ELPAC Communication: August 2025
Email Update, August 1, 2025
This communication includes information about the Initial ELPAC, Summative ELPAC, Initial Alternate ELPAC, and Summative Alternate ELPAC.
Notice
August 5: 2025–26 Interim Assessments Available
To prepare for the 2025–26 administration of interim assessments, CAASPP and ELPAC systems will be updated from Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 5 p.m. to Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 8 a.m. During this time, all CAASPP and ELPAC interim assessments will be unavailable for administration, local scoring, and viewing in the following systems:
- Test Delivery System (TDS)
- Data Entry Interface
- Teacher Hand Scoring System
- Interim Assessment Viewing System
The CAASPP and ELPAC interim assessments will become available for the 2025–26 administration at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Secure interim assessment materials are available and can be found in the [Resources] navigation tab in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS).
Reminders
July 7: Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC Test Administration Window Available
The 2025–26 Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC administration began July 7, 2025, and continues until June 30, 2026. Pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 5 (5 CCR), Section 11518.5(e), Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC testing and parent/guardian notification of results must be done within 30 calendar days after students are first enrolled in a California public school or 60 calendar days prior to instruction, but not before July 1. Student Score Reports (SSRs) will be released within 48 hours of students’ completing and submitting all domains.
LEAs may schedule testing according to local preference within this window and do not need to inform the California Department of Education (CDE) or ETS. All testing must take place within this window. Please allow at least 48 hours for student information to be updated in TOMS after enrollment records have been submitted and processed by CALPADS. The CDE recommends that LEAs schedule testing at least 72 hours after CALPADS submissions have been made.
LEAs that need additional test materials or those that did not place an Initial ELPAC Primary Test Material Order can place a supplemental order through June 5, 2026.
SSR Electronic Distribution
Ensure SSRs are populated in the 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.
Initial ELPAC 2025–26: RSVP
LEAs participating in the Rotating Score Validation Process (RSVP) can access the RSVP for the Initial ELPAC web page to find their assignment, administration details, and mandatory steps for returning kindergarten through grade two Answer Books. For those participating in the RSVP, a comparison report will be made available.
Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC ASTs
Initial ELPAC
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, to avoid a Tier 2 security audit.
Initial Alternate ELPAC
Starting with the 2025–26 test administration, the LEA certification for the Initial Alternate ELPAC is required within two weeks of a student’s being assigned to the assessment. When the first student is assigned, LEAs will be sent a notification along with an LEA-specific deadline.
Failure to complete the Initial Alternate ELPAC AST without contacting ETS ahead of time will result in a Tier 2 security audit.
MOU Option
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.
Use the Initial Alternate ELPAC TIP Booklet in Moodle
The secure Test Item Preview (TIP) booklet for the Initial Alternate ELPAC contains all the student-facing, on-screen test content. It is available in Moodle prior to the launch of the assessment without having to log on to the TDS. Test examiners should use the TIP to prepare and individualize supplemental testing materials. The TIP is located in the resources section at the bottom of both the LEA certification and test examiner certification courses in Moodle.
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.
August 4–6: Two Remaining Hand Scoring Workshops for the 2025 Interim and Formative Assessment Training Series Summer Sessions, 9–11 a.m.
Space is still available in the two remaining hand scoring workshops as a part of the 2025 Interim and Formative Assessment Training Series summer sessions. Registration is required. These workshops enable educators to dive into the hand scoring process for each of the interim assessment subject areas.
This series began on July 8, 2025, and consists of three independent webinars focused on using the interim and formative components of the CAASPP and ELPAC systems to inform teaching and learning. The series will finish with an educator panel in which California LEA staff will share best practices around the use of these resources. Recordings for only the webinars will be posted on the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page.
This series will repeat in the fall, with the first webinar on September 15, 2025. Registration will open on August 6, 2025.
August 7 and 14: 2025–26 AAIM
Register now on the 2025–26 Assessment & Accountability Information Meeting web page. Hosted by the CDE, these two virtual meeting sessions will provide LEA coordinators, site administrators, and LEA staff with the most recent information and developments on California’s assessment and accountability systems. You are invited to submit your Assessment and Accountability Information Meeting (AAIM)–related questions in advance by completing the 2025 AAIM Q&A Form.
These sessions will be held weekly, on two afternoons in August. The dates, times, and topics are as follows:
- August 7, 2025, 2–4:30 p.m.—Assessment Updates
- August 14, 2025, 2–4 p.m.—California School Dashboard and Accountability Updates
August 12: Coffee Sessions, 2–3 p.m.
