ELPAC Communication: June 2025
Email Update, June 2, 2025
This communication includes information about the Initial ELPAC, Summative ELPAC, Initial Alternate ELPAC, and Summative Alternate ELPAC.
Urgent Reminder
Return Summative ELPAC K–2 Writing Answer Books by June 13
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.
Notice
Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC—Results Available
The Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC K–12 Student Score Reports (SSRs) are available in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) for students who have completed testing. The ongoing release of updated data files and K–12 SSRs will occur every weekday.
Coordinator How-To Hub Resources for Accessing Summative Assessment Results in CERS
2024–25 summative assessment results for CAASPP (Smarter Balanced ELA, Smarter Balanced mathematics, and CAST) and ELPAC (Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC) have started flowing into the California Educator Reporting System (CERS). Educators with access to CERS can begin exploring the data now.
To support LEA coordinators in accessing these results in CERS, the Coordinator How-To Hub includes a section under the Late Spring timeframe called Access Summative Assessment Results in CERS. This section provides helpful resources, including quick reference guides and demonstration videos that can be shared with teachers to guide them on how they can access student results in CERS.
As a reminder, CERS provides access to individual summative assessment student results and partial aggregated summative assessment results at the group, school, and LEA levels. Prior to the public release of all summative assessment student results in the fall, aggregated results in CERS are partial and may not reflect final LEA outcomes. These partial results are not appropriate for public release but can be used for the purposes of local planning.
The analysis and scoring processes for the California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) for ELA, mathematics, and science and the California Spanish Assessment (CSA) are still underway. Results for the CAAs will be available in CERS in early fall 2025, and results for the CSA are expected to be available in early 2026.
Visit the Coordinator How-To Hub to explore these resources.
Secure Destruction of 2024–25 ELPAC and Alternate ELPAC Test Materials
LEAs have the option to either securely destroy test materials locally or return materials to ETS for destruction. LEAs must inform ETS of the method of destruction or of the return of the test materials by completing the 2024–25 ELPAC and Alternate ELPAC Materials Return or Destruction Certification form no later than Monday, July 14, 2025. If returning the materials to ETS for destruction, please follow the steps in the ELPAC and Alternate ELPAC Secure Destruction and Return Instructions web document.
Materials for destruction should be returned in nonwhite cartons. Completed Summative ELPAC K–2 Writing materials needing to be scored must be returned in white return cartons. LEAs may use any nonwhite carton to return materials for destruction. If additional white cartons are needed, contact the LEA’s assigned LEA Success Agent.
SSR Electronic Distribution
Ensure 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
Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC Testing
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 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.
Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC ASTs
The 2025–26 Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC Administration and Scoring Trainings (ASTs) are available on the Moodle Training Site (Moodle).
The LEA coordinator, or their designee, must complete the annual statewide LEA certification for the Initial ELPAC by August 8, 2025.
Starting with the 2025–26 test administration, the LEA certification is required within two weeks of a student’s being assigned for the Initial Alternate ELPAC. LEAs will be sent a notification along with a deadline on when the LEA certification or verification needs to be completed.
Failure to complete the trainings without contacting ETS ahead of time will result in a Tier 2 security audit.
LEAs without students designated as To Be Determined (TBD) or with limited eligible students may enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a neighboring LEA. MOUs must be updated and sent to elpac@scoe.net annually. Visit the Administration and Scoring Training Information section of the Test Administration Trainings and Tutorials web page for more information on MOUs. Extensions can be given if you contact ETS prior to the due date. To request an extension, send an email to CATestSecurity@ets.org.
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 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 should meet all four reclassification criteria before May 15, 2026; otherwise, they should be administered the 2025–26 Summative ELPAC or Summative Alternate ELPAC.
For students who become eligible for reclassification based on the 2024–25 summative results, this is a reminder that updates to the CALPADS English language acquisition record should align with the students’ active enrollment. A new CALPADS Flash has been released, providing guidance on reclassification procedure during the summer.
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.
June 10: 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.
June 11: Scoring and Reporting Webinar, 2–4 p.m.
Register now for the 2024–25 Scoring and Reporting Webinar! This webinar covers information about the data available from the 2024–25 CAASPP and ELPAC administrations, including how results are scored and reported, how to access results, and how to communicate about results.
June 12: New Coordinator Training Webinar #1, 3–4 p.m.
Register now for the 2025–26 New Coordinator Training Webinar Series! This series of webinars throughout the year gives just-in-time information for LEA coordinators. LEA ELPAC coordinators and LEA CAASPP coordinators who have been in their role for less than 12 months or want a refresher on coordinator responsibilities are encouraged to attend.
June 26: New Coordinator Training Webinar #2, 3–4 p.m.
Register for the 2025–26 New Coordinator Training Webinar Series! This series of webinars throughout the year gives just-in-time information for LEA coordinators. LEA ELPAC coordinators and LEA CAASPP coordinators who have been in their role for less than 12 months or want a refresher on coordinator responsibilities are encouraged to attend.
Educator Meeting Opportunities
We need your input! California educators are an essential part of the assessment development process.
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!
On-Demand Training
A recording of the May Coffee Session is now available on the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page.
Ongoing Reminders
2024–25 Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC 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.
Additional Help
Previous ELPAC monthly communications, as well as other email communications, can be found on the Coordinator Emails web page.
- 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