Student English Language Acquisition (SELA)
(Updated 11/1/2024)
The Student English Language Acquisition container provides the ability for an authorized user to view one or all of a student’s English Language Acquisition records and provides links to edit existing records or add new ones.
Account Roles Needed
Users need the following roles to access and edit this section of the Student Details page.
- Student Search
- SELA Edit
- SELA View
An authorized user may perform the following functions through this interface:
- View one or all of a student’s English Language Acquisition records
- If the user is authorized, after the open button is selected, the user can edit the displayed Student English Language Acquisition record. If the user does not own the student record, the user may view the record but will not have the ability to edit it.
- If the user is authorized, an Add a New Record button will display below the Language record(s)
- Modify the displayed existing English Language Acquisition record
Data Requirement
A SELA record is expected for ALL students, in ALL enrollment Types (10,30), and in grades TK - 12 that are enrolled in a school that is expected to report SELA records.
Private School enrollments do not require a SELA based on the School of Attendance = 0000002.
When to submit a SELA record
Update student English Language Acquisition Status (ELAS) data only:
- Upon enrollment of a NEW student (brand new SSID).
- When a student has a valid change in their ELAS.
- When any TK–12 student with an ELAS of “TBD” has that status for more than 90 days from the ELAS Start Date.
ELAS Codes
Below are the possible English Language Acquisition Status Codes available. ELAS status EL and IFEP are expected to come from the daily TOMS update. Submission of EL and IFEP through Online Maintenance is accepted with valid Correction Codes. However, it is best practice to rely on TOMS to push the status to CALPADS.
|
Coded Value |
Name |
Definition |
Submission Method |
Start Date |
|
EL |
English Learner |
A student enrolled in grades KN through 12 for whom there is a report of a language other than English on the Home Language Survey and who, upon initial assessment in California using an appropriate state assessment (currently the California English Language Development Test (ELPAC)) and from additional information when appropriate, is determined to lack the clearly defined English language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and/or writing necessary to succeed in the school's regular instructional programs. |
TOMS Update Online Maintenance (will require ELAS Correction Code) |
7/1/1990 |
|
ADEL |
Adult English Learner |
A student aged 22 years or older enrolled in grades KN through 12 who has been identified by a local educational agency as an English learner through a local process (e.g., Home Language Survey, or other local assessment) because the student is not eligible to take the Initial English Language Proficiency Assessment for California (ELPAC). Adult English learners are not considered English Learners for purposes of federal Title III funding or state-level accountability. |
Batch File Online Maintenance |
7/1/2020 |
|
EO |
English or American Sign Language Only |
A student enrolled in grades TK through 12 for whom the only language reported on the Home Language Survey (HLS) is English or American Sign Language. |
Batch File Online Maintenance |
7/1/1990 |
|
IFEP |
Initial Fluent English Proficient |
A student enrolled in grades KN through 12 for whom a language other than English is reported on the Home Language Survey and who, upon initial assessment in California using an appropriate state assessment (currently the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)) and from additional information when appropriate, is determined to be proficient in English. |
TOMS Update Online Maintenance (will require ELAS Correction Code) |
7/1/1990 |
|
RFEP |
Reclassified Fluent English Proficient |
A student enrolled in grades KN through 12 who, upon entering public school in California, is identified as an English learner (EL) and subsequently reclassified/redesignated in California, per Education Code 313, as proficient in English. Education Code 313 criteria include, but are not limited to, an assessment of English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing as currently measured by the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), teacher evaluation of curriculum mastery, parental opinion/consultation, and student's performance of basic skills, as measured by the California Standards Test English Language Arts, that demonstrates sufficient proficiency in English to participate effectively in a curriculum designed for students of the same age whose native language is English. |
Batch File Online Maintenance |
7/1/1990 |
|
TBD |
To Be Determined |
A student enrolled in grades TK through 12 for whom there is a report of a primary language other than English on the Home Language Survey and for whom the district has not completed the assessment process. The assessment process must be completed within 30 days of initial enrollment. |
Batch File Online Maintenance |
7/1/1990 |
Normal SELA Status Progression
Below is the diagram of acceptable student ELAs status progression. A SELA record will not require an ELAS status correction code when SELA reporting follows this progression.