The 2025–26 virtual monthly 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. LEA coordinators are recommended to register annually on the Coffee Session Series registration web page. By registering once, you will be eligible to attend all upcoming sessions.
August 12 and 19: Site Administrator Assessment Convenings
There is still time for site administrators to register for the August 2025 Site Administrator Assessment Convenings, presented by the CDE. The August convenings—which will be held virtually—focus on the 2025–26 CAASPP and ELPAC interim assessments as well as upcoming professional learning opportunities for site administrators and teachers. In addition, there will be time to ask questions and network with other site administrators. LEA coordinators are asked to please share this information with site coordinators and direct them to the August Site Administrator Assessment Convenings registration web page.
The convenings will take place on the following dates:
- August 12, 2025, 9–10 a.m.
- August 19, 2025, noon–1 p.m.
The same content will be shared during each of the two available sessions, so registrants need to select only one date.
August 20 and October 7: 2025–26 Introduction to CERS for Test Coordinators and Administrators, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
This three-hour training will cover an overview of the California Educator Reporting System (CERS), how to access summative assessment results and interim assessment data, and procedures for giving LEA staff the access they need to view student results. This training is designed for test coordinators and administrators who manage staff access to CERS.
The same session will be offered on August 20, 2025, and October 7, 2025. Register now on the 2025–26 Introduction to CERS for Test Coordinators and Administrators training registration web page.
August 27 and October 9: 2025–26 Instruction to CERS for Teachers, 3:30–5:30 p.m.
This training will provide hands-on practice for teachers with CERS features, including accessing summative assessment results and interim assessment data, creating custom student groups, and using available resources to support instruction. This training will benefit any LEA staff member who accesses student assessment results in CERS.
The same session will be offered on August 27, 2025, and October 9, 2025. Registration is open on the 2025–26 Introduction to CERS for Teachers registration web page.
August 27: August 2025 Charter School Assessment Coordinator Quarterly Network Meeting, 9:30–11 a.m.
The virtual Charter School Assessment Coordinator Network meeting will offer targeted support to charter school coordinators and administrators through the sharing of assessment updates, best practices, and support networks. This quarterly meeting will focus on the following:
- Preparation for CAASPP and ELPAC administration
- Dashboard release
- Other assessment considerations
- A networking opportunity with coordinators from across the state
Register now on the Charter Schools Network Meeting registration web page.
August 28: 2025–26 New Coordinator Training Webinar #4, 3–4 p.m.
This webinar, for LEA coordinators who have been in their role for less than 12 months or want a refresher, focuses on assessment systems and TOMS. A question and answer session with experienced coordinators will close the session. Register on the 2025–26 New Coordinator Training Webinar Series registration web page.
If you cannot make it but wish to receive materials or be notified when the recording is available, please fill out the 2025–26 New Coordinator Training Materials and Recordings Form.
Educator Meeting Opportunities
Do not miss out on exciting opportunities to help shape the future of California’s assessments. Educator meetings for ELPAC and Alternate ELPAC are now available.
To apply, 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.
Available Now!
On-Demand Trainings
Recordings of the following trainings are now available on the Upcoming and On-Demand Trainings web page:
Ongoing Reminders
TOMS User Rollover
The rollover of TOMS user roles for the 2025–26 school year happened on July 7, 2025, for both CAASPP and ELPAC. The 2025–26 TOMS roles have been made available, and all roles from 2024–25 have been deactivated.
Security Forms
A new Sample Interim Assessment Test Security Agreement was recently added to the Test Security web page. Although a test security agreement is not required for interim assessments, this form can be used at the discretion of the LEA and can be modified as needed for local use.
STAIRS/Appeals Guide
The Security Incidents and Appeals Procedure Guide has been updated for 2025–26. This guide describes testing incident types and definitions and provides the steps for submitting a Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS) case.
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.
Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC—Results Available
The Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC K–12 SSRs are available in TOMS for students who have completed testing.
The ongoing release of updated data files and SSRs will occur every weekday. Per Title 5, Section 863 of the CCR, if scores are received after the last day of the school year, the reports must be distributed no later than the first 20 working days of the next school year.
New data is available in CERS! With a recent enhancement to CERS, prior-year statewide aggregate data is now available.
Coordinator How-To Hub Resources for Accessing Summative Assessment Results in CERS
The 2024–25 summative assessment results for CAASPP (Smarter Balanced for English Language Arts/Literacy [ELA], Smarter Balanced for Mathematics, and California Science Test) and ELPAC (Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC) have started flowing into CERS in May 2025. 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 time frame 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.
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
- 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.
- 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