English Language Proficiency Assessments
The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), which will be aligned
to the CA ELD Standards adopted in 2012, is being developed to replace the California English
Language Development Test (CELDT). The CELDT will be administered as usual until the ELPAC is fully
operational.
The ELPAC will consist of two separate assessments: an initial assessment and a summative
assessment. A summary of the identification and assessment process for ELs follows:
- Home Language Survey (HLS): School districts will continue to employ an HLS as the first
step in identifying students whose primary language is not English. The HLS indicates if a
student speaks a language other than English at home sometimes or all of the time. The HLS
helps to determine which students are potentially EL and triggers the requirement to administer
the ELPAC Initial Assessment to confirm EL classification. - ELPAC Initial Assessment (Initial): The Initial
will be used by school districts to determine whether
a student is an EL. It will be scored at the local level
by qualified ELPAC examiners, resulting in a quicker
turnaround of test results and timelier determination
of EL classification and placement of students in
appropriate instructional programs. - ELPAC Summative Assessment (Summative):
ELPAC examiners will annually administer the
Summative to all identified ELs during a four-month
period after January 1 as determined by the State
Superintendent with the approval of the State Board
of Education. The results will be used to determine
ELs’ annual progress in learning English for federal
accountability purposes. The results may also be used
by school districts to evaluate the effectiveness of
their ELD programs, curricular resources, and instruction.
The ELPAC conceptual model (figure 8.11 below) highlights the process for using the HLS, the
Initial, and the annual Summative. Boxes A and C have dotted borders to indicate local activities, and
Boxes B and D have solid borders to indicate them as integral components of the state assessment
system.
The English Language
Proficiency Assessments for
California (ELPAC), which
will be aligned to the CA
ELD Standards adopted in
2012, is being developed to
replace the California English
Language Development Test
(CELDT). The CELDT will be
administered as usual until the
ELPAC is fully operational.866 | Chapter 8 Assessment