ELPAC Updates, CDE Newsletter, Funding Opportunity
Date: 01/03/2021
Author: Jenn Guerrero
ELPAC Updates (Read the full update here)
Summative ELPAC
The CDE recognizes the difficulties that local educational agencies (LEAs) and educators are facing this school year. Given the guidance from the US Department of Education that it will not approve statewide assessment waivers for the 2020–21 school year, the CDE is working to provide test administration options that will allow LEAs flexibility to meet the needs of their unique context.
The CDE recommends to LEAs an in-person test administration option—while adhering to state, county, and local health and safety requirements—and a remote test administration option for the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and Mathematics, the California Science Test, the California Spanish Assessment, and the Summative ELPAC.
Alternate ELPAC
The CDE is postponing the operational field test for the Alternate ELPAC to the 2021–22 school year. LEAs will continue to administer their locally determined alternate assessments, following state, county, and local health requirements, for the 2020–21 school year. Additional details regarding the use of locally determined alternate assessments for the students currently designated to take the Alternate ELPAC will be provided in January. Note that if a student’s individualized education program indicates that the student would be administered the Alternate ELPAC operational field test, it is not necessary to conduct an addendum meeting to change the language back to a locally determined alternate assessment.
In preparation for the summative test administration, testing contractor Educational Testing Service will provide updates and written guidance on these recommendations in the test administration manuals. More information will be provided through the series of CAASPP and ELPAC pretest workshops for LEA coordinators in January 2021. For more information or to register for these workshops, visit the CAASPP website and the ELPAC website.
Information and Updates from the CDE Multilingual Support Division
Click here to read the latest newsletter from the California Department of Education.
Funding Opportunity: K-12 Homework Gap Program- JANUARY 11th DEADLINE!!
Connected Nation, a national non-profit that supports assessment and planning for the expansion of broadband access, adoption, and use, is coordinating a $10 million grant opportunity to close the homework gap for at-risk students by providing free mobile wifi hotspots and internet service. Awardees will can apply to receive:
- Free AT&T wireless internet service for 1 calendar year for up to 500 K-12 students per award
- A free mobile Wi-Fi hotspot for each line of service
- Some awardees, based on need and subject to availability, may receive a new or refurbished laptop, Chromebook, or tablet learning device
Applications must be received by Connected Nation no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time on January 11, 2021.
School districts, charter schools, and community-based non-profit organizations that serve at-risk youth are eligible to apply. The program is focused primarily on impacting students in the following groups:
- Students in foster care
- Students experiencing homelessness
- English language learners
- Students with disabilities
- Students eligible for the Migrant Education Program
- Other at-risk students who may be disconnected from formal education opportunities
Learn more here
