Initial ELPAC Test Administration
The Initial English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) testing window is administered throughout the year.
In Person and Remote Administration
The Initial ELPAC is available to be administered in person or remotely. LEA ELPAC coordinators should refer to the 
for information and instructions about test preparation and administration of the computer-based Initial ELPAC, as well as the paper-based test for the Writing domain for students in kindergarten through grade two. The manual also includes information about . Please visit the Manuals and Instructions web page for more materials related to the administration of the Initial ELPAC.
Initial ELPAC Testing Notification Letter Templates
Parent/Guardian notification letter templates are available on the web page to notify parents and guardians about the various testing options that LEAs may employ to complete testing.
Handling Materials After Testing
Sites may retain unused Initial ELPAC Form 1 Writing Answer Books for continued use.
Initial ELPAC Directions for Administration
The Directions for Administration (DFAs) are available for download by navigating to the [Resources] screen on the top navigation bar in . Select Initial ELPAC Directions for Administration (DFAs) from the Available Materials list and download the DFA(s) that match the grade level or grade span of the administration.
Initial ELPAC Estimated Testing Times
The Initial ELPAC is an untimed test. Students are allowed as much time as needed to complete the test. For planning purposes, estimated testing times—by domain and grade level or grade span—are available on the web page.
Scoring the Initial ELPAC
Users can access the local scoring systems on the web page. The local scoring process will occur as follows:
- Listening and Reading domains for all grades will be scored automatically in the test delivery system.
- The Speaking domain for all grades will be locally scored in the moment, and then the test examiner will enter the student scores into the .
- The Writing domain for kindergarten through grade two will remain paper-based and will be locally scored. Scores will be entered into the .
- The Writing domain student responses for grades three through twelve will be scored locally in the .
Reporting for the Initial ELPAC
To be counted as tested, a student must log on and submit all four domains as described in Scoring the Initial ELPAC. Once all four domains have been completed and scored, Student Score Reports (SSRs) will be produced and available for download in and made available to parents and guardians through parent or student portals. LEAs will be able to access the official Initial ELPAC SSRs and results in within less than 24 hours of the last domain test being scored and submitted for a student.
Students will receive an SSR in English and one in the student's primary language if that language is Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Filipino, Korean, or Cantonese (traditional Chinese). To view a sample SSR in each language, visit the web page. If a student needs an SSR in one of the provided languages and that language is not the student's primary language, LEAs should change the language of the SSR in prior to student testing.
Initial ELPAC Parent Notification
After all four domains have been administered and scores have been entered into the and , LEAs can access the Sample Annual Parent/Guardian Notification Letter on the California Department of Education (CDE) web page. The data file in can be used to merge with the notification letter.
Calculated English Language Acquisition Status (ELAS)
The calculated ELAS results of either EL or initial fluent English proficient (IFEP) will be sent from to the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) through a nightly file transfer. LEAs will need to run the Student English Language Acquisition extract from CALPADS to upload the ELAS into their student information system.
Test examiners may make the determination that a student will benefit from an embedded or non-embedded designated support immediately before or during test administration. The test examiner may assign accessibility resources prior to testing in or directly in the Test Administrator Interface during testing for the Initial ELPAC. More information about accessibility resources can be found on the ELPAC web page.
Rotating Score Validation Process (RSVP)
The CDE has randomly selected approximately 10 percent of LEAs in California to take part in the RSVP for the Initial ELPAC.
More information about this process is on the web page along with the alphabetical list of LEAs identified to participate in the RSVP.
Initial ELPAC Pre-ID Labels
Pre-identification (Pre-ID) labels are available only for the 10 percent of LEAs participating in the RSVP, as determined by the CDE. Participating LEAs do not need to request or order these Pre-ID labels. Instead, those LEAs identified in the sampling plan will receive labels automatically for returning scorable materials for students in kindergarten through grade two once SSRs are available in .
LEAs that are not participating in RSVP do not order or receive Pre-ID labels.
Materials Return for LEAs Participating in the RSVP
LEAs selected to participate in the RSVP should return only ELPAC scannable Answer Books that were ordered and received at the beginning of the current testing window. Answer Books received from previous administrations will not be processed.
When returning Answer Books, LEAs should download and complete the web document to serve as a reference for the LEA as to what is being returned in each shipment.
To request additional cartons or Group Information Sheets (GIS), complete the .
LEA ELPAC coordinators and site ELPAC coordinators can:
- Submit STAIRS cases in
- Refer to the and the web page for more information