ELPAC Communication: May 2025
Email Update, May 1, 2025
This communication includes information about the Initial ELPAC, Summative ELPAC, Initial Alternate ELPAC, and Summative Alternate ELPAC.
Notice
Initial Alternate ELPAC AST
The 2025–26 Initial Alternate ELPAC Administration and Scoring Training (AST) will be available starting May 7, 2025, on the Moodle Training Site (Moodle).
To meet training requirements, LEA ELPAC coordinators must complete both of the following courses:
- Initial Alternate ELPAC—LEA Certification course
- This course should be completed (or verified that it was completed in a previous year) within two weeks of registering an eligible student.
- Summative Alternate ELPAC—LEA Certification course
- This course should have been completed the previous fall.
Training must be completed within two weeks of registering an eligible student after this date. Failure to complete the training without contacting ETS ahead of time will result in a Tier 2 security audit. Extensions can be given if you contact ETS prior to the due date. To request an extension, send an email to CATestSecurity@ets.org.
Certification is required only for LEAs that have students eligible for the Initial Alternate ELPAC. The LEA ELPAC coordinator (or a designated person) is responsible for ensuring test examiners are annually certified.
SSR Electronic Distribution
Ensure Student Score Reports (SSRs) are populated in your student information system for the correct students in a timely manner, as outlined in the Distributing SSRs chapter of the Scoring and Reporting Guide. In addition, ensure that SSRs are properly displayed in such a manner that parents/guardians are able to access only scores for their own children.
Refer to the SSR and Reporting Resources web page for the estimated SSR release dates.
Reminders
Summative ELPAC Supplemental Order Window Closing
The Summative ELPAC supplemental materials ordering window is closing on May 9, 2025.
Supplemental orders are packaged by quantity ordered at the LEA level. Supplemental orders can be placed once a month throughout the testing window and will be delivered 10–14 business days from the date on which the order is placed.
Return Summative ELPAC K–2 Writing Answer Books
LEA ELPAC coordinators are encouraged to return completed Summative ELPAC kindergarten through grade two (K–2) Writing Answer Books at least twice a month. When returning Answer Books, LEAs should download and complete the ELPAC School Group List to serve as a reference for the LEA as to what is being returned in each shipment. Answer Books must be scheduled for pickup by June 13, 2025, to be scored by ETS. Refer to the List of Key Dates table in the ELPAC Online Test Administration Manual for a complete list of return dates.
Initial Alternate ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC Test Assignments in TOMS
Newly enrolled students eligible to be tested with an initial assessment must be tested within the first 30 calendar days of student enrollment; however, students might not have an individualized education program (IEP) designating the student to take an alternate assessment prepared in time. In these instances, the student should be tested with the Initial ELPAC using universal tools and designated supports, as appropriate. Note that there is a 45-day extension for the Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC for LEAs impacted by wildfires.
Note that newly enrolled students who are designated as English learners after being administered the Initial ELPAC or Initial Alternate ELPAC must also be administered the Summative ELPAC or Summative Alternate ELPAC prior to the end of the test administration window on May 31, 2025.
Reclassification Reminder
Students who scored at Summative ELPAC Overall Performance Level (PL) 4 and students who scored at Summative Alternate ELPAC Overall PL 3 for the 2023–24 ELPAC administration should continue to be evaluated for reclassification before the end of the 2024–25 test administration window. The California Department of Education (CDE) recommends that these students should meet all four reclassification criteria before May 15, 2025; otherwise, they should be administered the 2024–25 Summative ELPAC or Summative Alternate ELPAC. Visit the CDE Reclassification web page for more information. Email questions related to reclassification to LPLO@cde.ca.gov.
Upcoming Trainings
To register or locate additional details about upcoming trainings, including dates, times, and content, visit the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page.
May 6: Initial ELPAC AST Overview and Q&A, 3–4 p.m.
This question and answer session for LEA ELPAC coordinators and all LEA staff responsible for general ELPAC training will cover updates to the AST and will answer questions for the upcoming Initial ELPAC administration. Register now for the Initial ELPAC AST Overview and Q&A.
May 13: Coffee Session, 2–3 p.m.
Want the latest updates and answers to your assessment questions? Join us for the monthly Coffee Sessions, hosted by the CDE and ETS! Register on the Coffee Session Series registration web page to attend this or any upcoming sessions.
May 15: Accessing Summative Assessment Results in CERS (Module One), 3:30–5 p.m.
This webinar, meant for all California Educator Reporting System (CERS) users who want just-in-time information about accessing assessment results in advance, covers how to access 2024–25 summative assessment results in CERS.
Module One will include viewing Individual Student Reports and understanding features available for the Summative ELPAC, Summative Alternate ELPAC, and the California Spanish Assessment (CSA).
Register now for the 2024–25 Accessing Summative Assessment Results in CERS.
