Understanding the ELPAC
A Guide for VCUSD Families

The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) measures how well your child is growing in their English language proficiency. It checks their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing to help our teachers deliver the right support and instruction.

Students whose home language is something other than English take the Initial ELPAC when they first enroll in a California public school. If they are identified as an English Learner, they will then take the Summative ELPAC every year until they are reclassified as fluent.

The Initial ELPAC is given when an eligible student first enrolls. The Summative ELPAC is administered in the spring of each school year, with testing typically happening between February and May.

Most of the test is taken on a computer or digital device. However, to make sure our youngest learners are comfortable, students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade complete the writing portion of the test on paper using a pencil.

Accessibility resources are available to ensure all students can test fairly. For English learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities, the Initial Alternate ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC are available, as decided by their IEP team.

You and your child can take official Practice and Training Tests online to get comfortable with the types of questions and the computer tools they will use.

No, ELPAC scores do not impact your child's class grades. The scores are strictly used to determine your child's English proficiency level and to ensure they are placed in the correct classes to receive language support.

There is no "pass" or "fail" on this test. Instead, the test measures your child's progress across four levels. Reaching the highest level (Level 4) is simply the goal, as it is a major step toward your child being "reclassified" as fully fluent in English.

Families are encouraged to visit the Starting Smarter website. It is a free resource that explains score reports, provides sample test questions, and helps you start smarter conversations with your child's teacher about how to support learning at home.

Once the tests are scored, parents and guardians can access their child’s official ELPAC score reports digitally through the VCUSD Aeries Parent Portal.