English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)

The SMUHSD works closely with our county office and the CA Department of Education to ensure compliance with all state and federal guidelines and laws regarding English Learners. During the spring of 2018 we will implement the new California English Language Proficiency Assessments of California (ELPAC) and continue to use that moving forward. Additionally, we have aligned our curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices to the new ELD standards and ELA/ELD framework. More details can be found in our EL Master Plan.

Beginning in the 2017-18 school year, all designated English Learner students will be assessed using the new California English Language Proficiency Assessments of California (ELPAC). The ELPAC will be administered during the spring semester as each of our school sites.

The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is the successor to the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). The CELDT was the previously required state test for English language proficiency (ELP) that was given to students whose primary language is a language other than English.

State and federal law require that local educational agencies administer a state test of ELP to eligible students in kindergarten (or year one of a two-year kindergarten program, sometimes referred to as "transitional kindergarten") through grade twelve. The ELPAC is aligned with the 2012 California English Language Development Standards, and will be comprised of two separate ELP assessments:

• an initial identification of students as English learners
• an annual summative assessment to measure a student’s progress in learning English and to identify the student's ELP level

For more information on the ELPAC, please visit https://www.caaspp-elpac.org/

We monitor the academic progress of all English Learner (EL) and former English Learner students who have been recently reclassified as Fluent English Proficient (RFEP). Our English Learner Specialists, teaching staff, counselors and district staff have access to our Ellevation platform. Ellevation is a student information system which allows us to track academic performance data and English proficiency progress, as well as collect teacher feedback on in-class performance in one place. Teachers are asked to complete feedback forms at least once per semester for every RFEP student they have. They complete forms for all EL students at least once a year, more often if the student is not making adequate academic progress.

We have EL Specialists at each site who work with our district testing assistant and the Manager of English Learner Programs to develop data reports for site and district administrative teams which help drive professional development work with teachers on the sites and at the district level.

The Ellevation platform is also used to track progress towards reclassification.