Alt ELPA (Alternate English Language Proficiency Assessment)

The Alt ELPA Summative is an alternate English language proficiency assessment designed for English learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The assessment was developed under a federal grant with partners from the Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST) at UCLA and nine other states.

Students must be determined eligible for alternate assessment by the IEP team. Alternate assessment eligibility is a yearly, IEP team decision. More information on eligibility determination is available on the MSAA website. Eligible students in Grades K-12 will take the reassessment in late winter.

The Alt ELPA takes into consideration the diverse communication experiences of English learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The alternate ELP standards support these students as they learn critical English language knowledge, skills, and communicative competence. Guided by these standards, the Alt ELPA equips educators to support students in gaining English proficiency and ultimately becoming college- and career-ready. Information and updates related to the Alt ELPA Summative assessment will be available on the ELPA21 website.

Registering Students (Alt ELPA Screener)

ADE uploads all eligible students directly into TIDE. District Test Coordinators will need to submit the Alt ELPA Screener Request Webform to add eligible students for the Alt ELPA Screener. Students must have been determined by the IEP team to be eligible for alternate assessments and have one of the following requirements: the Home Language Survey (HLS) indicating a language other than English, sign language other than ASL, or missing an English language proficiency test. One Alt ELPA Screener Request Webform submission per student.

2025-2026 Alt ELPA Screener Test Administration Manual

Alt ELPA Screener

July 20, 2026 - May 7, 2027

Alt ELPA Screener Request Webform

Alt ELPA Summative

February 1, 2027 - March 19, 2027

2025-2026 Alternate Assessment DTC Handbook

Information and updates related to the Alt ELPA summative assessment will be available on the ELPA21 website.

OELAS and Assessment Joint Communication Memo regarding Alt ELPA (November 2023)

Alt ELPA Training Portal (DTC and TA training for the Alt ELPA Screener and the Alt ELPA Summative)

Cambium Portal (Student Practice Test, Manuals, Resource Guide)

Alt ELPA Reports
The Alt ELPA Individual Student Reports from the Spring administration are available in May. Reports are available for downloading, viewing, and printing in the TIDE Reporting portal. Hard copies were sent to the District of Attendance (DOA). There are two copies of this individual student report (ISR); one copy of the report is to be sent home to parents/guardians, and the other copy is for the confidential student file.
1.   Reports are accessed through the Cambium Reporting Portal.
2.   Returning DTCs will log in with the same credentials used during administration.
3.   Click “District View” and select your district.
4.   On the right-hand side, in the Features and Tools menu, click “Download Student Results”, “Individual Student Reports” and the designated schools’ reports (select up to three schools).

The Reporting System User Manual is available for step-by-step directions for accessing the different types of reports.

Alt ELPA Sample Student Report

Parent Guide to Alt ELPA Student Reports (multi-language)

Educators' Quick Guide to Understanding Score Reports