What is the Summative ELPAC?

Beginning in March, English language learners will take the Summative ELPAC. The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is California’s assessment system that is used to determine the English language proficiency of learners whose primary language is not English. The ELPAC assesses four domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The Summative ELPAC measures how well a learner is progressing with English development in each of the four domains.

The summative assessment is given to learners in grades TK–12 who have been identified as English learners. EL learners continue to take the assessment annually until they are reclassified as fluent English proficient. In order to be considered proficient in English and reclassify, a learner must score a 4 on each of the four domains AND score a 50% or higher on the MAP test or SBAC Language Arts test.

Parents/guardians cannot opt their child out of the ELPAC. State law (California Education Code section 313 and California Education Code section 60810 ) and federal law Titles I and Ill of the Every Student Succeeds Act) require that all students whose primary language is other than English be assessed for English language proficiency.