Alternate ELPAC
California’s statewide alternate assessment for English language proficiency (ELP) for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.Program Overview
The California Department of Education (CDE) is developing the Alternate English Language Proficiency Assessments for California, or Alternate ELPAC. The purpose of the Alternate ELPAC is twofold: the Initial Alternate ELPAC will provide information to determine a student’s initial classification as an English learner (EL) or as initial fluent English proficient (IFEP) and the Summative Alternate ELPAC will provide information on student annual progress toward ELP and support decisions for students to be redesignated fluent English proficient (RFEP).
The Alternate ELPAC will be aligned to the English language development connectors and are linked to the 2012 California English Language Development Standards.
The Alternate ELPAC will replace all locally determined alternate assessments and provide a consistent, standardized measurement of ELP across the state for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
The following table provides a high-level development timeline for the Alternate ELPAC:
| Year | Development Activity |
|---|---|
| May 2019 | State Board of Education (SBE) approved the high-level test design |
| January 2020 | Pilot test and cognitive labs |
| May 2020 | Proposed test blueprints to the SBE |
| January – March 2021 | Statewide operational field test |
| July 2021 | Operational Initial Alternate ELPAC |
| February 2022 | Operational Summative Alternate ELPAC |
Refer to the following table for suggestions on what your local educational agency (LEA) can do to prepare for the transition to the statewide Alternate ELPAC, by school year:
| School Year | What To Do |
|---|---|
| 2019–2020 |
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| 2020–21 |
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| 2021–22 |
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Resources and Communication Material
Alternate Assessment IEP Team Guidance - Guidelines for IEP teams regarding participation in the California Alternate Assessments and the Alternate ELPAC.
Alternate Assessment Decision Confirmation Worksheet (PDF)
The administration of an ELP assessment is required by law.
California Education Code Section 313
California Education Code Section 60810
Final regulations were adopted by the Office of Administrative Law for the ELPAC administration; see California Code of Regulations, Title 5, sections 11517.6 through 11519.5.
Technical Documents
High-level Test Design Alternate ELPAC (PDF)
