ELPAC Initial vs. Summative ELPAC 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A kindergartner just enrolled mid-year with a home language other than English. Which assessment should the school administer first?
- Summative ELPAC
- SBAC ELA
- Initial ELPAC (Correct answer)
- CELDT
Correct answer: Initial ELPAC
Any newly enrolled student with a home language other than English must first take the Initial ELPAC to determine EL status.
Question 2: For which grade span does the ELPAC use a different assessment design than the standard K-12 version?
- Grades 6-8
- Grades 9-12
- Kindergarten only (Correct answer)
- Grades 3-5
Correct answer: Kindergarten only
Kindergarten has its own adapted ELPAC design due to the developmental level and literacy skills of young learners.
Question 3: Which ELPAC version provides data used during the annual reclassification review process?
- Initial ELPAC
- Summative ELPAC (Correct answer)
- Alternate Initial ELPAC
- Diagnostic ELPAC
Correct answer: Summative ELPAC
The Summative ELPAC score is one of the required criteria evaluated during the reclassification review for English learners.
Question 4: What is the window for administering the Initial ELPAC after a student enrolls?
- Within 10 calendar days
- Within 30 calendar days (Correct answer)
- Within 60 calendar days
- Within the same school year
Correct answer: Within 30 calendar days
California law requires the Initial ELPAC to be administered within 30 calendar days of a student's enrollment.
Question 5: How does the Initial ELPAC score scale compare to the Summative ELPAC score scale?
- The Initial uses a 1-5 scale; the Summative uses a 1-4 scale
- Both use the same four performance levels (Correct answer)
- The Initial has fewer performance levels than the Summative
- The Summative uses raw scores; the Initial uses scaled scores
Correct answer: Both use the same four performance levels
Both the Initial and Summative ELPAC use the same four performance levels to describe English language proficiency.
Question 6: Which statement best describes how the Summative ELPAC performance levels are labeled?
- Beginning, Early Intermediate, Intermediate, Early Advanced, Advanced (Correct answer)
- Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4
- Emerging, Expanding, Bridging, Reaching
- Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, Advanced
Correct answer: Beginning, Early Intermediate, Intermediate, Early Advanced, Advanced
The Summative ELPAC uses five performance levels: Beginning, Early Intermediate, Intermediate, Early Advanced, and Advanced.
Question 7: An English learner has taken the Summative ELPAC for three consecutive years. What does this indicate about their classification status?
- They have been reclassified as Fluent English Proficient
- They have not yet met reclassification criteria and remain classified as an English learner (Correct answer)
- They automatically reclassify after three years
- They no longer need to take the ELPAC
Correct answer: They have not yet met reclassification criteria and remain classified as an English learner
Students continue to take the Summative ELPAC annually until they meet all reclassification criteria, regardless of how many years have passed.
ELPAC Initial vs. Summative ELPAC 3
A kindergartner just enrolled mid-year with a home language other than English.
Which assessment should the school administer first?