Status determined based on filled out Home Language Survey form
Status determined based on Initial ELPAC test results.
Status determined based on Summative ELPAC test results.
ELAS Status for students TK-12 who are 22 yrs old and above who are ineligible for ELPAC testing due to age.
When to report a SELA Correction Reason Code
The SELA Correction reason codes are only applicable when the prior SELA record being corrected has a date on or after 7/1 of the current academic year. And the new SELA record being reported does not follow the normal ELAS status progression. A correction can only be done once and prior to summative testing.
SELA Correction Code Matrix
| Most Recent English Language Acquisition Status Code (ODS) | Subsequent English Language Acquisition Status Code | Correction Reason Code on Subsequent ELA record | Correction Reason Code Name on Subsequent ELA record |
|---|---|---|---|
| EO | TBD | 1 | Evidence of Non-English Primary Language |
| EL | EO | 4 | Ineligible Student Tested |
| EL | IFEP | 5 | Evidence for EL or IFEP |
| IFEP | EO | 4 | Ineligible Student Tested |
| IFEP | EL | 5 | Evidence for EL or IFEP |
ELAS Data Flow
Here is a diagram detailing a non-english speaking student's elas status determination from home language survey to initial ELPAC testing and final ELAS status.
Initial ELPAC Testing Guidance
In order to ensure a student is eligible to test with Initial ELPAC in TOMS the following data are necessary in CALPADS.
- Primary (10) or Short-term (30) Enrollment
- Grade level K-12
- Student English Language Acquisition Status (SELA) of “TBD” with a non-English primary language
- Student Information (SINF) record with start date on or before enrollment start date
Once posted in CALPADS, data take a minimum of 48 hours to appear in TOMS
Once testing is completed (all 4 domains) and all scores are entered into the data entry interface in TOMS, initial ELAS of EL or IFEP is sent to CALPADS overnight with a start date = test completion date
Initial ELPAC Testing Common Issues
Student tested, but result is not reflected in CALPADS. This happens for one of the following reasons:
- LEA deleted the TBD record in CALPADS
- LEA changed the start date of the TBD record to a date AFTER testing was completed
- LEA changed the primary language to a English or Sign Language
- LEA changed the student’s grade level
Student was tested with multiple SSIDs and now has two ELAS records after the MID merge. Avoid this by:
- Ensuring a student doesn’t already have an SSID in CALPADS before assigning a new one
- Checking student’s existing ELAS in CALPADS
Student tested but was ineligible to test, or the LEA has evidence that the student’s test result may be incorrect.
- LEA should always allow initial ELAS to populate in CALPADS
- ELAS can then be corrected through online maintenance using a Correction Reason Code
- The following Correction Reason Codes have been retired:
- 2 Rotating Score Validation Process Error (use 5 – Evidence for EL or IFEP)
- 3 Home Language Survey Error (use 4 – Ineligible Student Tested)
Summative Testing and RFEP Reporting
The Summative English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is an annual assessment to measure an English learner's progress toward English language proficiency (ELP).
Testing Window
The Summative ELPAC is administered in the spring, from February 1 to May 31.
Purposes
The purposes of the Summative ELPAC are to determine the level of ELP of EL students and to assess the progress of EL students in acquiring the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English. The following are the English proficiency statuses for students associated with taking the Summative ELPAC
- EL—English learners
- RFEP—reclassified fluent English proficient
All EL students must be administered the ELPAC until they are reclassified. There is no parent opt out or medical exemption for this assessment.
NOTE: Unlike EL and IFEP statuses where TOMS sends the information directly to CALPADS, RFEP records are recorded by LEAs in their SIS and extracted and reported to CALPAD S using the SELA file.
Process
The Summative ELPAC must be given annually to students identified as EL students until they are RFEP.
