Introduction to the 2024–25 ELPAC Information Guide

Welcome to the 2024–25 ELPAC Information Guide. This guide is designed to provide local educational agencies (LEAs), schools, educators, and families with information to help them do the following:

• Understand the differences between
  • the Initial English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) and the Initial Alternate ELPAC; and
  • the Summative ELPAC and the Summative Alternate ELPAC
• Understand the initial identification, classification, and reclassification processes for English learner (EL) students
• Prepare teachers to understand and use their students’ ELPAC results
• Communicate ELPAC results to parents/guardians

What Is New for 2024–25

Here is what is new in this year:

• The ELPAC Information Guide is now available as an HTML document but can still be printed as needed.
• The overview sections for the Initial and Summative ELPAC Program and Initial Alternate and Summative Alternate ELPAC were reorganized for consistency and minor edits applied.
• The Initial Identification of English Learner Students section was reorganized for consistency and minor edits applied.
• The Assessing Students with Disabilities for English Language Proficiency section was edited for consistency and to clarify the specific laws pertaining to this student population.
• The Reclassification of English Learners section was renamed and simplified. All guidelines will now be reported on the California Department of Education (CDE) Multilingual Support Division’s Reclassification web page.
• The Reporting and Using Individual Results section was edited for consistency and to clarify the specific laws pertaining to the reporting of results.
• The Appendices were updated and reordered, as applicable.
• The Acronyms and Initialisms Appendix has been removed and is now included as a separate resource listed under the In Chapter Menu.
• New for transitional kindergarten (TK): Assembly Bill 2268 was signed into law and will take effect beginning with the 2024–25 school year. California Education Code (EC) 313 was amended to clarify that “initial enrollment” does not include enrollment in a TK program. EC 60810 (b)(3) was amended to state that ELPAC requirements will no longer apply to TK students.

2024–25 Planned Testing

The 2024–25 testing windows for the ELPAC are provided in Table 1.