May 21: Initial Alternate ELPAC AST Overview and Q&A, 3–4 p.m.
This question and answer session for LEA ELPAC coordinators and all LEA staff responsible for Alternate ELPAC training will cover updates to the AST and will answer questions for the upcoming Initial Alternate ELPAC administration. Register now for the Initial Alternate ELPAC AST Overview and Q&A.
May 28: Charter School Assessment Coordinator Networking Meeting
These quarterly meetings aimed at charter school LEA coordinators and site coordinators offer targeted support to charter school coordinators and administrators through the sharing of assessment updates, best practices, and support networks.
Register now for the Charter School Assessment Coordinator Networking Meeting.
Educator Meeting Opportunities
We need your input! California educators are an essential part of the assessment development process.
California educators who teach Spanish have a unique opportunity to have input on the CSA threshold score recommendations by participating in the CSA Standard Setting Workshop being held virtually July 21–24 (grades three through six) and July 28–31 (grades seven through twelve). Details can be found on the Get Involved web page. The application deadline has been extended to May 9, 2025.
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.
Watch your inbox for the launch of the 2025–26 educator opportunities.
Available Now!
2024–25 Summative Student Data File Layout available
LEAs can now download the 2024–25 Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC Student Data File Layout from the SSR and Reporting Resources web page or from the [Reports] action tab in TOMS.
The student data file layout includes field descriptions, acceptable values for fields, and data sources. Follow the steps outlined in the Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC Student Score Data File subsection in the TOMS User Guide.
On-Demand Trainings
Recordings of the following trainings are now available on the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page:
Ongoing Reminders
Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC Timeline Extension for LEAs Impacted by Wildfires
On January 10, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-3-25, which includes an extension of the deadline for conducting English language proficiency assessments (California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 11518.5) by 45 days for those LEAs directly impacted by this emergency. This means that impacted LEAs will have an additional 45 days to complete the Initial ELPAC or Initial Alternate ELPAC, in addition to the original 30 days.
While this provides impacted LEAs with a total of 75 days to administer the Initial ELPAC or Initial Alternate ELPAC, the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) will continue to reflect the 30-day timeline and will not include the additional 45 days. As a reminder, eligible students should begin to receive English learner programs and services on day 30 until the Initial ELPAC or Initial Alternate ELPAC is administered and the official score is produced.
Domain Exemptions for the Initial ELPAC and Summative ELPAC
If a student's disability prevents them from accessing certain domains of the ELPAC—as determined by the student's IEP or Section 504 plan team—may be eligible for domain exemption(s).
For the Initial ELPAC and Summative ELPAC, a student may only be exempt from one domain per composite, with a maximum of two domain exemptions allowed. The Initial and Summative ELPAC Domain Exemption Decision-Making Tool is designed to assist and document the IEP team's determinations regarding domain exemptions. More guidance and sample scenarios are provided in the Domain Exemptions subsection of the ELPAC Information Guide.
As a way to help clarify this guidance, the following examples illustrate how a disability can preclude participation in each domain:
Domain |
Domain Exemption Scenario |
|---|---|
|
Listening |
The student is profoundly deaf, does not understand American Sign Language, and is still unable to read closed-captioning at this time in their education. |
|
Speaking |
The student has an articulation disorder or physical malformation that renders their speech impossible to understand, even for a test examiner who is familiar with the student's preferred mode of communication. |
|
Reading |
The student is blind and has no knowledge of braille. |
|
Writing |
The student has a cognitive, physical, or intellectual disability that prevents expression of ideas in writing entirely, in English or any other language, even with available accessibility resources such as adaptive technology or scribe. |
Summative Alternate ELPAC Picture Cards and TIPs
Downloadable versions of the picture cards are available in TOMS. Printed picture card orders are available until May 16, 2025, on the AST website.
The secure Test Item Previews (TIPs) are aimed to help test examiners prepare and individualize supplemental testing materials needed by an individual student. The TIPs are posted in the "Summative Alternate ELPAC Administration Resources" section at the bottom of both the LEA certification and the test examiner certification courses in Moodle.
Previous ELPAC Monthly Communications
Previous ELPAC monthly communications, as well as other email communications, can be found on the Coordinator Emails web page.
Additional Help
- Send direct questions about policies, regulations, and requirements to elpac@cde.ca.gov.
- Contact your region's assigned Success Agent for answers to questions about assessment coordination, development, and administration, as well as for technical support.
- Send direct questions about Moodle, certification, and calibration to moodlesupport@scoe.net.
- Get Answers using this lookup tool available to help LEA coordinators quickly find answers to the most common testing questions. Users can also make suggestions for Additional Questions for the FAQs, which are reviewed on a regular basis.
For further support, visit the Contact Us web page.
Sincerely,
California Outreach Team
CAASPP & ELPAC Website