ELPAC Communication: August 2026

Email Update, August 3, 2026

This communication includes information about the Initial ELPAC, Summative ELPAC, Initial Alternate ELPAC, and Summative Alternate ELPAC.

Notices

Updating Systems for the 2026–27 Interim Assessments

To prepare for the 2026–27 interim assessments, CAASPP and ELPAC systems will be updated from Friday, July 31, 2026, at 5 p.m. to Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 8 a.m. During this time, CAASPP and ELPAC interim assessments will be unavailable for administration, local scoring, and viewing in the following systems:

Data Entry Interface
Interim Assessment Viewing System
Test Delivery System
Teacher Hand Scoring System

The interim assessments will become available for the 2026–27 school year at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.

Reclassification Reminders

The Summative ELPAC Student Score Reports (SSRs) for 2025–26 began releasing in May, and LEAs are encouraged to begin the reclassification process for eligible students as soon as scores are available. LEAs can access the ELPAC Students Meeting Reclassification Criteria 1 Report in TOMS to support this process. We encourage LEA and site coordinators to access this new report to help identify actively enrolled students in the Test Operations Management System, who have met criteria 1 and are ready to be evaluated for the remaining reclassification criteria (2–4).

The reclassification criteria are set forth in California Education Code Section 313 and California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 11303 and remain unchanged for the 2025–26 summative ELPAC results. Students who scored at Summative ELPAC Overall Performance Level (PL) 4 and students who scored at Summative Alternate ELPAC Overall PL 3 for the 2025–26 ELPAC administration should continue to be evaluated for reclassification before the end of the 2026–27 test administration window. These students can be reclassified if they meet all four of the reclassification criteria:

Assessment of English Language Proficiency
Teacher Evaluations
Parent Consultation
Basic Skills Relative to English Proficient Students

LEAs use their established locally approved reclassification process to determine if the student has met each of these criteria. Be sure to also consult the Guidance Letter on Reclassification for Dually Identified Students for your English learner students with an individualized education program.

More information about reclassifying English learner students is available on the CDE Reclassification web page or email questions related to reclassification to LPLO@cde.ca.gov.

Test Security

Test security is everyone’s responsibility all year long!

Interim Assessment Security Agreement

Local educational agencies (LEAs) are encouraged to consider using the optional Sample Interim Assessment Test Security Agreement for any staff who will have access to the CAASPP and ELPAC interim assessments. LEAs can adjust the agreement as needed for their local context. Completed forms should be maintained locally and should not be submitted to the California Department of Education (CDE).

TOMS Accounts

Judiciously maintain security in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS). Students’ personally identifiable information and secure materials and resources must always remain secure.

Review the Overview of TOMS User Roles section of the TOMS User Guide to better understand

users who should be granted TOMS access, and
system access by role.

STAIRS/Appeals Guide

The Security Incidents and Appeals Procedure Guide has been updated for 2026–27. This guide describes testing incident types and definitions and provides the steps for submitting a Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS) case.

Test Security Resources

To learn more about CAASPP and ELPAC test security guidelines and procedures, users should refer to the following videos:

Reminders

TOMS User Rollover

On July 7, 2026, all 2026–27 TOMS roles became available, and all 2025–26 roles were deactivated for both CAASPP and ELPAC.

Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC Window Is Open

The 2026–27 Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC administration began July 7, 2026, and continues until June 30, 2027. Pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 5, 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 for the Initial ELPAC or the assessment for the Initial Alternate ELPAC.

For updated information and instructions, refer to the following resources associated with ELPAC administration:

Initial ELPAC 2026–27 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

The 2026–27 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 10, 2026. Test examiners must complete training and calibration prior to administering the assessment.

Starting with the 2026–27 test administration, the LEA certification for the Initial Alternate ELPAC is required within two weeks of a student 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.

LEAs without students designated as To Be Determined 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.

Reminder to Use the 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.

Accessibility Updates

The following accessibility resource updates are available for the new test administration year:

Initial ELPAC: The pause or replay audio designated support for the Listening and Speaking domains has been made available to all K–12 students.
Initial ELPAC and Initial Alternate ELPAC: Sensory items was added as a non-embedded designated support. Formerly, this resource was categorized as a non-embedded accommodation.

Refer to the 2026–27 California Assessment Accessibility Resources Matrix and the Accessibility Guide for additional information about these updated accessibility resources.

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 5: CALPADS and Assessments Webinar, 2–3 p.m.

The California Department of Education (CDE) Assessment Development and Administration Division and the CALPADS Office, along with ETS, would like to invite CALPADS administrators and LEA representatives to an informational webinar regarding CALPADS and assessments. Registration for the CALPADS webinar is open.

August 11: 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 do so on the Coffee Session Series registration web page. By signing up once, you will be eligible to attend all upcoming sessions.

August 13 and 20: Assessment and Accountability Information Meeting (AAIM)

Hosted by the CDE, these two virtual meeting sessions will provide coordinators, administrators, and LEA staff with the most recent information and developments on California’s assessment and accountability systems. Registration for the 2026–27 AAIM is open.

Session 1: Assessment Updates
- Date: August 13, 2026
- Time: 2−4:30 p.m.
Session 2: California School Dashboard and Accountability Updates
- Date: August 20, 2026
- Time: 2−4 p.m.

August 19 and 25: August Site Administrator Assessment Convening

Hosted by the CDE, these two sessions will be presented with the same content for California site administrators who want to hear from CDE staff about the CAASPP and ELPAC interim assessments available for 2026–27, CDE sponsored trainings available for administrators and teachers for supporting the use of interim and formative assessments, and other resources available to support teaching and learning.

We ask that LEA coordinators encourage their site coordinators to attend one of the convenings. Registration for the August Site Administrator Assessment Convening is open.

Session 1
- Date: August 19, 2026
- Time: 9−10 a.m.
Session 2
- Date: August 25, 2026
- Time: 12−1 p.m.

August 19 and 26: CERS Essentials Training Series, 3:30–4:25 p.m.

This training will support the use of the California Educator Reporting System (CERS). The CERS Essentials Training Series is a set of free, one-hour, topic-focused, live virtual sessions. Register for the CERS Essentials Training Series.

Session 1: Getting to Know the System
- Date: August 19, 2026
Session 2: Managing Student Groups as an Administrator
- Date: August 26, 2026

August 27: Video Student Score Report Webinar, 2–3 p.m.

Learn about how to order personalized and engaging video SSRs for Smarter Balanced for English language arts/literacy and mathematics, the Summative ELPAC, and the Initial ELPAC. Registration for the Video Student Score Report Webinar is open.

August 27: New Coordinator Training Webinar: Assessment Systems and TOMS, 3–4 p.m.

This webinar will focus on essential assessment systems, local system connections, configuring testing windows, and how student test assignments work. Register for the New Coordinator Training Series.

Educator Involvement Opportunities

New Educator Meeting Opportunities

New opportunities for the 2026–27 school year are now available. Here is your chance to be involved in, and influence, the development of California testing programs. We need educators like you to provide vital input on test composition, accessibility, and implementation.

For a full list of available opportunities, visit the Get Involved web page. Contact the Educator Opportunities Team by phone at 916-228-2682 or by email at edopportunities@scoe.net with any questions.

On-Demand Trainings and Recordings

Recordings of the following training 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 Moodle, certification, and calibration to moodlesupport@scoe.net.

For further support, visit the Contact Us web page.

Sincerely,

California Outreach Team
CAASPP & ELPAC Website

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