Special Education Celebrates 22 Students Reclassified as English Language Proficient

The Special Education Program celebrated 22 students who were reclassified as English Language Proficient through the Alternative English Language Proficiency Assessment (Alt ELPAC). 

The Alt ELPAC, developed by the California Department of Education, provides a standardized measurement of English Language Proficiency for English Learners with significant cognitive disabilities. 

In order to pass the assessment and classify as Fluent English Proficient, students must: earn a level three on the Alt ELPAC, meet language comprehension and reading fluency levels equal to their English-only peers and complete a teacher evaluation and parent consultation. 

During the ceremony, families and staff gathered to celebrate their accomplishment. Each of the reclassified students received certificates of accomplishment, as well as an award from Senator Ana Caballero’s office honoring their milestone.

“Moving forward their language status will be English Language Proficient,” said MCOE Director of Special Education Maria Duran-Barajas during a speech at the event. “We are required to continue to monitor their language status for four years to ensure they are supported and continue to show growth in their English skills.”

There was previously no English Language assessment geared toward students with moderate to severe disabilities. It took a year to develop the reclassification process, which incorporated the alternate criteria using scores from the first Alt ELPAC test in 2022. 

This is the third year students enrolled in the Special Education Program had the opportunity to showcase their English proficiency skills.