needs an SSR in one of the provided languages and that language is not the student's primary language, LEAs should change the language of the SSR in TOMS prior to student testing.
Initial ELPAC Parent Notification
After all four domains have been administered and scores have been entered into the DEI and THSS , LEAs can access the Sample Annual Parent/Guardian Notification Letter on the California Department of Education (CDE) Parent Notification web page. The data file in TOMS can be used to merge with the notification letter.
Calculated English Language Acquisition Status (ELAS)
The calculated ELAS results of either EL or initial fluent English proficient (IFEP) will be sent from TOMS to the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) through a nightly file transfer. LEAs will need to run the Student English Language Acquisition extract from CALPADS to upload the ELAS into their student information system.
Accessibility Resources
Test examiners may make the determination that a student will benefit from an embedded or non-embedded designated support immediately before or during test administration. The test examiner may assign accessibility resources prior to testing in TOMS or directly in the Test Administrator Interface during testing for the Initial ELPAC. More information about accessibility resources can be found on the ELPAC Accessibility Resources web page.
Rotating Score Validation Process (RSVP)
The CDE has randomly selected approximately 10 percent of LEAs in California to take part in the RSVP for the Initial ELPAC.
More information about this process is on the RSVP for the Initial ELPAC web page along with the alphabetical list of LEAs identified to participate in the RSVP.
Initial ELPAC Pre-ID Labels
Pre-identification (Pre-ID) labels are available only for the 10 percent of LEAs participating in the RSVP, as determined by the CDE. Participating LEAs do not need to request or order these Pre-ID labels. Instead, those LEAs identified in the sampling plan will receive labels automatically for returning scorable materials for students in kindergarten through grade two once SSRs are available in TOMS .
LEAs that are not participating in RSVP do not order or receive Pre-ID labels.
Materials Return for LEAs Participating in the RSVP
LEAs selected to participate in the RSVP should return only ELPAC scannable Answer Books that were ordered and received at the beginning of the current testing window. Answer Books received from previous administrations will not be processed.
When returning Answer Books, LEAs should download and complete the ELPAC School/Group List web document to serve as a reference for the LEA as to what is being returned in each shipment.
To request additional cartons or Group Information Sheets (GIS), complete the Carton and GIS Request Form .
Test Security
LEA ELPAC coordinators and site ELPAC coordinators can:
- Submit STAIRS cases in TOMS
- Refer to the CAASPP and ELPAC Security Incidents and Appeals Procedure Guide and the Test Security web page for more information