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In California, there are approximately 1,009,066 English Learners in public schools, representing 17.4% of the total student enrollment. To support the unique needs of this student group, there are federal and state funding, programs, and requirements for LEAs and charters. This section is meant to provide the information needed to successfully and equitably support California's multilingual learners English language proficiency, academic, and SEL/wellness needs.
California Education Code, Sections 313 and 60810 contain legal requirements which direct schools to determine the language(s) spoken in the home of each student. The Home Language Survey (HLS) is used as the first step in determining if a student is an English Learner.
The ELPAC is the required state test for English language proficiency (ELP) that must be given to students whose primary language is a language other than English. State and federal law require that local educational agencies administer a state test of ELP to eligible students in kindergarten through grade twelve. The California Department of Education (CDE) transitioned from the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) to the ELPAC as the state ELP assessment in 2018. The ELPAC is aligned with the 2012 California English Language Development Standards. It consists of two separate ELP assessments: one for the initial identification of students as English learners (ELs), and a second for the annual summative assessment to measure a student’s progress in learning English and to identify the student's level of ELP.
Initial and Annual Parent Notifications
Initial parent notifications inform parents their child needs English learner (EL) support, detailing assessment results, program options, and reclassification criteria. Annual notifications, sent at the start of each school year, provide the same information updated with the child's latest language proficiency assessment scores and academic progress. These notifications must be provided in the parents' primary language and delivered within a specific timeframe, usually 30 days of the school year or two weeks of mid-year enrollment.
Learn about the requirements and resources available to support reclassifying English Learners as Fluent English Proficient.
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