Introduction to the 2025–26 ELPAC Information Guide

Welcome to the 2025–26 ELPAC Information Guide. This guide is designed to provide local educational agencies (LEAs), schools, educators, and families with information to help them do the following:

• Understand the differences between
  • the Initial English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) and the Initial Alternate ELPAC; and
  • the Summative ELPAC and the Summative Alternate ELPAC
• Understand the initial identification, classification, and reclassification processes for English learner (EL) students
• Prepare teachers to understand and use their students’ ELPAC results
• Communicate ELPAC results to parents/guardians

What Is New for 2025–26

Here is what is new in this year:

• Minor changes were made to dates throughout the guide.
• The estimated testing times for the Initial ELPAC were updated.
• A new chapter was added called Accessibility Resources.
  • The California Assessment Accessibility Resources Matrix was moved under this new chapter as it's applicable to all students, not just students with disabilities.
• For better visibility, the in-chapter menu topics of Domain Exceptions and Selective Mutism were moved under the main chapter menu for the Assessing Students with Disabilities for English Language Proficiency chapter.
• Updated information on exclusion of transitional kindergarten.
• Inclusion of Census Information Day testing requirements for unduplicated pupil counts.
• The Appendices were updated with additional resources and reordered as applicable.

2025–26 Planned Testing

The 2025–26 testing windows for the ELPAC are provided in Table 1.

The guidance in this document does not constitute legal advice and is not binding. If local educational agencies (LEA) have questions about the implications on specific laws within this document on local programs or specific circumstances, the CDE encourages LEAs to seek local counsel.