Guidance for Submitting RFEP Records to CALPADS
Lifted from CALPADS Flash #219
| Scenario | For students reclassified… | Submit an ELAS of RFEP with a start date… | This student will count as reclassified in … |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
before the end of the school year while the student is still enrolled in the school and in CALPADS… | equal to that of the last dated signature on the reclassification form. |
2021−22 in the school where the student was last enrolled. LEAs will certify this count in report 2.16 in 2022 EOY 3. |
|
2
|
after the end of the school year when the student has been exited and has no enrollment in CALPADS, and will not be re-enrolling in the same school in the next school year (e.g., graduating or students matriculating to another school)… |
equal to the last day the student was enrolled in the prior school year where the student was enrolled. |
2021−22 in the school where the student was last enrolled. LEAs will certify this count in report 2.16 in 2022 EOY 3. |
|
3
|
after July 1 but before school starts for the next school, so there is no enrollment in CALPADS… |
equal to the last day the student was enrolled in the prior school year where the student was enrolled. |
2021−22 in the school where the student was last enrolled. LEAs will certify this count in report 2.16 in 2022 EOY 3. |
|
4
|
after July 1 and the student is now enrolled in the next school year in the same school as in the prior school year… |
equal to that of the last dated signature on the reclassification form where the student is now enrolled. |
2022−23 in the school where the student is now enrolled (which is the same school where the student was enrolled in the prior school year). LEAs will certify this count in report 2.16 in 2023 EOY 3. |
|
5
|
after July 1 and the student is now enrolled in the next school year in a school that is different from the school where the student was enrolled in the prior school year, and has NO RFEP record. | equal to that of the last dated signature on the reclassification form where the student is now enrolled. | 2022−23 in the school where the student is now enrolled (which is a school that is not the same as the school where the student was enrolled in the prior school year.) |
Correcting SELA Status through STAIRS Process
LEAs requesting to delete an EL or IFEP record generated by ELPAC computer-based assessments will need to go through the Security and Test Administration Incident Reporting System (STAIRS) and Appeals process.
SELA Details Modal
The Student English Language Acquisition details modal is depicted below followed by a screen elements table. If the Add New Record button is clicked, all fields on the page will be populated with Null values when the page opens. If the Edit is clicked, the system will display the “Student English Language Acquisition” page. If user does not own the student record, the Edit will be disabled.
SELA Details Table
| Field Names | Required | Validation/Business Rule |
|---|---|---|
| English Language Acquisition Status Code | Y | Default to user’s current Org; only present values related to user’s Org |
| Correction Reason Code | N | Only valid if the prior record being corrected has a status date of 7/1/2018 onwards. (See When to report a SELA Correction reason code when a correction code is required.) |
| English Language Acquisition Status Start Date | Y | The Start Date must be provided for EO, EL, IFEP, and RFEP students, and for students who are TBD in grades TK–12. |
| Primary Language Code | Y | To be an English learner, the Primary Language Code must be a language other than English or American Sign Language. • This element is required for students in grades kindergarten through 12. It is NOT required and should not be submitted for pre-kindergarten students. |
| This element is required for students in grades kindergarten through 12. It is NOT required and should not be submitted for pre-kindergarten students. | ||
| Action Buttons | ||
| Validate | N/A | Validation is a two-stage process – Stage 1 performs client-side validations on missing data in required fields and data type errors. Stage 2 performs validation checks on SELA IVRs. If no fatal errors are detected on IVRs for SELA but Warning IVRs are triggered, then “Validation Successful and warnings exist”, followed by a list of warning IVRs. |
| If no fatal errors are detected on IVRs for SELA, two new buttons, Post and Cancel are presented. | ||
| Delete | N/A | If a user clicks the Delete Record button within the Edit page, the system will perform the specified processes to remove the selected Language record for the student from the ODS and redirect user to the Student English Language Acquisition page. |
| Post | N/A | If no fatal validation errors, this option will be presented. If the user clicks the button, system will post records. If not successful, “Post failed” with accompanying error messages. |
| Cancel | N/A | Appears after validation if no fatal errors are detected. |
| If selected, system will return fields to editable, retaining any data values that have been changed from the original record. | ||
SELA Data Population Training
SELA Additional References
LIP Program Reporting
Language Instructional Program Data Population Self-paced video
CALPADS Error List
Look for SELA Errors
CALPADS File Specifications
Look for Student English Language Acquisition Tab
CALPADS Data Guide
CALPADS Update Flash #219 (Revised 29-Mar-2022)
Topics include: Reclassifying and reporting Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) students; assessing students for English Language Acquisition Status (ELAS) during the summer.
ELPAC Resources
Provides helpful resources for local educational agency personnel who administer the ELPAC..
ELPAC Archived Webcasts
Provides archived webcasts for the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) for local educational agencies (LEAs).