ELPAC Update Issue #6

 The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) Update, from the California Department of Education (CDE), is an e-mail for K–12 educators, including testing coordinators that focuses on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California. When the ELPAC is operational, it will replace the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). The ELPAC Update will be sent once per month beginning March 2017. Please forward this e-mail to any educators in your local educational agency (LEA) who would be interested in or benefit from this information.

Operational ELPAC Summative Assessment Administration and Scoring Training: Registration Now Open

Thank you for your patience during the recent delay of online registration for Summative Assessment (SA) Administration and Scoring Training. We are pleased to announce that registration is now open! This training will be a "training-of-trainers" model. A portion of the training day will be divided into two groups: kindergarten through grade five in one room, and grades six through twelve in another room. We recommend that you plan accordingly and bring one trainer for the lower grades and one other trainer for the upper grades, if applicable.

LEA ELPAC Coordinators are responsible for registering participants from their LEA. Using the registration code provided in the e-mail sent from the Sacramento County Office of Education to LEA ELPAC Coordinators on August 14, an LEA ELPAC Coordinator can log on to the registration system at any time this fall and change participants' names as well as add names to the waiting list. Specific registration information is located on the ELPAC Web site under the Training tab.

If you have any questions, please contact the ELPAC Customer Support Center by phone at 844-782-2714 or by e-mail atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Coming to You: SA Operational Regional Trainings

Are you unable to attend a state-sponsored SA Administration and Scoring Training on any of the designated dates? No need to worry—county offices of education also will be hosting local trainings throughout California. Staff from county offices will first attend the statewide trainings, and then host local trainings. These regional trainings are posted on the ELPAC Web site, which is regularly updated to include new regional training sites.

New ELPAC Resources Now Available!

The wait for the new ELPAC resources for parents and educators is over! The CDE is pleased to announce that the following resources are now available on the CDE ELPAC Web page and on the ELPAC Web site:

•Do We Administer the CELDT or the ELPAC in 2017–18?

•A Parent Guide to Understanding the ELPAC (translated into seven languages)

•"ELPAC Assessments Fact Sheet"

•"Domain Information Sheets"

•Matrix Four: Universal Tools, Designated Supports, and Accommodations for the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California,

Practice Makes Perfect

The ELPAC Practice Tests are under development. When finalized, they will be posted on the CDE ELPAC Web page and on the ELPAC Web site. Watch for more information, coming in the September issue of the ELPAC Update.

Question of the Month: If the CELDT Initial Assessment is administered to students in 2017–18, must the students also take the ELPAC SA in spring 2018?

Answer: All students who currently are being tested with the CELDT Initial Assessment (IA) within 30 calendar days of enrollment also will be administered the ELPAC SA in spring 2018. All students who took the IA and were identified as ELs will take two assessments each year. Why? The SA is the measure for accountability requiring that each student be tested annually.

The ELPAC Overview Video

The CDE is pleased to announce that in October, the "ELPAC Overview" video, in English and Spanish, will be available for download by LEAs! This video will be an excellent resource for LEAs to share with parent groups and staff. The video will showcase the new ELPAC and its importance for California. More information will be coming soon.

The ELPAC IA Field Test

If your LEA is participating in the ELPAC IA field test from August 28 to September 22, please remember that no pre-identification labels are available. Test Examiners will need to fill in the student demographic information before sending the materials to Educational Testing Service. If you have any questions, please contact the ELPAC Customer Support Center by phone at 844-782-2714 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..