Annual Administration of English Learners

Administration is a multi-step process. LEAs are required to administer the Summative English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) or Summative Alternate ELPAC to all eligible ELs enrolled during the annual testing window until they are reclassified. Students may NOT be opted out of the administration of the assessment (5 CCR 11518.15 and 11518.25).

Summative ELPAC

  1. The student is identified as an EL student.
  2. They are assessed annually, until reclassified as fluent English proficient.
  3. When reclassification occurs, the student receives English instruction with monitoring for four years.

Summative Alternate ELPAC

  1. An IEP team has determined the student is eligible for alternate assessments.
  2. The student is identified as an EL student.
  3. They are assessed annually, until reclassified as fluent English proficient.
  4. When reclassification occurs, the student receives English instruction with monitoring for four years.

Students identified as EL students must be assessed annually to determine their ELP to measure their progress and receive appropriate EL services and programs on the basis of the results of the assessment and other local measures. The Summative ELPAC or Summative Alternate ELPAC is administered to EL students annually until they meet all four reclassification criteria and are reclassified as fluent English proficient (RFEP).

Reclassification

Reclassification is the process whereby a student is reclassified from EL status to Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) status. Reclassification can take place at any time during the academic year, immediately upon the student meeting all the criteria. State and federal laws require LEAs to monitor students who have exited EL status for a period of four years after they have RFEP status (20 USC 6841[a][4][5]; 5 CCR Section 11304).

For more information on reclassification and RFEP progress monitoring, refer to the Reclassification webpage.