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SDLA Compliance Resource

Administer the Initial ELPAC or Initial Alternate ELPAC

A pupil-level identification workflow inside a yearlong statewide window—triggered by the original Home Language Survey, prior-record reconciliation, and, for the alternate assessment, an active IEP decision.

  • ELPAC
  • English Learner Identification
  • Initial Assessment
Date(s)July 7, 2026–June 30, 2027; administer within the applicable pupil-level identification timeline
Applies toEligible K–12 pupils entering a California public school for the first time whose original HLS indicates a primary language other than English; Initial Alternate ELPAC only when an active IEP assigns the alternate assessment

In Plain Language: After resolving the original HLS and prior California enrollment/testing history, notify the family, assign the correct initial assessment, prepare trained staff and accessibility resources, administer promptly, locally score as required, enter or verify the resulting ELAS, and provide the required initial-identification notice.

Why this matters

The statewide window is not permission to wait until June. Delayed or duplicate identification can postpone language services, distort CALPADS records, and leave classroom staff without the information needed to support the pupil from the beginning of enrollment.

Primary ownership

Primary owner: LEA ELPAC coordinator. Identification owner: English learner program lead. Partners: enrollment, CALPADS/SIS, trained test examiner, site coordinator, special education/IEP team, technology, teacher, records staff, and parent/guardian.

Operational workflow

  1. 1. Reconcile the signed HLS, first-California-enrollment claim, CALPADS ELAS history, prior assessment records, and SSID before testing.
  2. 2. Confirm Initial ELPAC versus Initial Alternate ELPAC eligibility; for the alternate assessment, verify the active IEP decision and established communication mode.
  3. 3. Provide advance written parent/guardian notice and arrange language access; schedule within the applicable identification timeline.
  4. 4. Verify trained examiner, security affidavits, TOMS assignments, devices/materials, domain exemptions or accessibility resources, and one-to-one conditions when required.
  5. 5. Administer and locally score according to current directions; resolve irregularities through the required incident process.
  6. 6. Enter or verify the resulting ELAS and assessment data, provide the required initial-identification/results notice, begin appropriate services, and transfer the complete record when the pupil moves.

Implementation pathway

HLS trigger
Prior-record reconcile
Correct assessment
Administer/score
ELAS and family notice
Services

Evidence to retain

  • Original HLS and eligibility determination
  • CALPADS/SSID and prior-assessment reconciliation
  • Parent pre-assessment notice and language-access record
  • Active IEP alternate-assessment decision, when applicable
  • Examiner training, security, assignment, and accessibility records
  • Administration/local scoring and incident records
  • ELAS entry, results, parent identification notice, and service handoff

Official guidance and help

Source review completed August 30, 2026. Verify current CDE ELPAC, English learner identification, CALPADS, parent-notification, and local procedures before acting.