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English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)

The assessment window for the 2023 Summative and Alternate Summative ELPAC closed on may 31, 2023

ELPAC Overview Video Presentation

The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is the mandated state test for determining English language proficiency (ELP). It is administered as an initial assessment to newly enrolled students whose primary language is not English, as indicated on a home language survey; and, annually, as a summative assessment to students who have been previously identified as EL students. 

The general and Alternate ELPAC are delivered via a computer-based test delivery platform. The general ELPAC has four domains (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing) which are administered on a computer except for the Writing domain for kindergarten through grade two, which will remain as a paper-based test. 

Types of ELPAC Assessments

  • Initial ELPAC—The general assessment whose results provide the primary identification of students as English learners (ELs)

    Summative ELPAC—The general assessment, administered annually, whose results measure an EL student's progress and identify the student's ELP level

  • Initial Alternate ELPAC—The alternate assessment whose results provide the primary identification of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities as ELs

  • Summative Alternate ELPAC—The alternate assessment, administered annually, whose results measure and identify the student ELP level, for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.