English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)
Assessment
Who takes it?
BUSD testing window
Description
Initial ELPAC
Students whose Home Language Survey indicates a language other than English.
Year-round
August 6, 2025 - May 27, 2025
Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active IEP designates the use of an alternate assessment and whose primary language is not English as indicated on the HLS enrolling in a California public school for the first time
Initial Alternate ELPAC
Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active IEP designates the use of an alternate assessment and whose primary language is not English as indicated on the HLS enrolling in a California public school for the first time
Year-round
August 6, 2025 - May 27, 2025
Identifies students as English Learners (EL) of Initial Fluent English Proficient (IFEP) when they first enroll in a California public school.
Sumative ELPAC
Students who are classified as EL students will take the Summative ELPAC every year until they are reclassified as proficient in English. There is no parent opt-out or medical exemption for this assessment.
Annually
February 3, 2026 - May 15, 2026
Measures progress in learning English and determines the student’s English proficiency level.
Alternate ELPAC
Identified English learner students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose active IEP designates the use of an alternate assessment until they are re-designated as fluent English proficient
Annually
February 3, 2026 - May 15, 2026
Measures progress in learning English and determines the student’s English proficiency level.
Interim ELPAC
All students in California LEAs eligible to take the ELPAC may participate
Optional tests available at any time throughout the year.
Optional assessments used to inform instruction and monitor progress throughout the year.
