ELPAC - English Language Proficiency Assessments for California Initial vs. Summative ELPAC Questions and Answers

Question 1

A student who has never been enrolled in a California public school before registers for classes in August.
The Home Language Survey indicates that a language other than English is spoken at home.
According to state and federal law, which of the following actions must the district take?

Accepted Answer

Administer the Initial ELPAC within 30 calendar days of the student's first enrollment.

Answer

Administer the Summative ELPAC to establish a baseline score for the year.

Answer

Wait until the spring testing window to administer any ELPAC test.

Answer

Enroll the student directly into English Language Development services without testing.

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of the Summative ELPAC?

Accepted Answer

To measure the annual progress a student is making in acquiring English language proficiency.

Answer

To provide an initial identification of a student as either an English learner or as initially fluent English proficient.

Answer

To serve as the sole criterion for determining a student's eligibility for special education services.

Answer

To screen all new students enrolling in a California public school for the first time.

Question 3

A student was identified as an English learner (EL) after taking the Initial ELPAC in the previous school year. Which ELPAC assessment will this student take during the statewide testing window in the spring?

Accepted Answer

The Summative ELPAC, to measure their yearly progress.

Answer

The Initial ELPAC again, to confirm their EL status.

Answer

The Alternate ELPAC, as it is the next step after the Initial.

Answer

Neither, as a student is only tested once with the ELPAC.

Question 4

The results from which assessment are a primary component used by districts, along with other criteria, to determine if a student can be reclassified from English Learner (EL) to Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP)?

Accepted Answer

Summative ELPAC

Answer

Initial ELPAC

Answer

California Alternate Assessment (CAA)

Answer

A locally developed reading assessment

Question 5

Which of the following statements correctly distinguishes between the Initial and Summative ELPAC?

Accepted Answer

The Initial ELPAC is used for identification purposes, while the Summative ELPAC is used for measuring annual progress and for federal accountability.

Answer

The Initial ELPAC is administered annually, while the Summative ELPAC is administered only once.

Answer

Only the Initial ELPAC assesses the four domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

Answer

Parents can opt their children out of the Summative ELPAC, but not the Initial ELPAC.

Question 6

A school administrator needs to determine if a newly enrolled third-grade student, whose family speaks Spanish at home, requires English learner services. Which assessment is the correct tool for this purpose?

Accepted Answer

The Initial ELPAC, administered shortly after enrollment.

Answer

The Summative ELPAC, administered at the end of the school year.

Answer

A diagnostic reading inventory selected by the classroom teacher.

Answer

The Smarter Balanced Assessment for English Language Arts.