ELPAC Communication: February 2026
Email Update, February 2, 2026
This communication includes information about the Initial ELPAC, Summative ELPAC, Initial Alternate ELPAC, and Summative Alternate ELPAC.
Notice
Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC Testing Begins
Statewide testing for the Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC begins February 2, 2026, and remains open until May 31, 2026. During this window, all students classified as English learners should complete testing or be reclassified, if eligible.
Reclassification Reminders
The reclassification criteria set forth in California Education Code Section 313 and California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 11303 remain unchanged. LEAs should continue using the following four criteria to establish reclassification policies and procedures:
- Assessment of English Language Proficiency
- Teacher Evaluations
- Parent Consultation
- Basic Skills Relative to English Proficient Students
Students who scored at Summative ELPAC Overall Performance Level (PL) 4 and students who scored at Summative Alternate ELPAC Overall PL 3 for the 2024–25 ELPAC administration should continue to be evaluated for reclassification before the end of the 2025–26 test administration window. The California Department of Education (CDE) recommends that these students meet all four reclassification criteria before May 15, 2026; otherwise, they should be administered the 2025–26 Summative ELPAC or Summative Alternate ELPAC by May 31, 2026.
More information about reclassifying English learner students is available on the California Department of Education (CDE) Reclassification web page or email questions related to reclassification to LPLO@cde.ca.gov.
Test Security
Update User Roles in TOMS
LEA ELPAC coordinators and site ELPAC coordinators should update or remove access for users who have left their LEA or school site to ensure the security of student personally identifiable information (PII). Coordinators should delete anyone who does not need access to the Test Operations Management System (TOMS), including those persons who have left the LEA, retired, or transitioned to another role. Remember that TOMS users will have access to student PII and secure test content.
Reminders
Locked Demographics Fields
Student demographic information in TOMS will have multiple fields locked when a student opens a summative assessment. This includes fields locked for ELPAC when CAASPP is opened. A complete list of locked fields for ELPAC and CAASPP is available in the Locked Fields subsection of the TOMS User Guide.
Supplemental Test Material Orders
The primary test materials ordering window has closed. Shipments of these materials began to arrive at LEAs the week of January 12, 2026.
The supplemental test materials ordering window for LEAs that did not place a primary order for kindergarten through grade two students opened in TOMS on January 22, 2026. Supplemental orders will be delivered within two weeks of ordering. Instructions for how to place a supplemental order can be found in the TOMS User Guide.
Security Policies and Best Practices for Test Systems and Materials
The following is a list of key points for team briefing on the security protocols and practices for using and handling Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC systems and materials:
- Test security affidavits and test security agreements must be signed to access ELPAC systems.
- Keep test security affidavits and audit records for at least 12 months.
- Refer to the Security Agreements and Security Affidavits subsection of the TOMS User Guide for more information.
- Test administration training is required. Only trained test examiners can administer the assessments.
- Refer to the Test Administration Trainings and Tutorials web page for more information.
- Secure materials must be handled appropriately at all times and locked when not in use.
- Special-version paper–pencil testing materials must be handled and returned securely, following the instructions provided with the shipment.
- Students must not access test content before test administration.
- Security incidents for the initial or summative assessments must be reported immediately.
- Use the Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS) to report any testing irregularities or breaches associated with initial or summative assessments.
- Contact your LEA Success Agent to report any testing irregularities or breaches for interim assessments.
Allowlisting
The California Department of Education (CDE) may contact you by email with important messages. Please add the following email address to your allowlist to ensure communications are received:
Upcoming Trainings
To register or locate additional details about upcoming trainings, including dates, times, and content, visit the Upcoming and On-Demand Training Opportunities web page.
February 10: Coffee Session, 2–3 p.m.
These monthly virtual Coffee Sessions, hosted by the CDE and ETS, offer opportunities for LEA staff to ask questions and get answers about assessments, trainings, resources, and more. If you are not already registered, you can register on the Coffee Session Series registration web page. By registering once, you will be eligible to attend all upcoming sessions.
February 12 and 26: Formative Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series, 3:30–5 p.m.
Join CDE staff, classroom teachers, and administrators as they share how they promote and use formative assessment resources to support teaching and learning in the classroom. These webinars are the second and third of a three-part series featuring California educators sharing their insights. The final two webinars of the series are as follows:
- February 12: By Teachers, For Teachers: Unlocking Classroom-Ready Science Resources
- February 26: Professional Learning Resources for Supporting English Learners
Please encourage teachers and administrators to register now for the Formative Assessment Shared Practices Webinar Series.
February 17 and 24: CERS—Beyond the Basics, 3:30–4:45 p.m.
This series of three training sessions—two in February and the last in March—cover advanced rostering and reporting for coordinators and administrators; customizing groups and generating Individual Student Reports; and accessing, interpreting, and supporting writing extended-response scores and related resources.
February’s two training sessions are as follows:
- February 17: Module One—Rostering and Reports for Coordinators and Administrators
- February 24: Module Two—Custom Groups and Individual Student Reports
Registration for the CERS—Beyond the Basics training series is now open.
February 19: New Coordinator Training Webinar Series #10, 3–4 p.m.
The tenth session in the New Coordinator Training Webinar Series will focus on the topics of completion tracking and test security.
Register for one or more sessions of the 2025–26 New Coordinator Training Webinar Series. This training series provides just-in-time information for LEA coordinators.
February 25: Charter School Assessment Coordinator Quarterly Network Meeting, 9:30–11 a.m.
This series of quarterly meetings of the virtual Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network offers targeted support for school coordinators and administrators. The meetings focus on preparing for ELPAC and CAASPP administration, dashboard release, and an opportunity to connect with coordinators across California. Register now for the February 2026 Charter School Assessment Coordinator Quarterly Network Meeting.
February 25: Connect for Success, 10 a.m.–Noon
Meet your Success Agents at Connect for Success, a monthly regional meeting for LEA coordinators. During this event, you will receive information such as deadline reminders, demonstrations on how to complete required tasks, and quick tips for navigating the CAASPP & ELPAC Website and other platforms. Register now for the February 25 Connect for Success session.
Educator Involvement Opportunities
Educator Meeting Opportunities
There is still time to shape tomorrow’s assessments, today!
Apply now for the Combined Alternate Assessments Data Review Meeting that will be held June 23–25, 2026. This application closes on March 6, 2026.
To apply for educator meetings, go to the Educator Opportunities Portal. Those without an Educator Opportunities Portal account can create an account via the Educator Opportunities Portal Account Creation Form. For any questions, please contact the Educator Opportunities Team by phone at 916-228-2682 or by email at edopportunities@scoe.net.
More information is available on the Get Involved web page.
On-Demand Trainings and Recordings
Recordings of the following trainings are now available on the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page:
Previous ELPAC Monthly Communications
Previous ELPAC monthly communications, as well as other email communications, are located on the Coordinator Emails web page.
Additional Help
- Direct questions about policies, regulations, and requirements to elpac@cde.ca.gov.
- Contact your region’s Success Agent for answers to questions about assessment coordination, development, and administration, as well as for technical support.
- Direct questions about the Moodle Training Site, certification, and calibration to moodlesupport@scoe.net.
- Get Answers from a user-friendly lookup tool available to help LEA coordinators quickly find answers to the most common testing questions.
For further support, visit the Contact Us web page.
Sincerely,
California Outreach Team
CAASPP & ELPAC Website