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English Language Development

English Learners

There are many programs and services to help students who do not speak, read, write or understand English well as a result of English not being their home language. The overall goal of the various programs is to improve the English language skills of English Learner students, Immigrant students, Migrant students and provide information to their parents about services available.

The English Learner – CalEdFacts page provides a more detailed overview of English learner programs.

Reclassification

Reclassification is the process whereby a student is reclassified from an English learner to Fluent English Proficient. Le Conte determines when the student has met the 4 criteria listed in Education Code (EC) Section 313, in accordance with the California Department of Education by using the English Language Language Proficiency Assessments for California, (ELPAC).

ELPAC

The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is the successor to the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). Beginning in 2017–18, 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. The California Department of Education (CDE) expects to be fully transitioned from the CELDT to the ELPAC as the state’s assessment of ELP by 2018–19.

State and federal law require that local educational agencies administer a state test of ELP to eligible students in kindergarten (or year one of a two-year kindergarten program, sometimes referred to as “transitional kindergarten”) through grade twelve (ages 3-21). The ELPAC is aligned with California’s 2012 English Language Development Standards external icon, and is comprised of two separate ELP assessments:

  1. Initial ELPAC—an initial identification of students as English learners
  2. Summative ELPAC—an annual summative assessment to measure an English learner’s progress in learning English and to identify the student’s ELP level

State Seal of Biliteracy

The State Seal of Biliteracy, marked by a gold seal on the diploma or transcript, recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing one or more languages in addition to English.