ELPAC: March Monthly Update
Email Update, March 2, 2026
ELPAC Communication: March 2026
This communication includes information about the Initial ELPAC, Summative ELPAC, Initial Alternate ELPAC, and Summative Alternate ELPAC.
Notice
Prepare for SSRs
With summative testing underway, now is the time to prepare for Student Score Reports (SSRs). Ensure that each student’s primary language is accurate in the student’s profile in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) prior to testing so parents/guardians receive translated SSRs as needed. Note that available languages for translated SSRs include Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Filipino, Korean, and Arabic.
If you would like to order personalized video SSRs for the students in your LEA, you can request a quote now! Learn more on the Video Student Score Reports web page.
CAASPP and ELPAC Manuals Library
The CAASPP and ELPAC Manuals Library is full of manuals and guides that help LEA coordinators, site coordinators, and test examiners during test administration, including the following:
- ELPAC Online Test Administration Manual
- Alternate ELPAC Online Test Administration Manual
- TOMS User Guide
- Accessibility Guide
Test Security
Crisis Alert Response System (CARS)
As part of the process for scoring constructed-response items, responses may be identified that warrant an LEA’s immediate attention. Upon discovery that a response requires attention, the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) notifies the LEA CAASPP coordinators or LEA ELPAC coordinators and superintendent via email. Upon receipt, an LEA representative is required to acknowledge the CARS incident by logging on to TOMS, accessing the CARS page, and selecting the [Acknowledge] or [Acknowledge and Archive] button.
Directions for Administration
Test examiners must use the secure Directions for Administration (DFAs). Note the following about DFAs:
- “SAY” content must be followed as written.
- Many Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System submissions are a result of test examiners not following instructions in the DFAs.
Visit the Administer a Test Session web page for more information on test administration resources.
Increased STAIRS Incidents Involving Student Cell Phones/Electronic Devices and AI Use
This year, there has been an unusually high number of incidents reported in STAIRS, including students caught using cell phones/other electronic devices and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) while testing. These situations may result in a breach if test content is exposed online—for example, through social media, by saving content to a server or cloud service, or inputting items or test content into an AI search chatbot.
LEA CAASPP or ELPAC coordinators should have a protocol or plan in place for managing student electronic devices prior to testing to ensure that each testing environment is secure. Additionally, test administrators and test examiners should be reminded that they need to monitor students during testing.
When an incident involving a summative or initial assessment occurs, a STAIRS case must be filed within 24 hours. Coordinators should include an accurate and specific description of the STAIRS case in the notes section. The description should indicate whether any photos, videos, or screenshots were taken during testing and if they were removed from both the device and any social media platform. In addition, if test content was exposed, LEA staff should provide the item numbers that were compromised.
When an incident involving an interim assessment occurs, photos, videos, or screenshots should be permanently deleted from the device and from social media. The site administrator should then contact the LEA coordinator to report the incident then the LEA coordinator should report the incident to their success agent. These incidents do not need to be reported through STAIRS.
For more details, refer to the Security Incidents and Appeals Procedure Guide and visit the Test Security web page.
Reminders
Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC Testing Window
Statewide testing for the Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC remains open until May 31, 2026. All students classified as English learners should complete testing or be reclassified, if eligible.
Reclassification Reminders
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. You can email questions related to reclassification to LPLO@cde.ca.gov.
Allowlisting
The CDE may contact you by email with important messages. Make sure that ELPAC@cde.ca.gov is included in your email application’s allowlist to ensure communications are received.
Contact Us
The Contact Us web page on the CAASPP & ELPAC website provides LEA coordinators with a list of helpful contacts, including ways to reach your success agent as well as a list of various offices at the California Department of Education (CDE) that can answer your questions on policy, accountability, CALPADS, and more!
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.
March 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.
Educator Involvement Opportunities
Educator Meeting Opportunities
There is still time to shape tomorrow’s assessments, today. Hurry, because the application to the next meeting—the last opportunity until the next test administration—closes in five days! We especially need kindergarten through grade two applicants.
- The Combined Alternate Assessments Data Review Meeting 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
- 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.
For further support, visit the Contact Us web page.
Sincerely,
California Outreach Team
CAASPP & ELPAC Website